Ruben Macareno pulled “Signature in Lieu” forms for the 21st Congressional District that encompasses the four San Joaquin Valley counties of Tulare, Kings, Fresno and Kern.
Macareno, who sits on the Farmersville City Council, states that pulling papers gives him the opportunity to speak to constituents who he says are fed up with partisan politics from both sides. He also points out that when the incumbent TJ Cox was elected no one knew who he was.
He had jumped in from running in the adjacent district to run in the 21st district after Emilio Huerta exited the race.
“It is disturbing when someone who comes in last minute with at best minimal ties to the Valley and runs for an office with no other Democratic option,” said Macareno, “then later is found to have numerous bad business dealings that include not paying employees. Furthermore his inability to be in the forefront of the immigration issues that affect a large number of the constituents is a failure. He also dragged his feet in supporting impeachment inquiries for Donald Trump.”
Macareno further points out that the district is largely Latino and someone who represents this kind of district needs to take a leadership role against vicious and hurtful policies of this current administration.
“I have had and will continue to have the conversation of representation,” said Macareno. “Identifying the true needs of the district and how a congressional office can actually help anyone with issues pertaining to the federal government. Many people aren’t aware what the offices provide in terns of constituent services.”
Macareno says he waited to pull papers after the Democrats’ Pre-Endorsement Conference to keep arms length from the Democratic endorsement process which he says is flawed.
“I am a Democrat and support the Democratic platform but I don’t play partisan politics,” he said. “My continued insertion in this race is in the people’s hands, not the party.”
Macareno has membership to the California Democratic Party, immediate past chair of the Tulare County Democratic Party and has run for office at the state level. He currently serves on the Farmersville City Council and President of the independent Latino Democrats of Central California. He worked at the Los Angeles Times in Public Affairs and the newsroom for 20 years. He also worked for the National Association of Latino and Elected Officials in Washington DC of which he is a member of today. He is a member of the California Leagues of Cities, alternate member of the Tulare County Association of Governments and other organizations, and a former Chamber Director.
