Latino civil right activist challenges Ray Treatheway for City Council seat
California Political Desk
February 10, 2010
Civil rights activist Efren Guttierrez declares candidacy for Sacramento City Council, slams ´special interests´ that dominate city hall; Says his special interest will be 'people'.
SACRAMENTO – Declaring "my only special interests are people," civil rights activist Efren Guttierrez today (Feb. 9) officially announced his candidacy for Sacramento City Council, District 1 – and he didn´t´ waste anytime slamming big special interest money that dominates local campaign races.
"I will only have one special interest: The People. I will not accept contributions from large developers and similar special interests because ´It´s About Time´ the grip of those special interests on the city is broken," pledged Guttierrez, 54, a local real estate broker and community activist as he stood outside Sacramento City Hall with dozens of supporters.
Guttierrez is the executive director of Chicano Consortium, and president of the La Raza Sacramento Chapter. He´s also on CORE´s steering committee and a member of a large number of social justice groups, including the Dept. of Justice Hate Crime Task Force, Latino Congreso, Sacramento Mentor Program and Rescue & Restore Coalition (anti-human trafficking), among many others listed.
Guttierrez, who held his event at a City Hall memorial of former Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna, repeatedly used his theme "It´s About Time," referring to the 11 years since a Latino has been on the Sacramento City Council. More than 22 percent of Sacramento´s population is Latino, and it´s nearly about 27 percent in District 1 – largely in the Natomas area.
Guttierrez said one of his goals is to "stop lining the pockets of the wealthy and super wealthy who get special favors (from the City). The time of sweetheart deals from the city to these companies is over. I wan to generate not just any jobs, but living wage jobs," he said.
"We also need to focus on the kids…(and) provide them with an education not just from books, but how to survive in their community, and on this planet. We need to teach life skills,"
Guttierrez said. He also said he hopes to launch an effort to help people in the city with soaring health care costs. "This is everyone´s problem," he said.
Guttierrez acknowledged that his campaign will not have large campaign coffers because of his refusal to accept corporate special interest money. But, he said, his "people" campaign will be "fueled" by social justice organizations and volunteers.
"I will have the aid…of those who truly care about others more than their own bottom line. The people have been down too long and fooled too often by politicians. But I am not a politician.
This campaign will be about people," he said.
More information can be found at www.EfrenGcitycouncil.org.
SACRAMENTO – Declaring "my only special interests are people," civil rights activist Efren Guttierrez today (Feb. 9) officially announced his candidacy for Sacramento City Council, District 1 – and he didn´t´ waste anytime slamming big special interest money that dominates local campaign races.
"I will only have one special interest: The People. I will not accept contributions from large developers and similar special interests because ´It´s About Time´ the grip of those special interests on the city is broken," pledged Guttierrez, 54, a local real estate broker and community activist as he stood outside Sacramento City Hall with dozens of supporters.
Guttierrez is the executive director of Chicano Consortium, and president of the La Raza Sacramento Chapter. He´s also on CORE´s steering committee and a member of a large number of social justice groups, including the Dept. of Justice Hate Crime Task Force, Latino Congreso, Sacramento Mentor Program and Rescue & Restore Coalition (anti-human trafficking), among many others listed.
Guttierrez, who held his event at a City Hall memorial of former Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna, repeatedly used his theme "It´s About Time," referring to the 11 years since a Latino has been on the Sacramento City Council. More than 22 percent of Sacramento´s population is Latino, and it´s nearly about 27 percent in District 1 – largely in the Natomas area.
Guttierrez said one of his goals is to "stop lining the pockets of the wealthy and super wealthy who get special favors (from the City). The time of sweetheart deals from the city to these companies is over. I wan to generate not just any jobs, but living wage jobs," he said.
"We also need to focus on the kids…(and) provide them with an education not just from books, but how to survive in their community, and on this planet. We need to teach life skills,"
Guttierrez said. He also said he hopes to launch an effort to help people in the city with soaring health care costs. "This is everyone´s problem," he said.
Guttierrez acknowledged that his campaign will not have large campaign coffers because of his refusal to accept corporate special interest money. But, he said, his "people" campaign will be "fueled" by social justice organizations and volunteers.
"I will have the aid…of those who truly care about others more than their own bottom line. The people have been down too long and fooled too often by politicians. But I am not a politician.
This campaign will be about people," he said.
More information can be found at www.EfrenGcitycouncil.org.
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