About Vera

I have been a Carson resident since 1964.  As a single mother of one son and grandmother to one granddaughter, my commitment to our community has been a life long endeavor.  My family has been the driving force behind a strong desire to be a change agent so that they could enjoy a safe, diverse, resourceful environment in which to thrive.  As a minority woman business owner in the City of Carson for over 45 years, I served on the City Council for 10 years, serving as the first Latina elected official and Mayor.  In 2012, I was a finalist to be appointed as City Clerk after Helen Kawagoe retired.  Currently, I serve on the Board of the Water Replenishment District  of Southern California, Division 5.  

• Protect your voting rights.  Guarantee that every eligible voter in Carson is allowed to vote.  Complete an audit of all polling locations to assure accessibility and that enough exist so that there are no long lines on election day.
• Restore and repair the Office of the City Clerk. There is a need to improve efficiency in responding to public records requests. 
• Bring experience, organization and knowledge of California voting laws back to the City Clerk's Office.  
• Reduce and eliminate complaints made by candidates running for office about inaccurate information provided by the Clerk’s office. 
• Engage in civic education by promoting voter registration drives, conducting quarterly town hall meetings to keep community informed of what is happening at City Hall. 
• Reinstitute the Passport Program.
• Clear up the back log preparing the minutes of all City Council meetings. 
• Shorten the period of time for campaign signs. Instead of 90 days (city looks blighted) reduce to 30 days and insure the timely removal of signs is enforced.
• Protect the Integrity of the Office,  by maintaining the autonomy of the Office to be free of political influence and corruption. .

• Led an Initiative to stop swap meets from coming to Carson
• Led referendum on an illegal trash contract resulting in lower trash rates for residents.
• Led a successful recall of an elected official that was deemed a menace to staff after a thorough investigation.
• Worked for 3 years as an Inspector overseeing polling locations. One year poll workers failed to show up and I was solely responsible for the polling location until replacements arrived.
• Led successful lawsuit to force Carson to stop violating the CA Voting Rights Act and now Carson has elections by Districts.
• Conducted several voter registration drives focusing on increasing registered voter in Carson.
• Former Board Member and Member of the Carson Chamber of Commerce
• 10 year member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC)
• Executive Board Member of the South County Labor Federation (AFLCIO)
• Former Economic Development Commissioner
• Member of PALAD, Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats
• Member of CARA, California Alliance for Retired Americans