Democrats Organize for Jeff Gonzalez for Assembly

Growing Group of Democrats Organize for Jeff Gonzalez in Calexico

CALEXICO — Republican Jeff Gonzalez, who is facing off with Democrat Joey Acuña in the California Assembly District 36 race, is gnawing away at what should be Acuña’s base and Gonzalez is enjoying every minute of it, despite the usual childish antics of a campaign running scared.

District 36 includes Coachella, Indio, the balance of the eastern Coachella Valley and eastern Riverside County to the state line, along with all of Imperial County and a sliver of eastern San Bernardino County.

Gonzalez, who has a 1,000-watt smile, opened a campaign office here on Aug. 3 and it appears to be paying dividends.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, on the Imperial County Courthouse steps, Democrat Imperial County Sheriff Fred Miramontes, along with retired local, county and federal law enforcement and public safety officials crossed party lines to endorse Gonzalez. The shockwaves are likely to reverberate across the state.

He also already has in his hip pocket the coveted endorsement of the powerful Riverside Sheriff’s Association.  Gonzalez, a business owner and former Marine who lives in Indio, also has the endorsement of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Meanwhile, the other camp is allegedly vandalizing Gonzalez’s campaign signs. Gonzalez and his team is assessing the damage this weekend while simultaneously remaining committed to its ground game of knocking on doors and listening to constituents.

“I’m saddened that people are resorting to these tactics,” Gonzalez told Uken Report. “Our campaign is open to Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between. I am a voice for all and that’s why they want to suppress our message. But I’m a Marine and we won’t quit fighting four our community.”

Assembly District 36 has far more registered Democrats than Republicans — 43.7% compared to 27.6% of those registered, or a difference of about 38,000 voters. Third-party and no party preference voters make up about 28.7% of the registered voters in the District.

“Let me be clear: the campaign against Jeff Gonzalez is fueled by fear. Why? Because this former Marine isn’t just someone who talks the talk—he’s walked the walk,” said Jesus Solano, a volunteer from Calexico who helped Gonzalez open his office. “After serving two tours in Afghanistan and two in Iraq, Jeff negotiated with terrorists in some of the most dangerous places on earth. If you think he’ll shy away from negotiating with local politicians, you’re mistaken.”

Gonzalez is not running away from the challenges our community faces, Solano said. He’s been back, in the trenches, representing us, lobbying, and communicating, building relationships with politicians in Sacramento up and down District 36 . He makes regular trips to ensure our voices are heard. He understands overseas, international diplomacy, foreign affairs, state, county and local and local issues (in) District 36.

“In contrast, Joey Acuña, with a decade of experience on a school board in Coachella, couldn’t answer basic questions about Calexico,” Solano said. “Now, let’s address the vandalism. Why are Joey Acuña’s supporters resorting to vandalizing banners? This is a level playing field, and everyone should have the right to share their message here (with permission …) This is a battle we won’t back down from. I replaced Jeff Gonzalez’s banners once, and we’ll do it again if needed.”

Solano is calling on the community to stand up against this behavior. If you see anyone vandalizing campaign signs, take a picture, get their license plate, and report it to the police department. This isn’t just about one candidate—it’s about respecting the democratic process.

“And remember, your vote is your power,” he continued. “You decide who represents your values and interests. Jeff Gonzalez is our man right now. If there were a woman with the same strength of character running for Assembly, I’d support her just the same. This is about choosing the best person for the job, and that person is Jeff Gonzalez.”