Cassie Gonzales Running for Concord City Council

Casilda “Cassie” Gonzales is announcing her candidacy for Concord City Council in the 2016 election.

Her campaign business card is two-sided: one side is in Spanish, the other in English. She describes herself there as a “Community Activist, Cancer Survivor, Mom/Grandma.” That is just a start.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with parents of Mexican descent, Cassie has lived in Concord most of her life. She raised her three kids in Concord. Along the way, she became a Registered Nurse. She now works at John Muir Hospital in Concord, as a Home Health/Public Health Nurse.

“I remember having a passion for community service as far back as when I was nine years old,” she says. “I’m now close to retirement. I have more time to devote to my community. I want to be a voice for Latinos and others who want my help in Concord. That is why I want to run for the Concord City Council. I have a passion to serve.”

Cassie feels that she knows the city well. She was formerly active in the PTA at Wren Avenue School, and she was active at Queen of All Saints Church. She volunteered for years for Child Assault Prevention and Rape Crisis in Concord. And she has had the pleasure of volunteering as a nurse many times at the annual Carnival of Health at Meadow Homes Park.

But she also wants to know the City better. Cassie has recently applied to serve on several Concord Committees and Commissions with openings. She attends most of the City Council meetings, and she is trying to meet with and listen to as many in the Concord community as possible. She knows that she still has a lot to learn to serve on the City Council.

Cassie feels that Concord’s Latino Community is currently underserved within Concord City government. She wants to offer her skillsets to make improvements in this area. She wants to represent all in Concord, but specifically those in the Latino entities, such as the schools, churches, workplaces, stores and other businesses, and other places where Latinos interact. She knows that being bilingual and bicultural, herself, is hugely important in ensuring positive developments for Concord Latinos in future years.

“God forbid, but if and when serious incidents occur that involve Latinos in Concord, I want to be there,” she says. “I feel that I have a calling for this purpose. I feel that the Latino Community needs a spokesperson who will be there, and who can represent its needs.”

For more information, contact Cassie Gonzales at 925-324-4829.

s