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Politics & Government

Diverse Candidates Declare for Council

Challengers to the incumbents now include a young banker from an immigrant family, a retired firefighter who spent nine years on the school board and a young hospitality worker who has been active with Occupy Napa and Napa Local.

The November, 2012 election is shaping up to be a pivotal one not only for the nation, but for the city of Napa, where three first-time council candidates have already stepped forward to challenge the incumbents.

Alfredo Pedroza

A 25-year-old credit union manager is the latest would-be council member to declare for the race.

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"We have a unique quality of life and I am committed to working hard to preserving our community values," said Alfredo Pedroza in a campaign statement released last week.

Pedroza grew up in north Napa, the son of Mexican immigrants. He attended Vintage High School and Sonoma State University and is a branch manager for Redwood Credit Union.

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He serves as a commissioner on the Napa County Gang and Youth Violence Commission, treasurer for Community Action Napa Valley and Marketing Chair for the Napa County Hispanic Network. He has also served on the boards of the Napa Valley Education Foundation, the Napa Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Bilingual Broadcasting Association/KBBF Radio.

Alex Pader

"I want to focus on creating meaningful jobs, expand affordable housing, and ensure that the City of Napa is a leader in creating a more sustainable future," said 26-year-old in his initial campaign statement released Jan. 24.

Pader, an alumnus of local schools and California State University, Sacramento, has been active in the Occupy Napa and Napa Local movements, most recently showing up at facing a foreclosure auction on her home. He has also led a student rally in Sacramento, he said.

Pader's government experience began on campus at Napa Valley College, where he took on a statewide role as President of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC).

"As the SSCCC President I sponsored and helped draft SB 1440, The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act, [which] will allow an approximant additional 50,000 students to transfer without any additional state revenue by streamlining a complicated transfer maze," Pader wrote.

Scott Sedgley

Former Napa city fire captain Scott Sedgley, 59, has been retired for about six months after more than 30 years as a firefighter and paramedic. A lifelong Napan, he has served on the city's Parks and Recreation Commission and spent nine years on the board trustees of the Napa Valley Unified School District.

But while Sedgley is a generation removed from the other two challengers, all three share the fact that none of them has faced opposition in a municipal election.

Sedgley was initially appointed to the school board to fill out the term of departing trustee Ray Guadagni, who became a judge; Sedgley subsequently ran unopposed twice for the seat.

"It's about the journey," Sedgley said last week, of his decision to run.

Napa City Council members are elected at large, rather than by district, so the challengers will face whatever incumbents remain following the June election, in which two current council members are running for county supervisor.

 

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