No one is ignoring the fact that Baldwin Park resident and attorney Victor Saldana likely won’t win his bid for the 57th Assembly District seat.
Political experts and local party members say a heavily-favored incumbent will run away with a victory in the 57th Assembly District race on Nov. 4.
Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, would serve a second term if re-elected. He faces Victor Saldana, a lawyer who unsuccessfully ran for Baldwin Park City Council in 2007.
As a strongly Democratic district “known to protect incumbency and party control,” Hernandez will be a tough candidate to beat, according to David Menefee-Libey, politics professor at Pomona College.
The 57th Assembly District represents several cities in the San Gabriel Valley, including Azusa, Covina, La Puente, West Covina, Industry and Baldwin Park.
Hernandez was first elected to office in 2006 and is chair of the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Caucus.
“I have two years of experience and I’ve brought a significant amount of resources to the San Gabriel Valley,” said Hernandez, who lives in West Covina and runs two optometry practices in La Puente and Duarte with his wife.
Hernandez said he’s got a proven track record.
“The priorities are obviously transportation,” he said, adding that he helped secure about $74 million for improvements to the 10 Freeway and 605 Freeway interchange.
Hernandez also emphasized his interest in water issues,healthcareand his hopes to bring a trauma center to the San Gabriel Valley.
According to campaign finance statements filed with the secretaryof state, Hernandez has about $425,000 in his bank account – which includes contributions from a long list of Valley organizations and elected officials.
Among them is more than $4,000 from the Coalition for a Safe and Clean and Environment – which is headed up by La Puente Mayor Louie Lujan’s brother – and another $1,250 from Louie Lujan.
Baldwin Park Councilwoman Marlen Garcia donated $500, and Miller Brewery donated $3,600, according to documents from the state.
Saldana said he’s raised about $30,000 for his campaign. This is only the second time he has ever run for public office.
While experience is helpful, Saldana said it’s not the only quality of a good candidate.
“I think education is my strong suit,” Saldana said. “I’m a lawyer by profession. I’ve been advocating for people all my life. This position would be no different.”
Saldana is a long-time Baldwin Park resident who has a practice in Diamond Bar.
His biggest concern is the economy.
“Everybody is having a tough time making ends meet,” Saldana said. “I would really like to focus on easing burdens on California taxpayers by lowering taxes. I would like to ease the burden at the pump too, and I’d like to also cut wasteful government spending.”
Kathy Howard, vice chairman of the 57th Assembly District Republican Central Committee, called Saldana a “credible candidate,” but also spoke to the difficulty of winning in the district.
“(Saldana) wants very much to make a Republican presence even though he pretty much knows he’s not going to win,” Howard said. “But he’s going to try really hard.”
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