By Megan Burks
San Diego labor leader Lorena Gonzalez announced late Wednesday she’ll run to represent San Diegans in California’s 80th Assembly District. The district covers most of the South Bay and stretches up into City Heights.
Ben Hueso is expected to vacate the position early next year in a run for the state Senate seat left empty by Juan Vargas. Vargas is replacing Bob Filner in Congress after Filner’s successful run for mayor.
As secretary-treasurer and CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, Gonzalez has been an outspoken proponent for working class communities south of Interstate 8. She publicly criticized former Mayor Jerry Sander’s downtown-centric development goals and helped City Heights taxi drivers organize under the labor council this summer.
Gonzalez is sometimes considered harsh, often butting heads with San Diego Republicans and others who want more competition for public labor contracts.
Gonzalez has endorsements from City Heights Councilwoman Marti Emerald, school board member Marne Foster and Mayor Filner, among others. She lives in Sherman Heights.
Read more on the announcement from KPBS and Voice of San Diego. The North County Times has this profile on Gonzalez.