By: Aurora S. Cudal
Associate Editor

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A group of Filipino leaders who prefer to remain anonymous decried the results of the primary election held last Tuesday, June 3, particularly Arlie Ricasa’s failure to obtain respectable number of votes for the State Assembly’s 78th District.

Filipino Americans pinned their hopes on Ricasa to be the first from among the second generation Filipinos to represent them at the State Assembly. However, the result was disappointing. She came in fourth in the race with Marty Block (36 percent), Maxine Sherard (25 percent) and Auday Arabo (16 percent) as the front runners. Marty Block (Democrat) will face John McCann (Republican) in the general election on November 7.

The cause of Ricasa’s failed candidacy may be attributed to lack of financial support and lip service by those who advocate for Filipino American empowerment. A community leader said, “Many Filipino voters have not yet imbibed the American way of getting our people elected to office.” However in a message to her supporters Ricasa said, “While we weren’t victorious in the election, we were victorious in involving so many people who have been historically underserved, underheard and underrepresented. Soon, our time will come. I have faith and so should you. It could be you or one of our supporters who will soon represent us at the State’s table of decision making.”

In America, the voters have to support their candidate not only through their votes but through their financial support and physical presence at precinct walks, placing yard signs, knocking on doors, and making telephone calls on behalf of the candidate. These practices are so unlike in the Philippines where the candidates give money and feed the voters in order to win.

On the other hand, Mitz Lee who was about to run for the City Council, made a wise decision to maintain her position as Board member of the San Diego Unified School District. Lee must now run for the School Board citywide with the same opponent. This is the way a Trustee in San Diego Unified is elected. The voters in the city will have a say who they want to represent their interests in the public schools. “I am very honored to receive a strong support from District A voters. This showed a vote of confidence for me to continue represents the community as their Trustee on the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education. The Board of Trustees are elected in the citywide election. With the 60 percent showing in the Primary, it will tremendously help our campaign going into the General Election,” Lee told The Filipino Press.

In a related development, late runner Scott Vinson, husband of C.L. Vinson, past president of the FilAm Chamber of Commerce will face Steve Castañeda for the Chula Vista City Council seat. 4. The prospects are bright for Vinson. He will be running against re-electionist Steve Castañeda, who recently was cleared of perjury charges.

Scott Vinson is active in the Chula Vista government scene. He is a member of the Chula Vista Planning Commission. His wife, Carmelita from Cagayan de Oro, Philippines started rolling her sleeves for an honest-to-goodness election campaign.

Average user rating

   (0 vote)

Display 5 of 66 comments