Garcia, Fermon Endorse Romero for State Senate

SACRAMENTO — The base of support among state and local Democrats continues to build for Elizabeth Romero, D-Indio, as she make a run to fill the vacant seat in the 28th State Senate District in the special March 3 election. The latest powerful Democrat to endorse Romero is state Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia said in endorsing her: “I proudly offer my full support and endorsement to Elizabeth Romero for California’s 28th State Senate District. I have worked alongside Elizabeth Romero for over a decade and can confidently attest to her capabilities. I especially commend the opportunities she has created for countless local youth both in her professional roles as well as in her elected official capacities. She is a homegrown leader and a clear choice to join our efforts in Sacramento to represent the working families of Riverside County.”

Indio City Councilmember Waymond Fermon also told Uken Report that he is supporting Romero.

“Through her work Elizabeth has displayed compassion, leadership and dedication to our communites,” Fermon said. “She has tremendous experience and has dedicated her life to local government since the age of 23. Elizabeth is a native of Thermal, Calif., and understands some of the hardships of many in our region, such as access to health, education and homelessness. I believe Elizabeth will work hard for our district in Sacramento. I have an immense respect for the other candidates but I will be endorsing Elizabeth Romero for California State Senate District 28.”

Garcia and Fermon join Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and a string of other influential Democrats who believe Romero is best-suited for the position. Others include Coachella City Councilmember Megan Beaman-Jacinto; Indio City Councilmember Oscar Ortiz; Lynne O’Neill, a retired lawyer and local activist; Inland Empire Central Labor Council, which represents more than 289,000 workers across the Inland Empire; and the United Food Commercial Workers Local 1167, which has more than 20,000 active members and more than 10,000 retired workers. It is part of the larger Inland Empire Central Labor Council.

More Democratic leaders are expected to add their names to the list in the coming days.

There are three Democrats seeking the seat Jeff Stone left vacant last year. They are Romeo, Joy Silver of Palm Springs, and Anna Nevenic of Palm Springs. Both Silver and Nevenic challenged former state Sen. Jeff Stone for the seat in 2018. Nevenic lost in the primary election on June 5, 2018. Stone ultimately prevailed over Silver and resigned his seat to start work on Nov. 1 as the Western Regional Director of the United States Department of Labor in the Trump administration.

The two Republicans are Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez of Lake Elsinore and John Schwab of Temecula, a real estate broker/small business owner.

The 28th Senate District, which is entirely in Riverside County, stretches from the vineyards of the Temecula Valley to the Colorado River and includes the cities of Blythe, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Murrieta, Temecula, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and Wildomar.