My Family and Hayward Values
As a teenager my Dad (people knew him as Tony) moved from Carlsbad, New Mexico to Hayward in the 1950’s. He lived with his aunt Hilda on Chenault Way across the street from the Hayward Airport. My parents married in 1960's and they began their lifelong investment in Hayward by purchasing their first home on Gaither Way in the Schafer Park Neighborhood. My Dad worked hard his whole life. He worked in the Tire Department at Sears at Southland Mall and he was a Chabot College student. My Dad was a Police Officer for the City of Oakland for 18 years and he was so proud of his industrial steam cleaning business he built and operated for 10 years. When my Dad died he was an investigator for the State of California Health and Human Services Department. My parents were married for 32 years when my father died and I am sure he’s pleased that today he’s buried at Lone Tree Cemetery in the city he moved to over 50 years ago and loved so much.
My Mom’s story is similar to many Hayward families. From New Mexico too, my Mom moved to Hayward when she married my Dad. People know my mom as Lorina or Lori and she worked at United Can, a company that manufactured all of the cans for Hunts Cannery. She worked at BART for many years and today she's enjoying retirement from Alameda County. My Mom over the years has been incredibly active in Hayward and the Hayward Area. From the St. Bede Woman’s Club to President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County to Board Member of the Seventh Step Foundation. Both of my parents believe in the principle 'leadership through service' and today I have followed the path my parents paved for me many years ago.
I am a proud Hayward native. I was born at St. Rose Hospital and I grew up in South Hayward in the Schafer Park Neighborhood. I attended Eldridge Elementary School, St. Bede Catholic School, 3 R's Middle School in San Leandro, and I graduated from Hayward High School. I transferred from Chabot College to San Francisco State University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in La Raza Studies and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Public Policy Studies.
I am also an educator and my career started 26 years ago at San Francisco State University. Today, I teach Ethnic Studies and History at Chabot College and I occasionally lecturer in the Ethnic Studies Department at California State University, East Bay.
For 29 years I have been a volunteer at The Kids’ Breakfast Club, a non-profit organization in Hayward responsible for feeding thousands of deserving children and their families when school isn't in session. For the past 17 years, I have served as the Executive Director and I’m responsible for all organizational activities from budget to program development and evaluation to developing campaigns focused on regional and community health and nutrition policy initiatives for kids and their families.
Since 2010, I have had the honor and privilege to represent Hayward neighborhoods and families on the Hayward City Council. As your Council Member, I have steered Hayward through an economic crisis, a housing crisis, and a global pandemic while simultaneously maintaining good and quality city services families and businesses expect. After two successful re-elections, in 2022 I was elected Mayor of Hayward. Today, I lead a strong council and I have the unique opportunity to lead Hayward's comeback. My central focus over the years has been to listen to neighborhoods and then make local government responsive to neighbors and businesses. I am proud of my record always supporting public safety; making it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses to grow in Hayward; solving Hayward's housing and homelessness crisis; as well as making Hayward an Education City. I am especially proud of my record for unapologetically fighting for Hayward kids and making sure they grow up in the best possible city with opportunities.
Today my wife Lety and I live in Downtown Hayward and when we married we wouldn’t have chosen to live anywhere else other than Hayward. I love you Lety very much.
