Former Daly City Mayor Ray Buenaventura thinks Juslyn Manalo’s lead will hold. CONTRIBUTED
DALY CITY, Calif. – Jubilation reigned Nov. 3 at a strip mall here where supporters of Juslyn Cabrera Manalo gathered in confident expectation as their candidate stepped closer to fulfilling her predecessors’ vision of making history for the community and the county at large.
Earliest returns showed Manalo, whose surname is Tagalog for “win,” leading her opponent and fellow Filipino American Mark Nagales, vice mayor of South San Francisco, in the two-way race to become the first person of Filipino ancestry elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Both aspire to represent District 5 comprising Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, parts of South San Francisco and San Bruno.
At press time Nov. 4, the office of Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder placed Manalo on top with 10,657 or 54.12 percent of the votes over Nagales’ 9,036 or 44.8 percent in the districtwide race.
The 150,775 votes counted (33.5 percent of registered voters) were received in the mail, drop boxes or returned at vote centers on or before Oct. 30. Yet to be counted were votes by mail and dropped off at vote centers or drop boxes after Oct. 30, and conditional voter registration or provisional ballots.
Fighting for working families
Early election results “encourage” Juslyn Manalo and family. CONTRIBUTED
“As the daughter of Filipino immigrants, I carry my family’s story and sacrifices with me. We’re encouraged by the early results, and as we await the remaining ballots, my commitment remains the same: to fight for working families and ensure San Mateo County remains a place we can all call home,” Manalo shared her thoughts with USNewsRank morning after Election Day.
“Throughout this campaign, I’ve heard directly from families struggling with the cost of housing, groceries, and healthcare. We deserve a county where we can afford to stay and build a future,” she reiterated her campaign message of affordability, building homes, healthcare, safety, community and local business as she thanked “volunteers, endorsers, labor partners, community leaders, and families who stood with us.”
USNewsRank was unable to reach Nagales at press time.
The latest reporting of votes is Monday, Nov. 16. Official certification will take place Dec. 3.
If the trend holds, this would be Manalo’s latest victory since she was elected to the Daly City Council in her first-ever campaign for public office in 2016. She has topped every race since, becoming the highest vote-getter among the city’s council aspirants.
She would be the lone Asian American and one of four women on the five-member board when she assumes office in January. She would be second to the youngest after District 2 representative Noelia Corzo, former San Mateo-Foster City School District trustee. Former US Congress Member Jackie Speier, former Menlo Park City Council member Ray Mueller, former East Palo Alto Council Member Lisa Gauthier represent Districts 1, 3 and 4.
Milestone for Fil-Am representation
The results did not surprise Ray Buenaventura, chief legal defender of Monterey County and former Daly City mayor whom Manalo acknowledges as her major mentor.
“I am incredibly proud of Juslyn and all that she has accomplished. I’ve had the privilege of watching her dedicate herself to serving others, and this moment is the result of years of hard work, perseverance, and a genuine commitment to her community,” he told USNewsRank. “Nobody has outworked her to get here, and nobody cares more deeply about the people she serves. What makes her special is not just her intelligence or her leadership ability, though she has both in abundance. It’s her heart. She leads with compassion, listens with humility, and approaches every challenge with thoughtfulness and wisdom.”
As the seniormost member of the City Council 10 years ago, Buenaventura actively sought potential Fil-Am peers and successors. In 2016, he braved the notorious Daly City fog to walk with Manalo and current Fil-Am Mayor Glenn Sylvester, who won in their first campaigns. Two years later he supported Prof. Rod Daus-Magbual, also a Fil-Am, who also won in his debut try.
Though several counties distant from his former base since last year, Buenaventura’s sights are never too far from San Mateo County, particularly the Fil-Am community, always bringing to mind on whose back he and his later colleagues stand.
“As a Filipino American leader, Juslyn’s election is a source of tremendous pride, but what makes me most proud is that she represents the very best of public service. I know she will make the Filipino community proud. My great mentor, Tita Alice Bulos worked so hard for a day like this to happen.”
While the last reporting of votes is not till Nov. 16, Manalo adviser Ray Satorre could not help celebrating, having organized the election watch party at a restaurant on the border of Daly City and South San Francisco.
Juslyn Manalo’s victory is a Fil-Am victory, says adviser Ray Satorre. CONTRIBUTED
“We are really breaking the ceiling and making history in the Bay Area, especially in Daly City,” said the city’s recognized kingmaker. “We have fought for this for almost 35 years, since the time of the late Alice Bulos, and many others. I have campaigned hard and arduously for this election so we can gain the fullest respect and dignity as Fil-Ams in this sphere of California as well as the whole of America in body politic. This is not about Juslyn Manalo (alone), but about pride in being Filipino, a noble race with dignity!”
Grassroots efforts fuel historic bid
Daylight had just broken Nov. 3 when Perla Ibarrientos opened the garage doors at her Southgate Avenue home to find Manalo supporters waiting to set up their 11th hour campaign station.
“I had to rush to Costco to buy food for the energetic young people who were committed to do what it takes to get people to make sure to mark their ballots for Juslyn,” the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center board chair told Inquirer.netUSA. “We’re almost there, where our community has dreamed of for so long. I’m so excited and happy to take part in making history happen.”
Community volunteer Cheryll Cuasay- Catuar managed a diverse crew who have “believed in Juslyn’s vision for a more affordable San Mateo County.”
“The campaign spent countless hours knocking on doors, making calls, mobilizing out community because we believe representation matters,” Cuasay-Catuar, who was among the first to respond to the call for help for essential workers during the COVID lockdown, told Inquirer.netUSA. “Juslyn’s story as the daughter of Filipino immigrants reflects the sacrifices and aspirations of so many of our families. We are incredibly proud of what this community has accomplished together.
Fil-Ams lead in local races
Early results favored veteran Fil-Am elected officials in San Mateo County. In Daly City, Council Member Rod Daus-Magbual is likely to keep his seat though Supervisor Canepa’s Chief of Staff Tony Bayudan did not make it to the top three for victory.
In Colma, Joanne del Rosario is headed for another term as she placed second in the race for two seats.
South San Francisco City Council member for District 3 Flor Nicolas led her two-way race.
First-ever Fil-Am Daly City Council Member Mike Guingona topped his contest to stay on as San Mateo County Community College District Member of the Governing Board of Trustees, Area 2, the lone Fil-Am elected in San Mateo County at this time. But not for long, if results remain favorable to his City Council successor Juslyn Manalo.
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