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Esau Herrera
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Esau Herrera was a member of the Alum Rock Union School District school board in California. Herrera assumed office in 2014. Herrera left office in 2018.
Herrera ran for re-election to the Alum Rock Union School District school board in California. Herrera lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Herrera completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
He was first elected to the board on November 4, 2014.
Herrera was a 2016 Democratic candidate for District 27 of the California State Assembly. Herrera was defeated in the primary election.
Herrera previously served on the Alum Rock Union Board of Trustees. He was elected in 2008 but lost his bid for re-election in 2012.[1][2]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Alum Rock Union School District school board (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Alum Rock Union School District school board on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Andres Quintero (Nonpartisan) | 19.0 | 8,740 |
| ✔ |  | Linda Chavez (Nonpartisan)  | 13.3 | 6,089 |
| ✔ |  | Ernesto Bejarano (Nonpartisan) | 13.0 | 5,952 |
 | Raymond Mueller (Nonpartisan) | 12.0 | 5,505 | |
 | Khanh Tran (Nonpartisan) | 11.8 | 5,425 | |
| Esau Herrera (Nonpartisan) | 11.1 | 5,104 | ||
| Brenda Zendejas (Nonpartisan) | 10.6 | 4,868 | ||
 | Bruce Huynh (Nonpartisan) | 9.1 | 4,197 | |
| Total votes: 45,880 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2016
Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.[3] Incumbent Nora Campos (D) did not seek re-election.
Ash Kalra defeated Madison Nguyen in the California State Assembly District 27 general election.[4][5]
| California State Assembly, District 27 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Ash Kalra |
53.21% | 71,696 | |
| Democratic | Madison Nguyen | 46.79% | 63,048 | |
| Total Votes | 134,744 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
The following candidates ran in the California State Assembly District 27 Blanket primary.[6][7]
| California State Assembly, District 27 Blanket Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Madison Nguyen |
34.35% | 27,453 | |
| Democratic | Ash Kalra |
19.82% | 15,843 | |
| Republican | Van Le | 14.67% | 11,726 | |
| Democratic | Andres Quintero | 13.67% | 10,922 | |
| Democratic | Cong Thanh Do | 6.09% | 4,869 | |
| Democratic | Darcie Green | 5.97% | 4,769 | |
| Democratic | Esau Herrera | 5.43% | 4,342 | |
| Total Votes | 79,924 | |||
2014
Three seats on the Alum Rock Union School District Board of Trustees were up for general election on November 4, 2014. The at-large race featured six candidates, including incumbent Andres Quintero and challengers Esau Herrera, Maribel Moreno, Khanh Tran, Claudia Tercero and Dulce Gonzalez.
Quintero, Herrera and Tran defeated the other candidates and won seats on the board.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Andres Quintero Incumbent |
21.7% | 5,886 | |
| Nonpartisan | Esau Herrera |
20.9% | 5,680 | |
| Nonpartisan | Khanh Tran |
16.4% | 4,445 | |
| Nonpartisan | Maribel Moreno | 12.8% | 3,474 | |
| Nonpartisan | Claudia Tercero | 14.9% | 4,047 | |
| Nonpartisan | Dulce Gonzalez | 13.4% | 3,643 | |
| Total Votes | 27,175 | |||
| Source: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, "General Election Results," accessed December 19, 2014 | ||||
Funding
Herrera reported $7,589.00 in contributions and $6,624.88 in expenditures to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, leaving his campaign with $964.12 cash on hand as of October 18, 2014.[8]
Endorsements
Herrera received endorsements from the following organizations:[8][9][10][11]
- Santa Clara County Democratic Party
- South Bay Labor Council
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 104
- Plumbers, Steamfitters Local 393 Political Action Fund
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 332
- Evolve
2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Dolores Marquez Incumbent |
32.8% | 10,650 | |
| Nonpartisan | Karen Martinez |
27.4% | 8,889 | |
| Nonpartisan | Esau Herrera Incumbent | 22.6% | 7,349 | |
| Nonpartisan | Leland Lowe | 17.2% | 5,603 | |
| Total Votes | 32,491 | |||
| Source: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, "Presidential General Election November 6, 2012 Official Final Election Results," accessed July 3, 2014 | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Esau Herrera completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Herrera's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1) Expanding early childhood education, because success in school begins before kindergarten. 2) Improving and modernizing school facilities, including after-school sports facilities. 3) Raising expectations of both students and District administration, to continue our increasing academic achievement.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Early childhood education, because readiness for school begins before kindergarten. Music, performing arts, and after-school sports programs for students, because often that is the strongest connection that students have to their school.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
My parents are exemplary role models for any caring adult, who believed in the power of education, and that education of our schoolchildren should be the focus instead of the political differences of adults.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Stand & Deliver, a film about "underachieving" Latino students who were challenged with higher expectations; and "McFarland USA" a film about low-income Latino students who were challenged to give their best effort in everything that they did.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
An ability to listen well, and to properly review and comprehend the relevant facts of every educational situation, plus the ability to be a change agent when necessary.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
My level of education, coupled with my life experiences, permit me to fairly and intelligently assess the issues that come before the Board of Education.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To always act in the best interests of the educational institution, and in the best interests of the constituent population (students, parents, teachers, schools).
What legacy would you like to leave?
That the educational institution was strengthened and improved by my participation, and that students were provided expanded opportunities to find their own path to educational success.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
At 10 years of age, I experienced the gut punch of seeing my father facing racial discrimination, simply because of his Mexican heritage. It put me on a path to secure dignity and equality for all.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was working with my parents in the fields, picking fruit to help support the family, from the time I could walk to 14 years of age.
What happened on your most awkward date?
I was going on an inexpensive drive into the country, in a borrowed car, and then could not cross the tool bridge because I didn't have the $1 toll. Embarrassing!
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas, because the entire family gets together to make tamales throughout the whole day, and then eagerly consumes them right out of the pot.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Mila 18, by Leon Uris, because it details the struggles of common people in their fight for freedom and basic human dignity.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Robin Hood, because he was the merry thief of Sherwood Forest, helping the less fortunate and oppressed.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
A large portrait of my son and daughter, sitting with their father (me), as it reminds me of the wonderful blessing that God has bestowed on me.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
The theme song from "Beauty & the Beast," Tales as Old as Time, as it reminds me of my daughter as a child who always wanted to dance with her father (lucky ME) when Beauty and the Beast were dancing onscreen. The song still brings tears of joy to my eyes, every time I hear it.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
It was a daily struggle to balance work life and family life, but it paid off handsomely as evidenced by my two kids, both middle school teachers who are influencing the next generation of leaders.
What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
To support the daily success of our schools, in small and large ways.
Who are your constituents?
My parents and their schoolchildren are my constituents, even though the children cannot vote. The needs of the schoolchildren should prevail over the political differences of the adults.
How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
By being regularly informed and involved in the activities of my constituents, instead of merely standing back and only reading reports.
How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
I will build relationships with the broader community by being visible at difference events, and by raising my voice at every opportunity in support of our schools and schoolhildren.
What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?
I strongly support greater parent involvement. I am Spanish-English bilingual, in a school district that is largely Latino, and regularly meet with parents in their home and/or churches.
Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?
The staff of the school district should fairly reflect the community. Our schoolchildren and parents should be provided the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the school staff, at all levels.
What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?
Government sometimes gets in the way of school success. Our own attitudes sometimes get in the way of student and school success ("oh well, that's good enough... ). We need to raise our expectations of ALL who work in education.
What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?
Good teaching is reflected in the engagement of the student in class, every single school day. I would support good teaching by removing the bureaucratic obstacles that government and old-school thinkers place in the way of dedicated teachers. The classroom teacher generally knows much more and much better what is needed for their students, more so than politicians and distant administrators.
What type of skills should students be learning for success in the 21st century?
They should be learning to assess problems and how to solve those problems. They should be learning how to work in teams, with each student contributing to the success of the team.
How might you improve the value of a high school diploma? What should a 21st century diploma reflect?
A high school diploma is only as valuable as the academic preparation that underlies it. Exposing the high school student to different academic disciplines, including critical thinking skills and problem solving situations, would make that diploma more valuable.
In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?
Expanding curriculum in computer science would be beneficial for students in this high tech era. Providing more technical training and/or apprenticeships would provide additional options for academic success for more students.
What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?
Raising our collective voices as school board members, particularly to State legislators, would be a good start to keeping the needs of school funding on the front burner. Keeping our local constituents informed of the State legislative priorities is also important.
What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?
School safety is critically important to me, as the proud parent of two middle school teachers and as a former student in my own school district. Reviewing school plans and District policies for school safety in advance of emergency situations is important to me.
How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?
Promoting good mental health for our educational team and our students is critical to the success of the educational institution. Providing a good work environment for our employees and professional support staff for our students is an integral part of promoting good mental health, as is District policies that support those goals.
What role do you imagine technology playing in (and outside) the classroom in the future? How would you prepare the district for this?
The age of technology in our society has been upon us for some time now. We need to embrace it and institutionalize that into our schools. Electronic devices are not foreign to our students, as they sometimes seem to be foreign to the surrounding adults. We need to encourage and insist upon integrating technology into our everyday classroom experience, so that high tech devices become as common as a dictionary and as common as paper and pencil.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
- Alum Rock Union School District, California
- Alum Rock Union School District elections (2018)
- Alum Rock Union School District elections (2014)
- California State Assembly
- California State Assembly District 27
- California State Assembly elections, 2016
- California State Legislature
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Alum Rock Union School District
- Office website
- 2014 Smart Voter profile
- 2008 Smart Voter profile
- California State Assembly
Footnotes
- ↑ Smart Voter, "Board Member; Alum Rock Union Elementary School District Voter Information November 4, 2008 Election," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, "Presidential General Election November 6, 2012 Official Final Election Results," accessed July 3, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for the November 8, 2016, General Election," accessed September 7, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices," accessed April 4, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, "Viewing filings made by Esau Herrera for School Board 2014," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Santa Clara County Democratic Party, "Endorsements," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ South Bay Labor Council, "November 4, 2014 General Election Candidate Endorsements," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Evolve, "Endorsements: November 04, 2014 Election," accessed October 29, 2014
| Alum Rock Union School District elections in 2018 | |
| Santa Clara County, California | |
| Election date: | November 6, 2018 |
| Important information: | What was at stake? |
| 2014 Alum Rock Union School District Elections | |
| Santa Clara County, California | |
| Election date: | November 4, 2014 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Andres Quintero • Dulce Gonzalez • Esau Herrera • Maribel Moreno • Claudia Tercero • Khanh Tran |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
