Attendance Counselor Elected as H.P. Councilwoman

Marquez High School Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor Graciela Ortiz (the voice of “Helloooo Gladiators” on the intercom) was elected as a Huntington Park City Councilmember on Mar. 3, 2015. Now the days of awarding pizzas and ensuring students attend school regularly will be coupled with the responsibility of leading Huntington Park.

In order for our attendance counselor to win, she needed to depend on the teamwork of her campaign partners Johnny Pineda and Marilyn Sanabria. The trio attempted to win voters by their numerous campaign posters on frequented street corners, mailers, telephone promotions, house-to-house visits, and community involvement.

Even after residents accused their City Council sponsor, former Vice Mayor Karina Macias, of using the H.P. city seal illegally on the trio’s campaign mailers, Ms. Ortiz, Pineda, and Sanabria remained resolute in preserving their image. According to Ms. Ortiz, “Our political image was questioned by some, but once we presented the facts to the voters, they understood that the accusations were unjust.” In the end, the trio emerged victorious, filling all three available spots on the City Council, but why did the trio run for an office in the first place?

According to unofficial H.P. city council elections results, Ms. Ortiz won 16.89% of voters. Statistical data from http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/15032316/2316_CITIES_Frame.htm.

Ms. Ortiz explains, “I decided to run for city council because I felt that our city was in need of new leadership. I grew up in the community, live in the community, and work in the community. I feel that this allows me to know the needs of our residents and community very well.” She also plans to “request a forensic audit [financial history examination to check for misuse of funds] of the city” over the past years to track down where city funds are located.

Johnny Pineda also explains to have run for the same reason: he has lived in H.P. for many years, too. Pineda also plans to help students succeed in school and “make sure our precious tax dollars are invested in programs that improve the lives of our residents.”

Libra junior Yvonne Reyes, a volunteer for Ms. Ortiz. made phone calls asking for votes. After the busy work of last-minute campaigning on election-day, Reyes was elated to find out about the trio’s victory and proud of the volunteering team’s efforts.

According to Reyes, students should care about Ms. Ortiz’s victory since “they should see her as a role model because she was born in H.P. [...] she decided to come back and help our community, help our school.”

Fortunately for Ms. Ortiz, being a city councilwoman is a part time job. She can continue performing her attendance counselor duties while leading the city.

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