Bonta looks to win full-term as CA Atty Gen
FILIPINO Americans in the Bay Area continue to make their mark in local politics.
In the recently-concluded mid-term elections held Tuesday, November 8, a few Fil-Ams have come out on top or near the top of their races for positions within their counties and cities/towns based on semi-official/unofficial results from county elections websites and results posted online.
In the race for the Governing Board of the San Mateo Community College Board District Member Truste Area 2, Michael Guingona, a former Daly City councilmember, garnered 8,151 votes (59.71%), leading rival Michael Makstman, who got 5,500 votes (40.2%).
In the City of Daly City, which has multiple Fil-Ams in the council, two kababayans are in the magic 3 – Ray Buenaventura, who has served as mayor and vice-mayor in the City Council, leads all vote-getters with 7,289 votes (27.42%), while Rod Daus-Magbual is in third with 4,502 votes (16.94%).
In nearby Colma, Joanne del Rosario placed second in the election for the town’s two councilmembers, garnering 124 votes (35.33%).
In South San Francisco, Flor Nicolas ran unopposed for City Council, District 3, and got 100% of the vote, or 1,158 total votes.
Down in the Southbay, Garry Barbadillo is in the number 2 position for the Milpitas City Council (two seats open), having garnered 3,289 votes (21.12%)
Thelma Boac garnered 6,840 votes (32.83%) to lead candidates vying for three positions in the Berryesa Union SD Governing Board.
In Oakland, Nikki Fortunato Bas (2,540 votes/60.42%) is leading Harold Lowe (1,664 votes/39.58%) for City Council, District 2. Fortunato Bas is the incumbent for the district.
In El Cerrito, councilmember Gabriel Quinto has garnered 3,394 votes (35.90%) to be in prime position for one of two open council seats. In 2014, Quinto became the first Filipino American, the second Asian American and the first LGBTQ councilmember in the city’s history.
In Vallejo, Fil-Ams Charles Palmares and Ruscal Cayangyang are battling it out for the right to represent District 4 in the Vallejo City Council. Palmares has 825 votes (35%) to Cayangyang’s 754 votes (32%).
For Vallejo’s District 2, Diosdado “JR” Matulac is leading all candidates with 859 votes, or 38% of total votes cast.
Meanwhile, current California Attorney General Rob Bonta leads the race for his position. Bonta, a Democrat, has garnered 3,090,524 votes (57.2%) to the 2,314,483 votes (42.8%) gotten by his Republican challenger Nathan Hochman, according to the California Secretary of State website. He is projected by analysts to win a full term as attorney general of the Golden State.
Bonta was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to his position when Xavier Becerra joined the Biden-Harris administration as health secretary. Since he was appointed more than midway through Becerra’s term, he is eligible to run for two additional 4-year terms.
Bonta is the first Filipino American to hold the office of attorney general in California.
