Many things can be said about a person. Some are positive, while others are not. During an election, candidates naturally present themselves in ways that emphasize their strengths rather than their shortcomings. What is more difficult to manufacture, however, is a reputation built over many years, especially when it is reflected in the words of numerous people who have personally known, worked with and observed a candidate.
That is what stands out about the many letters submitted to this newspaper in support of Gloria Mercado-Fortine. These letters have carried headlines such as “Experienced Leadership for Our City,” “A Dedicated Public Servant,” “Nonstop Achievements,” “What a Council Member Needs,” “Leadership That Delivers,” “The Most Qualified Candidate Ever,” “Showing Up for the People” and “Who Consistently Shows Up.”
These are not campaign slogans created by Gloria. They are descriptions offered by community members who have seen her leadership firsthand. Taken together, they tell the story of someone who has helped shape the Santa Clarita we know today.
There are three candidates running to represent District 2. Voters should carefully compare their experience, conduct, public records and results.
Which candidate has demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively? Who has respected established procedures and accepted accountability for public decisions? Who has produced positive, measurable and lasting results for Santa Clarita?
Asking questions is an important part of public service. But leadership also requires sound judgment, teamwork and responsibility for the votes and decisions ultimately made. Public officials cannot separate themselves from their voting records simply by claiming afterward that they asked the right questions.
Gloria’s record includes decades in education, 16 years as an elected member of the William S. Hart Union High School District governing board and extensive leadership throughout Santa Clarita’s nonprofit and public-safety communities. Those are not promises about what she might accomplish. They are part of a documented record that we can examine for ourselves.
Campaign rhetoric will come and go. A reputation earned through decades of service cannot be created overnight. The many residents who have publicly supported Gloria Mercado-Fortine are describing the same qualities repeatedly: experience, commitment, reliability and results.
That consistency says something meaningful about both her record and her character.
Obed Martinez
Santa Clarita
