In The News
Large campaign contributions raise questions
Saturday November 01, 2008
The battle to develop the land around the Watsonville Municipal Airport has taken on a new twist with thousands of dollars in campaign contributions given to candidates who oppose placing housing there.
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Business leaders, airport backers weigh in on South County campaigns
Saturday October 25, 2008
Watsonville Municipal Airport backers, who oppose development near the city-owned airport, are feeding the campaigns of Joe Ortiz and Gabriel Gonzalez.
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Council hopefuls talk business in forum
Wednesday October 22, 2008
The future of Watsonville's downtown and its airport were at the center of the discussion Tuesday night when seven Watsonville City Council candidates debated "Improving the Business Climate in Watsonville" at the old City Council Chambers.
Candidates Manuel Bersámin and Gabriel Gonzalez for District 1; Luis Alejo and Joe Ortiz for District 2; and Edward Din, Tony Gomez and Emilio Martinez for District 6 were given five questions by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce, nearly all centered on business in Watsonville.
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Watsonville council candidates offer views on jobs, airport
Wednesday October 22, 2008
City Council candidates split on whether the city is on the right track to spur job creation during a forum sponsored by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture on Tuesday.
Candidates included District 1 incumbent Manuel Bersamin and challenger Gabriel Gonzalez; District 2 contenders Joe Ortiz and Luis Alejo; and District 6 incumbent Edward Din and challengers Emilio Martinez and Tony Gomez.
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As We See It: Bersamin, Alejo, Din in Watsonville
Wednesday October 22, 2008
Future growth, affordable housing and financial uncertainty. Those elected to the Watsonville City Council will have a full plate of issues to deal with as the city decides how to handle its most contentious subjects.
Voters in three of the city's seven council districts will head to the polls Nov. 4 to make their council choices. We believe Manuel Bersamin, Luis Alejo and Edward Din are the best choices to represent their districts -- and the interests of Watsonville.
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Metro Santa Cruz Weekly Endorses Luis Alejo
Wednesday October 22, 2008
Things are getting heated in South County. Conservatives are battling progressives for three seats and the chance to change the course of development in Watsonville.
Golden boy Luis Alejo and Manuel Bersamin are progressives pushing for more affordable housing, and Alejo has big-time ideas on turning the city into a green jobs epicenter. While their opponents Joe Ortiz and Gabriel Gonzalez are very in touch with their districts, they seem to have a bit too much backing from airport interests; Ortiz is prioritizing more big-box store projects.
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INTERVIEW BY THE GOOD TIMES WEEKLY
Saturday October 18, 2008
INTERVIEW BY THE GOOD TIMES WEEKLY
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Luis Alejo decries faked election forms
Wednesday October 15, 2008
As the election season heats up and politicians across the country ramp up for Nov. 4, campaigners take to the airwaves, television programming and mailers, trying to get their voices heard.
Many still walk their districts, knocking on doors and meeting the people they would represent.
Candidates are bound by numerous rules — which cover financial disclosures — while campaigning, and occasionally a rule is broken.
That was apparently the case last week when Luis Alejo, attorney and community activist running for the District 2 seat on the Watsonville City Council, filed a complaint against his opponent for possible campaign malfeasance.
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Campaign finance reports reveal donors
Wednesday October 08, 2008
Candidates for local offices and political action committees were required by Monday to file or postmark campaign finance reports from July 1 to Sept. 30 if they raised $1,000 or more for the Nov. 4 election.
This report is not a complete list, as more statements are expected this week. The next reporting deadline is Oct. 23 for the period of Oct. 1-18.
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Community activist Luis Alejo wants to be 'strong voice' for Watsonville on its council
Monday September 29, 2008
Luis Alejo started a career in political organizing in his hometown as a 19-year-old, helping found the Watsonville Brown Berets as a counter to gang violence. So when he left for college, he promised himself he'd come back and make a difference.