The Fresno County Democratic Central Committee has not endorsed any candidate in this race.
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2017
Contact: Dave Jacobson, (818) 943-2348
Maclen Zilber, (510) 508-9142
Jacobson & Zilber Strategies
ABIGAIL SOLIS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR CA SENATE DISTRICT 14
Earlimart School District Board of Trustees’ President Announces Bid for SD-14, Rolls Out Wave of Early Endorsements
EARLIMART, CA — Today, Earlimart School District Board of Trustees’ President, Abigail Solis, released the following statement announcing her candidacy and formally launching a bid for California’s State Senate District 14 in the upcoming June 2018 primary election:
“I’m running for the California State Senate because for far too long, local and rural neighborhoods throughout the Central Valley have been left behind. Eight years after the Great Recession our region continues to suffer with economic inequality, disparity and chronic disinvestment. Much of the blame for this can be traced back to our failed incumbent Senator, Andy Vidak. He has left working families without a voice, without a champion, and without a leader. There is no one dedicated to addressing the issues we face on daily basis, no one fighting for economic and social justice on behalf of the people of the 14th District in our State’s Senate.
“The people of Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties need and deserve a Senator who is deeply committed to tackling poverty, creating good paying middle-class jobs, investing in quality education and much-needed infrastructure improvements, as well as addressing long-standing water issues, the need for cleaner air, and affordable healthcare. These priorities underscore the critical need for new leadership, real progress and fresh ideas, and they’re precisely the reasons why today I announce my candidacy for the 14th Senate District.
“I believe in the people of this district, many of them are my friends, my family and my neighbors. I know that by investing in our communities and small businesses, the people here will thrive. In this campaign, I will crisscross all corners of the district, visit communities and local business owners, and I will listen and learn about the concerns and aspirations of the people in 14th Senate District. I will work hard to earn every vote, and together with the constituency of the district, we will win.”
Upon formally launching her campaign for State Senate, Earlimart School District Board of Trustees’ President Abigail Solis unleashed a powerful wave of early endorsements, include:
- Cathee Romley, Chair, Kern County Democratic Central Committee
- Ruth McKee, Chair, Tulare County Democratic Central Committee
- Holly Blair, Chair, Kings County Democratic Central Committee
- Carlos Alcala, Chair, Chicano Latino Caucus, California Democratic Party
- Carlton Jones, Mayor City of Tulare
- Paul Boyer, Mayor City of Farmersville
- Daniel T Parra, Mayor Pro-Tem City of Fowler
- Jose Sigala, Councilman City of Tulare
- Lali Moheno, Former Supervisor, Tulare County Board of Supervisors
- Recommended by the Chicano Latino Caucus, California Democratic Party
Born and raised in the small community of Earlimart, Abigail experienced and witnessed the challenges faced by the people of the Central Valley. She knows the effects a lack of available resources and opportunities have on the communities in the Central Valley. Abigail’s local upbringing and life experiences compelled her to make it her mission to improve the lives of her fellow Central Valley residents. Solis’ mission is to make the Central Valley a healthier, safer, and more prosperous place for everyone.
Throughout her career, Abigail has worked in a variety of fields in the public and nonprofit sector, including community development, project management, public policy and advocacy. Currently, she works in the Community Development Department at Self Help Enterprises, a non-profit in Visalia, where she advocates for infrastructure funding for disadvantaged communities in the Central Valley.
Elected in 2012 and reelected in 2016, Solis currently serves as the President of the Earlimart School District Board of Trustees. Understanding that education is the greatest equalizing force that exists for the children of under-served communities, Abigail’s focus includes education equity, behavior intervention instead of suspension, increasing reading levels for English Language Learners as well leveraging partnerships to benefit local schools.
Solis’ dedication to ensuring that all Central Valley families thrive drives her unyielding passion for community service and growing local communities. Last year, in collaboration with Tulare County, she worked with 25 small towns to identify specific needs and create a plan that will produce substantial growth for each of these communities. In 2012, in collaboration with the County of Tulare and the Earlimart School District, Abigail helped to secure $2.4 million to build Earlimart’s first community park. This state of the art facility is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the fall of 2017. In 2016, Solis helped to secure almost $1 million for drought related projects in Kern County, and as a result, two rural neighborhoods in Arvin and Lamont now have a secure source of water for their families. Last year, Abigail assisted the Tulare County community of Alpaugh with a successful Prop. 218 process, which needed help in order for the community to qualify for over $3 million for an Arsenic Treatment Plant that will remove contamination from their water.
Abigail is the co-founder and Chair of the Tulare County Political Action Committee (TCPAC), an organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement through youth voter registration in Tulare County High Schools. In 2016, TCPAC registered hundreds of young voters and educated over a thousand students about the importance of civic involvement. Solis attended Bakersfield College and the University of Phoenix. Additionally, she is a proud member of NALEO, the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. She is also Regional Vice- Chair of the Chicano Latino Caucus of California Democratic Party and she is a member of SPOT, Tulare County’s Sheriff’s Public Outreach Team.
A few of the awards and recognitions Abigail has received include from the 2017 Tulare County Democratic Central Committee, Community Advocacy Award, 2016 Latinas in Education Award, presented by the United Women’s Organization Latinas in Business and Professions and the 2012 California State Assembly District 31 Women of the Year, as well as the Human Rights Advocate Award.
For more information, please visit www.abigailsolis2018.com.
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