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| GOP Mayor Pedro Rios Rios is in a tight race for a State Assembly seat in the southern portion of California's Central Valley. |
Hot Assembly Race - Democrats are targeting Hispanic GOP Mayor Pedro Rios for defeat
- Democrats want to take this seat from the GOP to boost their majority to 2/3s in order to raise taxes
Conservative Republican Mayor Pedro Rios is trying his best to keep a tough State Assembly seat in the Republican column. The currently open seat has elected two different one term Republican Assemblymen even though GOP voters only make up 33.5% of the voters.
Quality and thoughtful Latino Republicans like Rios are what the party needs to win office in a state changing with immigration.
A small business owner, former two-term Delano City Councilman, Mayor and dedicated educator, Pedro Rios has lived in the new reapportioned 32nd Assembly District for twenty-five years. He understands the agricultural way of life not only because he’s picked grapes and pruned almonds, but he’s leased farmland where he cultivated tomatoes, squash, bell peppers and green peas.
Pedro Rios was born in Mexico, but immigrated to America when he was only nine years old, and eventually, he settled in Delano, California. He graduated from Delano High School, attended Bakersfield College as well as San Diego State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in history from California State University at Bakersfield. In 1996, he became a U.S. citizen. Rios worked as a high school teacher for five years.
Pedro Rios asks for support during the Delano Harvest Holidays
Pedro Rios for Assembly
In 1990, Pedro Rios joined the California Army National Guard and he was stationed in Fort Jackson, South Carolina for his basic training. He also trained in radio communications at Fort Gordon, Georgia and later attended California National Guard officer candidate school. He earned the Army Achievement Medal and was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard.
He said his experiences farming in Argentina and in running his two current businesses -- bee pollination services and renting portable toilets to farms for their workers -- have helped him understand the plight of farmers and business people.
Rios casts himself as somebody with such a varied background that he can understand the concerns of everyone from poor people to large business owners. Rios takes a distinctly populist tone, making a direct appeal to support. He recently did a month long walk across the district, stopping along the way to work at farms, ranches, businesses and other locations reports the Hanford Sentinel.
“I like challenges,” Rios said. “I’ve been in the trenches. I have passion, I work hard and I’ve lived the American dream.”
Rios attacked Democrat Bakersfield City Councilman Rudy Salas for having large donations from unions.
“He’s going to have to respond to the union bosses,” Rios said. “I don’t see how he can be his own man. I’m supported by the agricultural community, I’m supported by the small business owner, I’m supported by the average person.”
Salas has the fundraising edge. He raised $802,000 by Sept. 30, compared to $502,000 raised for Rios.
Said Rios: “I have eight years of solid local government experience. I know what it’s like to open a business, to lose a business overnight, and get back on your feet.”
Donate to Pedro Rios for Assembly.
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| Ed Torres points out to Republican Assembly candidate Pedro Rios what needs to be done at his home in Hanford. Rios helped out as part of his walking campaign for the 32nd Assembly District. (Gary Feinstein/The Sentinel) |
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| Rios had been endorsed by the Kings County Farm Bureau, the Kern County Young Republicans, Howard Jarvis Tax Payers Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce PAC and the Associated Builders and Contractors - Central Valley. |
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