County supervisor candidate kicks off campaign
An El Monte city councilman running for an open county supervisor’s seat in the eastern part of the county said he would officially kick off off his campaign Saturday at his campaign office in El Monte, with other local officials and former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin.
Juventino “J” Gomez, a U.S. Army veteran and former aide to County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, is one one of three candidates running to replace termed-out Supervisor Gloria Molina in the June 3 election.
Former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is widely expected to win the seat because of her name recognition and advantage in fundraising. She held her own campaign kickoff party last week in El Monte, surrounded by labor and Democratic Party heavyweights.
The seat is nonpartisan, but Gomez is a registered Republican in the heavily Democratic district.
Gomez took a shot at Solis’ presumed frontrunner status in a statement announcing his campaign launch: ““Our County is not a monarchy and our residents are not subjects to be dictated terms. In our Districts there will be no coronations.”
Police officer April Saucedo Hood, a Pico Rivera resident, is also running for the post.
To date, the three candidates have yet to face off in a debate. Solis appeared solo at a forum put on last week by the United Democrats of the San Gabriel Valley. The other two candidates are slated to appear at a forum in Claremont next week, but Solis was not expected to attend.
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Twitter: @sewella
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