FFO WAS MARGIN OF DIFFERENCE IN ELECTING INQUIRER.net
January 14, 2009
January 13, 2009 – Filipinos for Obama made an impact in the voting numbers on Sunday at the election for San Mateo County California Democratic Party Assembly Delegate by bringing Mark Nagales the highest number of votes by a clear margin. The San Mateo County residents who voted for Katrina Romero, Field Director for Filipinos for Obama, also voted for Mark Nagales, Field Representative for Congresswoman Jackie Speier, bumping his total count to 265 votes. Nearly two-dozen volunteers from Filipinos for Obama lined the sidewalks and both entrances of the San Mateo City Hall on Sunday, handing out flyers and talking to voters about Katrina Romero and her work recruiting over 400 volunteer activists and contacting over 15,000 voters during the Obama presidential campaign. While being a favorite of the audience, many of whom waved signs and cheered and applauded after her speech, one of the two women who addressed the delegation out of 17 who were on the ballot, the Jerry Hill and Leland Yee slate prevailed over Romero’s 129 votes and the independent slate.
“Although I did not get the position, this was a big success for our community. We always knew that we had our work cut out for us, going against Jerry Hill and Leland Yee's slate,” said Katrina in a statement after the election. “But what I really wanted to do is show, through our organization, solidarity, and numbers, that the Filipino American community, and Filipinos for Obama, is a force to be reckoned with here in San Mateo County. We definitely made a statement today.”
Filipinos for Obama and Romero’s slate of endorsements are now mobilizing the Filipino American community and calling upon the San Mateo Democratic Central Committee to appoint Katrina Romero to the State Democratic Central Committee this Thursday.
After learning than Romero did not make the final selection, Henry Manayan, Chair of the California Filipino American Democratic Caucus, urged for her appointment to State Democratic Central Committee. “I am glad that she ran for the position. It is a public testament that our community is interested in playing an active role in our democratic process,” said Manayan in statement. “It is important for Filipino-Americans to be represented. Especially since they are one of the two largest populations of APAs in the State, and contribute a lot to our communities, schools and our economy. An appointment for Katrina will help to assure that critical representation and voice for our community.”
Ray Buenaventura, President of the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County also expressed disappointment that Katrina Romero did not get elected but said that he is very encouraged at the number of Filipino Americans who showed up at the delegate election. “I am hopeful that our elected officials will see the value of appointing her as a delegate,” said Buenaventura. “She has clearly earned it. She has worked extremely hard for the Obama campaign, investing her time and own treasury in traveling to other cities, including Reno and Las Vegas to help the democrats win the white house. She has demonstrated her commitment to the Democratic Party by her tireless efforts. She will be a great representative for not just Filipino Americans, but for the entire community at large in San Mateo County. In Katrina, you will have a delegate that you can count on who will work hard, infuse new energy into to the party, and will be a zealous advocate for our democratic values and principles. Change can happen when we have people like Katrina Romero on the forefront.”
The San Mateo County Democratic Council for California will hold their January meeting at which they will decide appointments to State Democratic Central Committee.
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2009 Time: 7:30pm – 9pm Place: Machinists Hall, 1511 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA All are welcome.
To learn more about Katrina Romero, please visit http://www.katrinaromero.com
