Mayoral Candidate: Ana Apodaca

We sent an e-mail questionnaire to every candidate running in the local November election. Here are the answers we received from Ana Apodaca, who is running for Newark mayor and has lived in Newark since 1975.

Q. What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

A. I am running for mayor to strengthen Newark by ensuring our long-term sustainability while protecting the elements we love. I will protect the small town experience while moving our city into the future and make Newark even better than we are today.

Q. What will be your top three priorities if you get elected?

A. My top three priorities are public safety, economic development and job creation, and improving communications between city hall and Newark’s residents.

Q. What sets you apart from the other candidates?

A. I didn’t move to Newark as an adult, I grew up in Newark and it was a wonderful experience. My first memories are in the home my parents still live in today. I remember hide and seek in the cul-de-sac with the neighborhood kids, walking to school and the community center, playing softball for the Newark Bobby Sox, and working at Newpark Mall during college.

As an adult, I cherish the experience of growing up in Newark because it instilled in me what I want for every child growing up in Newark; to grow up in a safe community with that small town feel.

I am running for mayor to strengthen Newark by ensuring our long-term sustainability while protecting the elements we love. I will protect the small town experience while moving our city into the future and make Newark even better than we are today.

Q. What date were you born and where?

A. I was born on April 12, 1973, in Queretaro, Mexico.

Q. What is your spouse’s or domestic partner’s name, if any?

A. I am not married, nor do I have a domestic partner.

Q. What are the names and ages of your children, if any?

A. I am not a parent.

Q. List the schools and colleges you attended, the degrees you attained and when.

A. Graduate of Moreau High School. Graduate of CSU Hayward (now Cal State East Bay). I have a BA degree in political science and a minor in American Studies.

Q. Provide details about any military service (branch, date, honors).

A. I have not served in the military.

Q. Have you held an elected or appointed public office?

A. I was first elected to the Newark City Council in 2005. I was re-elected in

2009.

Q. Have you run unsuccessfully for an elected public office?

A. No, I have not.

Q. About how much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election?

A. I am not sure but it will be within the amounts I raise.

Q. Have you or a business you owned or had principal interest in ever filed bankruptcy?

A. I have never owned or held principal interest in a business.

Q. How do you plan on building the City of Newark’s relationship with businesses? with the Newark Unified School District?

A. Newark needs to do a survey amongst business owners and CEOs. We need to know why they chose to operate in Newark, what makes them stay, what Newark can do better and how can we work together to bring more businesses to Newark. We need to assess our businesses to obtain a better knowledge of what we have and what types of businesses we need. We must then market these businesses and our community to enhance our local economy. We need to hold Business Attraction Forums and begin outreach to businesses to highlight our community and capture businesses that are looking for new locations.

I will create a Youth Advisory Commission to hear directly from the young people in our community. Along with the new commission, I would like to place two members on the Joint Youth Task Force that the city and school district currently work together on. This new formation will allow youth to have an active participation to both jurisdictions, and I want the task force to work on joint policy that both boards can adopt working truly towards a youth task force that ensures to better our youth’s future.

Q. List your past and/or present involvement with city or school organizations.

A.

• City Councilmember, 2005-present
• Alameda County Library Advisory Commission
• Dumbarton Rail Policy Advisory Committee
• Association of Bay Area Governments
• Second Chance
• Newark Board of Education Joint Youth Task Force
• San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
• Hispanic Community Affairs Council (Scholarship Program)
• Puente Project, Chabot Community College
• SAVE (Safe Alternatives for Violent Environments)
• Newark Business Education Roundtable (NBERT)

Q. As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation? If so, please explain and include dates and locations.

A. I have never been charged with a crime.

Q. Where do you work and what is your job title?

A. I am employed by a major healthcare organization as a community and governmental relations manager.

Q. Do you have a website where people can learn more about your campaign?

A. www.AnaApodacaforMayor.com