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SEIU 721 DELIVERS CRITICAL SUPPORT TO CONTRERAS’S OC SUPERVISOR BID

Sergio Contreras Garners Endorsement of SEIU 721 in OC Supervisor Race


WESTMINSTER, CA -- 

Recognizing his history of championing the cause of working people and the labor movement, today Westminster City Councilmember Sergio Contreras earned the endorsement of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721.  SEIU Local 721 is the largest public sector union in Southern California, representing 95,000 workers that keep Orange County and its world-class cities running, including Santa Ana.

In a statement announcing the endorsement, SEIU Local 721 President Bob Schoonover remarked:

“As the son of an SEIU member and 43-year custodian at Disneyland Resort, Sergio Contreras understands SEIU's core values of hard work and fighting for what you believe in.  That is why we are proud to support him for Orange County Supervisor. We know that he will stand up for working families and ensure we protect and create middle class jobs to uplift our communities. Sergio will stand by his working class values and improve our neighborhoods by fighting for fair wages and benefits, keeping public services public, and investing in infrastructure to make Orange County stronger.”

Last week, Contreras’s campaign announced that he has by far the most net cash-on-hand of anybody in the race, with $78,862 after debts. Incumbent Supervisor Andrew Do has $60,345 more in debt than cash-on-hand, while Contreras’s main Democratic opponents Miguel Pulido and Kim Nguyen have $25,706 and $6,972 cash-on-hand after debts, respectively.

Previously, Councilmember Sergio Contreras announced the following endorsements:

Organizations:

  • Democratic Party of Orange County

  • Orange County Labor Federation (OCLF)

  • California Nurses Association (CNA)

  • SEIU - USWW

  • SEIU 2015

  • SEIU Local 721

  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 36

  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) United Domestic Workers (UDW) Local 3930

  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2076

  • American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1734

  • Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 652

  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 12

  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 501

  • National Union of Healthcare Workers 

  • United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 220

  • Painters & Allied Trades District Council 36

  • UNITE HERE Local 11

  • Ironworkers Local 433

  • Ironworkers Local 416

  • UFCW Local 324

  • Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

Elected Officials:

  • U.S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal

  • U.S. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez

  • U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (Ret.)

  • California State Senator Lena Gonzalez

  • California State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva

  • California State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris

  • California Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell

  • California State Senator Josh Newman (Ret.)

  • Garden Grove School Board Trustee Walter Muneton

  • Garden Grove School Board Trustee Teri Rocco

  • Garden Grove Councilmember Kris Beard (Ret.)

  • Westminster School Boardmember Jamison Power

  • Westminster School Boardmember Amy Walsh (Ret.)

  • Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley

  • Costa Mesa Councilman Manuel Chavez

  • Rancho Community College Trustee Lawrence Labrado

  • Santa Ana Unified School District President Valerie Amezcua

  • Santa Ana Councilmember Sal Tinajero (Ret.)

  • Santa Ana Councilmember David Benavides (Ret.)

  • Santa Ana School Board Trustee Alfonso Alvarez

  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Juan Gabriel Alvarez

  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Ryan Ruelas

  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Dr. Jose Pablo Magcalas

  • Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember D.R. Heywood (Ret.)

  • Anaheim Union High School District Clerk of the Board, Annemarie Randle-Trejo

  • Huntington Beach Union High School District Trustee Duane Dishno

  • Fullerton School Boardmember Aaruni Thakur

  • Oceanview School District Vice President Gina Clayton-Tarvin

  • Midway City Sanitary District Director Margie L. Rice

 

The first Supervisorial District includes the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster, the unincorporated community of Midway City, and parts of Fountain Valley. The first Supervisorial District is 42% Democratic and 24% Republican by registration – making it one of the most flippable major local offices in California.

Sergio Contreras, a husband, father, homeowner, and registered Democrat, has served on the Westminster City Council since 2012, where he successfully championed the largest upgrade to Westminster’s park system since 1996, encompassing 22 park facilities and representing a $10.4 million investment in the community. Contreras oversaw the city’s first general plan update in decades. He also placed emergency call boxes in all Westminster parks to enhance public safety, and fought to place outdoor exercise equipment in local parks to improve public health.

Contreras previously served on the Westminster School Board from 2004 to 2012, including serving as president of the board in 2012. On the School Board, Contreras helped pass a $130 million school bond to modernize Westminster’s school facilities and make them safer. In that role, he established an all-day kindergarten system, making Westminster School District the first in Orange County to provide day-long kindergarten at all school sites. Contreras also increased access to music and arts programs districtwide, while expanding after-school programs.

Now, Contreras works as the Senior Director of Education and Healthy Schools for the Orange County United Way where he creates strategic community partnerships to empower students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.  Contreras lives in Westminster with his wife Adriana, where their children Sergio III and Chloe attend local schools.

Recently, Contreras's upbringing and life's story was featured in the OC Weekly, which you can find here.

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