a bit off topic but this is happening in my area...LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A granddaughter of Cesar Chavez said Monday she is running for a seat in the California Assembly, becoming the first member of the late United Farm Workers leader's family to seek public office.
Christine Chavez, who has taken leave from her post as UFW political director, planned to formally announce her 45th District candidacy Tuesday at California State University, Los Angeles.
"I am the first member of the Chavez family to seek elected office," she said. "When I approached the subject I mainly told the matriarch of our family, my grandmother Helen Chavez. She was at first shocked but of course she's very excited. You know we've always been sort of advocates on the other side of the political spectrum."
The 45th District covers an area east, north and northwest of downtown, sprawling from the Eastside community of El Sereno westward to Chinatown and Hollywood.
Six candidates have filed for the 45th District seat in the June 6 election, according to the secretary of state's unofficial list of candidates.
In addition to Chavez, Democrats in the race are Elena Popp, Oscar A. Gutierrez, Kevin De Leon and Gabriel Buelna. One Republican, Samantha E. Allen-Newman, has filed.
Popp, who was born in Mexico, raised in Los Angeles and credits her political awakening to a classroom speech by a UFW organizer, has the support of outgoing incumbent Jackie Goldberg.
The 34-year-old Chavez, who was married last year to Oscar Gonzales, said she has lived in the district eight years and has some college education. She is the daughter of Cesar Chavez's daughter Sylvia Chavez Delgado.
Asked whether Cesar Chavez ever expressed views on family members seeking office, she said he had not but always wanted them to be active in their communities.
