Filipinos Now Have a Voice in Local Government in California

Volume 4, Issue No. 23

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

Our latest as of Friday, November 11, 2022 

~ Filipinos in the City of National City, the San Diego, California suburb that I've known for many years, have chosen a representative to occupy a seat in policy-making and be the voice of a co-equal. Thanks to the election three days ago of business executive Ditas Yamane to the post of councilor in the area's newly created District 3. She easily defeated a challenger who had parachuted to the place from another neighborhood. But voters knew; they knew who was real and who was not. And the overwhelming verdict is that Ditas Yamane deserves the position.  

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CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA

Ditas Yamane: the Face of Public Service

The Long-Time Executive Is Now the Voice of a Co-Equal

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom". - George S. Patton

TORONTO - The people have spoken in clear and unmistakable terms. The absolute winner in the November 8 electoral contest is a three-decades-long resident and community leader.

The match should not have happened in the first place in the second-oldest city in San Diego County, California - that's the City of National City - a small suburban enclave peopled by at least 10 different racial and ethnic groups. (Related video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf8TM-Ff_iI).

Its very diversity was the main reason to change the way residents vote. So, instead of electing officials at large, meaning city-wide, the local government adopted starting in November this year the concept suggested by Filipinos, i.e. voting by districts.

"The City Council has concluded, on the advice of the City Attorney, that the public interest would be better served by considering a transition to a district-based electoral system," the city ordinance passed in April decreed.

The old system had disadvantaged Filipinos whose numbers (based on the 2000 census of a population of 54,260) had placed them second, at 19 percent, after the Mexicans' 53 percent. 

The 2020 census had lumped Filipinos in the Asian category which is now the largest demographic at 18.5 percent, bigger than Hispanic-White's 11.6 percent. In that sense, the predominant population is Americans of Asian descent. (Related video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo-YTfAo_Rs)

The city was then subdivided into four electoral districts. The odd-numbered districts 1 and 3 had their elections this November 8 while the even-numbered districts 2 and 4 will have theirs in November 2024.

District 3 is practically a Filipino town as it has the highest concentration of Filipino residents, businesses, restaurants, and groceries, including the giant Seafood City which operates in the Greater Toronto Area since 2017. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LNNve5nM34&t=309s).

That's also the place where Ditas Yamane, an experienced realtor, entrepreneur, and community advocate lives with her family for the last 30 years.

When the election by districts was adopted, the overwhelming sense was that she was a shoo-in for the position in case she considered running again for an elective post. Previously, she had been unsuccessful in her persistent pursuit of public office.

In the Nov. 8 polls, Yamane emerged the winner in District 3 with 1,006 votes, or 60.79 percent, over her only rival, a Filipino-American woman of questionable motives whose name isn't worth mentioning, to capture the seat, according to an unofficial tabulation by the regional newspaper The San Diego Union-Tribune. 

At this writing, her number has risen. The Registrar of Voters had put the votes she garnered at 62 percent as of Thursday, Nov. 10. Historically, gaining 62 percent of the vote assures a win.

Yamane's victory is significant in many ways, but the main takeaway is that it guarantees a place on the table of official policy-making. 

Moreover, the low-key voice that had been ignored and long unheard of in the corridors of power is now poised to be recognized as a co-equal.

"I believe that people voted for me because they also believe the second highest population of National City must have representation," says Yamane, who for years has held executive leadership positions in community and nonprofit organizations.

"Furthermore," she states in a brief interview by electronic mail, "they have seen that I continue to serve my city as chairwoman of the Planning Commission, chairwoman of the Housing Advisory as well as Citizens Advisory for Sweetwater Authority".

In her candidate statement prior to the election, Yamane, who has a wealth of experience in financial analysis and business management, declared: "I have the skills and experience necessary to help in strategic solutions to any challenges that our city faces. 

"I love National City. I will work hard to provide the services and respect our community deserves. I am committed to putting our Neighborhood First! (Related video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H9HW5-8Dwc).

Indeed, starting January 1, 2023, Filipinos in National City will no longer be the "swing vote" that they've always been before Yamane's historic election.

"We want to be a part of the policymaking, of the influence that’s happening in the city that we contribute economically,” she said in another interview.

Finally, the person so passionate about public service now has a face. It's Ditas Yamane! (Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved).