Photo courtesy of Ely De La Cruz Ayao’s campaign website
FORMER State Assembly and State Senate candidate Ely De La Cruz Ayao is running for the LA City Council District 6 seat in this coming March 5 elections.
According to information Ayao sent to Asian Journal, his focus will be on solving the challenges the community faces and his number one priority will be to bring back clean, safe neighborhoods and schools to the community should he get elected.
Included in his plans will be to provide funding for pilot projects that will immediately remove illegally dumped trash and clean graffiti; tap available resources from the government such as the low-income housing tax credit program and free money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address homelessness within the community, and work with community organizations that have a proven track record; remove homeless people off the streets and those camped in front of businesses; use resources to fund a dedicated and specialized Los Angeles Police Department unit to respond to calls that deal with the mentally ill and homeless; provide funding for deployment of CCTV cameras in crime-prone areas without invading residents’ right to privacy in order to identify and arrest criminals; and repair sidewalks and streets in the district, including trimming/removal of trees that pose as hazards.
Ayao also is proposing creating a Public Safety Committee comprised of members of neighborhood councils, the neighborhood watch, homeowners, renters, the faith-based community and the business sector which shall meet with Ayao and his staff once a month to share concerns and accomplishments, and discuss requested resources.
Ayao is a former native of Camarines Sur, Philippines who migrated to the United States in 1985 in search of a better quality of life. He has worked hard his entire life, starting at an early age when he worked as a janitor through high school in order to attend a privately-owned school. This continued in college where he worked odd jobs in order to support himself while earning a bachelor’s degree in Commerce. Prior to moving to the U.S., he was a unit manager of an international mutual insurance life company.
Ayao is married to Marilou Beltran, who worked as a nurse for 40 years. Ayao says that he has found that better quality of living here in the U.S. with his wife, four children, 7 grandchildren (2 of whom actively serve in the military) and 1 great granddaughter.
A small business owner, Ayao worked as a real estate and mortgage broker for three decades before deciding to retire. He believes that his real estate and finance background will give him the tools to help accomplish his goals and vision.
According to Ayao, the main supporter of his campaign is the GOP, although he is running in a non-partisan race. He is also being supported by the LA Hispanic Republican Club, and his campaign volunteers include parishioners from St. Genevieve’s parish, the Knights of Columbus and longtime friends.
Ayao is hoping that Filipino Americans living in District 6, which includes the communities of Arleta, Lake Balboa, North Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Panorama City, Sun Valley and Van Nuys, will support his campaign and help him get elected to the city council. His campaign will continue their door-to-door outreach/canvassing up to the eve of election day.
To learn more about Ely Ayao’s campaign for the District 6 seat for the LA City Council, go to AyaoForCityCouncil.com.
