A woman once dubbed the “patron saint of Boyle Heights” is entering a very crowded race to represent thr 34th Congressional District. Former Los Angeles planning commissioner María Cabildo is the twelfth person to place a bid for the seat now that current Representative Xavier Becerra is expected to succeed Kamala Harris as state Attorney General.
One of the four founders of the East Los Angeles Community Corporation (ELACC), Cabildo was born and raised where City Terrace meets Boyle Heights. The LA Weekly penned a 2015 profile on Cabildo calling her “the patron Saint of Boyle Heights” for her work in affordable housing.
Cabildo was appointed to the L.A.’s Planning Commission in 2013 and served until 2015. She currently works for L.A. County, helping oversee implementation of a homeless initiative approved last year
Cabildo is the second woman with direct ties to Boyle Heights that is vying for Becerra’s seat. Boyle Heights resident and activist Wendy Carillo was among the first to add her name to a list that now also includes Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles); Kenneth Mejía, a Green Party candidate who previously ran against Becerra in June; Sara Hernandez, a former aide to L.A. City Councilman José Huízar; Arturo Carmona, a former deputy political director for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign; and Yolie Flores, a former LAUSD board member.
The other candidates are Karl Siganporia, so far the sole Republican in the race; union organizer Raymond Meza; former White House aide and journalist Alejandra Campoverdi; Steven Mac, an L.A. County prosecutor and Vanessa Aramayo, former head of the California Partnership, an anti-poverty group.
Other high profile politicians including Huízar and former Assemblymber John Pérez have bowed out of the race.
The 34th Congressional District represents parts of downtown, east, and northeast LA including Boyle Heights, Chinatown, and Highland Park.
Photo above: In a 2013, Maria Cabildo appears along City Council members José Huízar (left) and Curren Price at a rally in favor of street food vendors. Photo courtesy of ELACC.
