Hector Lujan is running for City Council
DOWNEY – Downey planning commissioner Hector Lujan confirmed Wednesday he intends to run for City Council this November.
Lujan seeks to represent District 1, which covers south Downey, roughly south of Stewart and Gray Road and east of Brookshire Avenue.
The seat is currently held by Luis Marquez but he will be termed out of office later this year.
Lujan, 48, is an assistant principal at Paramount Adult School. Prior to that he was Dean of Students at Paramount High School for four years, worked in Student Services in the district office for five years, and was an elementary school teacher at Roosevelt Elementary for 16 years.
His wife, Cheri, is an elementary school teacher. They have two sons, Mark and Hector Jr.
He was appointed to Downey's Planning Commission in 2010, where he helped approve several large-scale developments, including the Downey Promenade shopping center and the 117-unit townhome complex on Paramount Boulevard.
"We pride ourselves as being a business-friendly group but also taking into account the citizens of Downey," Lujan said.
Lujan has been active in Downey youth sports groups since 1994, serving as a coach, manager and commissioner with Downey AYSO.
"As the commissioner, I led the organization of 1,800 players, 200 coaches, 100 referees, and 50 additional volunteers," he said. "Not only was I their commissioner, I was out there painting fields, putting up nets, pulling weeds from the fields, filling holes with dirt [and] purchasing snack bar supplies every Saturday during the fall season."
Lujan was also a baseball coach with West Downey Little League (he was voted Coach of the Year one season) and served on the board of Paramount Pony Baseball League.
Lujan currently serves as co-president of the St. John Bosco High School Parent Association, having served on the board since 2010.
He was team captain for Paramount Relay for Life, raising just under $3,000.
"If elected, I will do everything possible to continue to look out for the residents and the businesses in our entire community," Lujan said. "Moving forward by seeking ways to ensure safety for our district will be one of my goals. I will encourage the city staff to find ways to keep the city budget balanced. You will see transparency from me.
"I moved in Downey in 1997 and chose to live in our same home in order to raise our two sons. As an educator with experience, I will make sure that District 1 is well represented."