Chu wins easily, ready to represent Pasadena

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) cruised to victory in the redrawn 27th District on Tuesday night, and said she is ready to embrace Pasadena, which she will represent for the first time as she enters her third term in Congress.

“I’ve been immersing myself into Pasadena during this campaign,” Chu said late Tuesday night at a boisterous Democratic party at the Boteco Bar & Lounge in downtown Alhambra.

“Pasadena is truly a place of community activism,” added Chu, who praised the city’s vast network of nonprofit agencies and advocacy groups.

Chu earned 65% of the vote while Republican rival Jack Orswell, a businessman and former FBI agent, won 35%.

Chu said jobs and the economy are the top issues in the San Gabriel Valley district.

“The economy is recovering, but we still have a lot to do here to make sure there are ladders of opportunity for everyone,” she said.

Chu said one of her first goals for the newly created district is to launch a federal Small Business Development Center, an office run by the Small Business Administration that would assist entrepreneurs in not obtaining loans and launching their new businesses.

Chu said her reelection bid echoed many of the messages of President Obama’s reelection campaign.

“I’m gratified to see President Obama’s overwhelming victory,” said Chu. “It was an affirmation of what President Obama stands for, which is making sure we bring this economy into the future and provide opportunity for everyone in this country to succeed.”

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-- Joe Piasecki, Times Community News

Twitter: @JoePiasecki