Candidate for
United States Representative; District 16

Daniel (Dan) Sahagun Republican Nominee, U.S. House of Representatives California 16th District

I am a naturalized U.S. Citizen born in Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico. I am an American citizen by choice. My family, father Santos Carrillo Sahagun, mother Paula Ramirez Sahagun, and three sisters and I entered the United States legally in 1950 and settled in Salinas, California. My youngest sister was born later in Salinas.

I attended Sacred Heart Elementary school in Salinas and later Palma High school. We spoke no English when we arrived; but learned through the efforts of a dedicated nun at Sacred Heart. While growing up, the entire family worked in the strawberry fields around the Salina Valley During junior high school and high school I worked at a wide variety of jobs including cutting lettuce and loading lettuce trucks. We all worked to help the family survive.

In 1954, just before my 12th birthday, my father died in an accident on the job. We were suddenly faced with the reality of serious financial hardship. My sisters and I worked after school and weekends to support the family. I worked in the lettuce and strawberry fields, as a grocery clerk and as a butcher. My father believed in hard work and study so, I did a lot of both.

In 1966 I joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served proudly until 1969. After Boot Camp and electronics training, I was assigned to a Marine Air Control squadron in the Marine Air Wing in Santa Ana, California and 29 Palms. I worked on maintenance of advanced electronic communications equipment including cryptographic equipment and held a top secret clearance while in the Marines. I also earned my private pilot's license there in my spare time.

Upon my honorable discharge, I started my career in the electronics industry. At this same time, I started attending San Jose City College and earned an Associate Degree in Business. In 1970, I was assigned to Europe and lived there for several years, as Field Engineering manager. During my years in France, I learned the French language. In 1972 I returned to the Silicon Valley in California and worked for a computer peripherals company with responsibility for Latin America, Asia and Australia as well as the U.S and Canada.

I have worked in several Silicon Valley electronics companies and have owned a business. I have worked in hardware companies and software companies. I've been a worker and I've been the boss. I have been a vice president of two different companies in Silicon Valley. I have owned my own business. I know how to create and manage a budget. I know what it takes to make a payroll and the pain of a layoff when times are hard.

I retired from the high technology industry in 2007.

I live with my wife, Isabel in San Jose California. I have two daughters one granddaughter.