Karla Salazar announces run for State Assembly
Photo Courtesy of Karla Salazar
Another Downey resident has announced that she will be running for State Assembly.
Public service is deeply rooted in the background of 58th State Assembly District candidate Karla Salazar, however this current election will be her first.
“This is something that’s been in the backburner,” said Salazar, “I have a master’s in public policy, I got my bachelor’s in political science.”
Up until recently, the 48-year-old Democrat’s priorities have surrounded her family and her son. However, with her son now older, she says it’s time to set an example and “stand up for what values and what we feel is the right representation in our region.”
“I felt I needed to step up,” said Salazar. “I’m not a career politician; this is my first time…For me in terms of what has defined me as a person, as an immigrant myself coming to this country as a child, I have really benefited from the opportunities that this country afforded to me and my family. To me, I have a huge commitment of always wanting to dedicate myself to being in roles where I could be of service to others. Whether it was in the private sector or in the public sector, I always make sure that I was giving back because I feel that I’ve been given a lot and I feel I need to return for all the opportunities I’ve been given in this country.”
Salazar has resided in Downey since 2002 and grew up and lived within the region since the late seventies.
She received her college education from UCLA, and her Master's from Claremont Graduate University.
Currently, Downey and several other cities within the region have been left without representation, as both State Senator Tony Mendoza and Assembly Member Cristina Garcia have stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct.
As such, the pool of potential candidates vying for the 58th Assembly seat has swelled with seven Democrats and a sole Republican.
Salazar says her over 20 years of experience in the public and private sector sets her apart from other candidates.
“How I define my mission is that I want to have the most impact and be able to empower and influence change,” said Salazar. “What I like about my background is that I have management experience in working very complex organizations. Since we’re managing the sixth largest economy in California, I want to make sure our representatives are at that level of understanding not only complex budgets and organizations but managing diverse staff.”
Still, Salazar says she would like to see some sort of public forum to take place before election day. Regardless of result, she says she would even be willing to help set up such an event.
“I’ve been unpleasantly surprised I’m not really seeing that there’s accountability for candidates,” said Salazar. “The public needs the opportunity to ask the tough questions; I want to be asked the tough questions. Ask me. Show me that you’re going to be transparent, that you have integrity and you’re going to represent the region well…to me that’s important.”
The primary election will take place in June.