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Miguel Sanchez: ‘The Corruption Changed Me.’

Laurel Galanter |
March 4, 2011 | 12:00 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

 

 

UPDATE: Miguel Sanchez died on Friday, March 4. Sanchez, a diabetic, had been suffering from flu-like symptoms since campaigning on a rainy day. Funeral arrangements are pending. The exact cause of the death is unknown. Sanchez's family refused to comment to the L.A. Times, though the newspaper reported that Sanchez had wanted to drop out because of the stress of campaigning.

***Neon Tommy profiled Sanchez ahead of the election. Here's what he had to say.***

Miguel Sanchez, a resident of Bell for 32 years, has decided it’s time for him to break out of his shell. A seemingly shy man, he wants to stand up for his community by running for City Council on the same slate as candidates Mario Rivas and Nestor Valencia.

“People know me all around," Sanchez said. "They see my face at the parks cleaning up and at social events. Before I was more into helping the community, but the corruption changed me to become an activist.”

Sanchez, 34, a paraeducator at Los Angeles Unified School District,  works with special needs children under the supervison of teachers. A graduate of Bell High School, Sanchez attended Pasadena City College, where he studied Business and Child Development.

Sanchez worked as a city employee for more than 14 years in the Parks and Recreation Department. He volunteered at schools, deejayed at special events, taught basic computer classes and coached soccer. His love for the community runs deep, and running for City Council is his way of showing residents that he wants to do all he can to make things change in Bell.

“What better way to help out my community than to be a voice for the residents?" Sanchez said.

If elected, Sanchez wants residents to get involved with their local government and be a part of different commissions, such as a police department commission. He wants residents to have a say in city budgets. He plans to reduce taxes and cut wasteful spending.

After observing how hard Valencia wanted to fight for justice for Bell, he decided that he wanted to run on the same slate as Valencia and Rivas.

“Seeing how Nestor had a love for justice for the city and was fighting the machine inside, I was getting to talk to him and getting to know him and then he ran with Mario in 2009, and I was one of the people that stepped up to run with them.”

Sanchez says the other candidates don’t have the interest of the residents at heart. A man who describes himself as humble and who does the work he does simply for the love of his community and not for recognition, he is ready to be seen as a public figure.

Reach reporter Laurel Galanter here.



 

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