Candidate for
Council Member; City of Hayward

The youngest of four children of Benito Lopez, we moved to Hayward in 1965. I attended Schafer Park elementary, Calaroga Jr. High and graduated from Mt. Eden High School in 1978. I attended the Regional Occupational Center and Chabot College. I attended the George Meany Institute for Labor Studies in Silver Springs, Maryland in 2002.

Married to Linda in 1993 and was blessed by the birth of Renee in 1995. We bought our home in the Sorensdale/Huntwood neighborhood in 1998 after renting in Hayward all of my adult life. I worked at Perry and Key Body shop in Hayward for 10 years. I worked at Hayward Dodge and Hayward Nissan/ Chrysler. All as a member of Teamsters Local 78. I now work for the East Bay Municipal Utility District and have been there for 15 years. I have been Shop Steward, Executive Board Member and served as Union President of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 444 in 2002-2003. I was the lead negotiator for the 2003-2007 contract. I am a delegate to AFSCME'S Council 57 and a delegate to the Alameda Central Labor Council.

My father became involved in Hayward politics from almost the moment we moved here. Appointed to Hayward's first Human Relations Commission, he was a founding member of the South Hayward Democratic Club, founding member the Hayward/San Felipe Sister City Committee and Familias Unidas of St. Bede's church.

I guess my father's involvement with so many civic organizations must have rubbed off on me. My brothers and I walked precincts and passed out fliers for Charlie Santana, J. Birchfield, Tom Neveau, John Pappas and Julio Bras. It is no wonder why I have become interested and active in local politics.

After running in the last council election, coming in 5th out of 13, and just missing by 275 votes, I became convinced that there are people in this community that are listening: they are fed up with business as usual. They are tired of the city taking peoples property using eminent domain when they don't have the deep pockets to fight the city. Our residents see the need for activities for our children to combat gang involvement. They are tired of our council wasting money on studies and raising their own salaries. They don't like the city council creating more and ever larger redevelopment areas, shrinking the general fund upon which the city depends. But most of all, it tells me that our residents are disgusted with the fact that our council just doesn't get it!

I DO GET IT! I see the need for affordable housing. I know the way to combat gang violence is with supervised activities for kids. I think building community centers or another Boys and girls club is a far better use of our tax dollars than studying tunnels under downtown Hayward.