Retired Teacher Running for Local State Assembly Seat

Candidates are coming out of the woodwork to run for the 49th State Assembly District seat currently occupied by , who will be termed out in 2012.

The 49th District includes Arcadia and other San Gabriel Valley Cities and

The latest candidate is David Siegrist, a retired teacher and advocate for seniors and veterans, among other things.

Siegrist has taught various subjects for elementary and high school, served on education and senior-related organizations and expects to spend more time on his campaign now that he is retired.

Siegrist mentioned some of the following experience in a statement:

• Has served on the California Senior Legislature for six years.
• Current First Vice Commander of El Monte American Legion Post 261
• Served on the Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees for eight years
• Ran for the 49th district’s Democratic party nomination in 2006 and garnered 11 percent of the vote.
• B.A. in History, an M.A. in Education
• Served in the Vietnam War for 18 months in the Republic of the Phillippines as a senior cryptographer, teletype operator, and a Thai/Laotian Translator
• Proficient in English, Spanish, German, Thai, and Laotian

“In the 2006 Assembly race, Mike Eng raised more than $900,000 for his campaign, while Siegrist chose to invest his own funds, spending less than $1,000, and therefore, was totally unbeholden to the state's myriad special interests,” said Siegrist in the statement.

Siegrist’s major issues are:

• Providing more jobs for Californians
• Improving public education at all levels
• Balancing the state budget
• Cleaning up and ending the great waste in Sacramento
• Improving services to military veterans
• Improving services to senior citizens
• Creating a business-friendly environment in our state
• Ensuring decent health services for everyone
• Providing quality services for the homeless

Other candidates for the 49th District are former San Marino Mayor Matthew Lin, , Alhambra Mayor Luis Ayala and Montebello School Board member Edwin “Ed” Chau, who is supported by Assemblyman Eng and Eng’s wife, .

Monterey Park , has been rumored to be a possible 49th assembly district candidate, according to various news publications such as Alhambra Source.