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IN THE NEWS
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Doreen Moreno
October 3, 2024
(510) 541-4425
Fernando Sandoval, Contra Costa Community College Board Trustee Proudly Announces an Endorsement from International Labor and Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta
Contra Costa County, CA — Fernando Sandoval, Governing Board Trustee for the Contra Costa Community College District is honored to announce the endorsement of Dolores Huerta for his re-election campaign. Dolores Huerta is an iconic American labor leader and civil rights activist who, with Cesar Chavez, co-founded the United Farm Workers Union. Huerta is also the founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation focused on advocating for social justice and empowering marginalized communities through grassroots organizing, civic engagement and promoting education and healthcare initiatives.
“I am deeply honored to have the endorsement of international labor leader Dolores Huerta who has given tirelessly of herself for over 65 years to advocate for worker’s rights and fair wages, for equality for women and LGBQT rights and for public policies that provide fair employment standards and access to quality health and education for our diverse communities and future leaders,” said Sandoval.
Dolores Huerta is one of the century's most powerful and respected labor movement leaders who has received numerous awards for her trailblazing leadership, including being inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2013 and receiving the country’s highest civilian honor in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2012.
"Fernando Sandoval’s humble beginnings in the migrant camps of Isleton along the Sacramento River to his low-income childhood in East County to his career achievements as a technology and finance advisor to prestigious banking companies worldwide is a perfect example of the perseverance and contributions individuals from labor backgrounds provide our communities and this nation every day,” said Dolores Huerta.
Huerta adds, “His personal upbringing gives him an understanding of both the barriers and benefits of how a quality education can open doors of opportunity to good paying jobs and the economic contributions our families provide to the greater economy. Fernando’s experiences position him to be a bold leader with a vision and a strong voice for all students in the community college system which he has demonstrated over the past four years and will continue to do so in his re-election.”
Huerta leads the endorsement list of other regional labor groups in support of Sandoval’s campaign such as, the United Faculty of the College District, 4CD Local 1, AFSCME Council, the Building and Construction Trades, Central Labor Council and IBEW 302.
Additional key endorsers include the CA Democratic Party and elected officials such as State Senator Bill Dodd, Contra Costa County Supervisors Federal Glover (District 3), Ken Carlson (District 2) along with a wide range of community leaders, small business owners, and college faculty, staff and students all in support of Fernando Sandoval’s
re-election candidacy.
In alignment with Huerta’s legacy, Fernando has been continuously serving East County communities and the students in various roles, such as an advisory member of the Contra Costa Community College District’s committee on diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities. He also Chaired the Bond Oversight Committee for modernization of schools at Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD). Fernando has also organized mentoring, tutoring and motivational workshops for students at Los Medanos College and high schools throughout the area. This year he was recognized for his service by receiving the 2020 Cesar Chavez Award for Exemplary Community Service by Los Medanos College.
Fernando Sandoval is a published author of his memoir, “From Tortilla Chips to Computer Chips” that highlights his upbringing in a hard-working immigrant family, his experience in the U.S. Navy and Vietnam War and his career as a finance and technology management strategy advisor to top banking institutions worldwide.
For more information about Fernando Sandoval’s re-election campaign for the Contra Costa Community College District Board of Trustees, Ward 5, go to
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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Doreen Moreno
August 29, 2024
(510) 541-4425
East County Community Leader Fernando Sandoval Announces His Candidacy for Re-Election to the Contra Costa Community College District Board, Ward 5 with Endorsements from Elected and Community Leaders
Contra Costa County, CA —East County community leader Fernando Sandoval announces his re-election candidacy for the Contra Costa Community College District Board of Trustees with support from a strong list of elected officials, labor leaders and community members from throughout the district including: Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover, Contra Costa County Supervisor Ken Carlson, Building and Construction Trades, Central Labor AFL-CIO and the United Faculty of the College District. They join a coalition of college faculty, staff, students, small business owners, civic leaders, and community activists in support of Sandoval’s race.
"Fernando Sandoval is a leader who has brought vision, bold leadership and a commitment to educational excellence and equity that will advance the academic opportunities for our students, said Yolanda Peña Mendrek, Liberty Union HS Board President. She adds, in addition, his 30 years as a finance and banking consultant to top worldwide corporations will make him an experienced voice and strong ally with the Governing Board as it addresses the budget constraints by the State and the continued fiscal aftermath of the global pandemic.”
In 2022-23 Fernando served as President of the Governing Board. During his 4-year tenure as Board Trustee, some of his accomplishments in this capacity included bringing in District leadership stability with the hiring of the permanent Chancellor, Mojdeh Mehdezadeh, and Presidents of Los Medanos College and Contra Costa College, restoring a relationship with John F. Kennedy/National University and leading DEI efforts most recently with an innovative model for enrollment with Diablo Valley College, Mount Diablo Unified School District and United Latino Voices.
He has also served as a past member of the Contra Costa Community College District Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee (DEEOAC) to advise on a districtwide commitment to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities in accordance with California Education Code, Title 5. He also Chaired the Bond Oversight Committee for modernization of schools at Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD). Fernando community leadership also includes organizing mentoring, tutoring and motivational workshops for K-12 students and Los Medanos College students. He was recognized for his service by receiving the 2020 Cesar Chavez Award for Exemplary Community Service by Los Medanos College.
“I am running for the Contra Costa Community College District Board in my home region because I personally experienced the equity barriers and lack of mentorship for higher education access, particularly for underserved students which still exists today. My goal is to drive student success for the jobs of the future. I want to bring my professional experiences, innovative spirit and commitment to educational excellence and equity to advance real solutions to these issues in collaboration with the Board and through community and philanthropic partnerships,” said Sandoval.
Sandoval added, “I am honored to have the support of educational leaders, local policy-makers and hard-working residents from throughout the East County community college district. We still face unprecedented challenges ahead due to the pandemic’s impact on the district’s budget combined with the long-term racial and social injustice issues facing our region and college district. It has never been more important to have experienced, principled, and responsive leadership now more than ever.”
Fernando Sandoval was raised in East County by a hard-working immigrant family who sacrificed and encouraged education as a career pathway. Fernando is a veteran who served in the Vietnam War, where he maintained advanced computer systems on the USS Enterprise. Professionally he was recruited for information technology manager roles by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sperry Rand, Hughes Aircraft Corporation, and managed change at IBM and General Electric among others. He also provided management strategies and policy decisions for economic recovery as a finance consultant to top banking institutions worldwide.
Fernando Sandoval is a published author of his memoir, “From Tortilla Chips to Computer Chips.”
For more information about Fernando Sandoval’s candidacy, visit fernando4collegeboard.com or for questions contact fernando4education@gmail.com
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