GROW Elect is Helping to Elect Hispanics – and Women

GROW Elect is focused on strengthening and expanding the Republican Party in California by electing Hispanic Republicans to public office. We also serve the same purpose by helping to elect a number of Republican women to office – who are also Hispanic. GROW Elect has some exciting Latina candidates and officeholders who are rising stars. Here is the latest news about a few of them.

SAN DIEGO COUNCILWOMAN LORIE ZAPF – KEY RACE FOR SAN DIEGO’S NEW MAYOR & GOP

City Councilwoman Lorie Zapf’s re-election campaign is a top priority for San Diego’s Republican Party and for GROW Elect. Lorie is the first Latina ever elected to the San Diego City Council and she overcame a tumultuous childhood and personal obstacles to achieve the American dream. Lorie’s race is critical to determining whether new Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s veto of policies passed by the Democrat majority on the City Council can be upheld. Lorie is in a tough district with the Democratic Party and a number of unions targeting her for defeat.

Inspired by her grandmother who ran a Mexican restaurant, Lorie and her husband started their own business. As a successful businesswoman in her own right, Lorie ran for City Council to help bring the city’s finances back into balance through her support for pension reform and budget discipline. She has been a persistent advocate of improving city’s public services while ensuring they are delivered efficiently and effectively. If you’d like to help support Lorie Zapf’s campaign, please follow this link to her website: http://www.loriezapf.com/

23-YEAR-OLD BERNADETTE SUAREZ SWORN-IN AS LAWNDALE CITY CLERK

GROW Elect’s newest – and youngest – success story is 23-year-old Latina Republican Bernadette Suarez. Bernadette won a stunning upset by a 10 percentage point margin to be elected City Clerk for her hometown of Lawndale in Los Angeles County. GROW Elect made a difference with financial support and campaign advice despite the fact that Bernadette as a first-time candidate hadn’t filed a Candidate’s Statement in the Voter Guide. Bernadette was officially sworn-in this past Monday, and we congratulate this bright and energetic Millennial Latina Republican on her election to public office.

VIOLETA LEWIS APPOINTED MAYOR OF LA PUENTE

La Puente City Councilwoman Violeta Lewis, a pediatric nurse who was elected with the support of GROW Elect, was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Mayor last week. Violeta has gained notice for her successful efforts to reform and tighten City Council travel expense policies and limit expenditures by council members. Violeta has also been a leader in the adoption of more pro-business policies by the city during the time she’s been on the Council. Thanks to the work of Violeta and her colleagues on the Council, La Puente was recently named one of the 50 Safest Cities in the United States. Crime has dropped significantly because of an emphasis on community-policing and more community engagement by the city, and more aggressive intelligence sharing by the Police Department working with other law enforcement agencies. We congratulate Violeta on her new position and the work she is doing for the people of her city.

CONSERVATIVE BONNIE GARCIA SEEKING TO BECOME FIRST LATINA REPUBLICAN IN STATE SENATE

Another GROW Elect top priority is the candidacy of former Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia for California’s 28th State Senate district. A proven and dynamic conservative when she served in the Legislature previously, Bonnie has been endorsed by Crime Victims United, Gun Owners of California, law enforcement organizations and the National Tax Limitation Committee’s Lew Uhler. She is an advocate for making California more business-friendly, strengthening public safety, and defending Proposition 13. Bonnie would be the first Latina Republican to ever serve in the California State Senate. If you’re interested in helping Bonnie, please visit her website at: http://bonniegarcia.org/