Jose Sigala announced November 30 that he is throwing his hat into the ring for the 26th State Assembly District.
As a Tulare City Councilmember, Sigala says he has brought more resources into District 1 — and he now wants to do the same for the 26th Assembly District.
Currently there are three Republicans in the race. Sigala will be the first Democrat to announce a run for the seat in the 2018 election. Assembly seats are up for election every two years.
Sigala said that he and his friends took a look at the condition of the 26th District and saw that the constituents’ needs were not being met by the current Assemblyman, Devon Mathis.
Sigala’s friends encouraged him to run.
“I want to provide some leadership,” Sigala said.
Sigala has over 20 years of legislative and public policy experience working in the California State Legislature and local governments where he has worked to improve the quality of life in communities across California.
He is the son of immigrants and the first to graduate from high school and also earn a college degree. He is an ardent advocate for safer neighborhoods, parks, open space, after school programs, small business, responsible development, the environment, education and neighborhood empowerment.
He says his first order of business, if elected, is to bring the needed leadership and resources to the 26th District.
“As a Tulare City Council member I have brought more money into the district, improved the infrastructure and increased the street lighting. Now I want to expand that to a greater area,” he said.
Sigala said there are millions of state dollars available through Cap and Trade, and money set aside for transportation, housing, and new school construction that he wants to bring to the entire 26th District.
“We are one of the poorest districts in the state. We have a high concentration of our population using the subsidies for health insurance and a high rate of poverty. The Tipton-Pixley area is close to the 50% poverty level.”
“I want to bring the money home,” said Sigala.