Candidates for Imperial County Board of Supervisors District 2
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - We'll be covering the candidates running for Imperial County Board of Supervisors District 2.
Martha Cardenas-Singh and Diahna Garcia-Ruiz are the two women running for the position.
Martha Cardenas Singh is from Imperial County. She has been on the El Centro city council since the year of 2020 and served as the mayor last year.
"Taking the opportunity to improve our Imperial County, I've had the opportunity to sit on the El Centro City Council now for four years, and I was the mayor for 2023, so really, taking a look at bring in the municipality experiences to the county level...Just really excited about seeing the economic growth that can take place here in our Imperial Valley," said Martha Cardenas Singh, candidate running for Imperial County board of supervisors district two.
Diahna Garcia-Ruiz was also born and raised in Imperial County. Ruiz is advocate for the underserved, a business woman and a postmaster.
"I want to make a difference. You know I see the Imperial Valley as a whole...just kind of not being there for the people anymore. It used to be like us counting on each other and you know life was better, you know, I want to make sure that families can be raised here…the economy, the housing, everything needs a whole makeover," said Diahna Garcia-Ruiz, candidate running for imperial county board of supervisors district two.
Ruiz says if elected, she wants to change the perception people have of Imperial County as well as many other things: "Sometimes they say, 'Oh they are all about Mexico.' We are not. We are the entrance into California...I want to make sure that people here are taking care off. That we have livable wages, that we have livable housing and all of that starts with infrastructure."
Ruiz also mentioned lithium.
"If lithium comes our way I want that equitably distribute it it has to be that way. I've seen it to many times where those mitigation money are not distribute it like they should be," said Ruiz.
Singh says talking to residents and find out what they need is her first priority.
"The work for any elected official is really to hear what the residents want in their area and their neighborhood and so having those honest conversations with residents from El Centro, Heber and Ocotillo what we are hearing is one we want to make sure we increase public safety two that we are working on our infrastructure," said Singh.
Both candidates shared what inspired them to running.
"It's more than a title of an elected official. I have been serving as far as my community since I have need a teenager. This is something that is dear to my heart, and our family we have been raised to get back to our community and to give service…my father is a Vietnam Veteran and so we have been taught to ensure that we put God, Country and family above all," said Singh.
"I have two children. One of them works for the county and one of them works for Starbucks. The one that works for Starbucks works less than 40 hours and makes more money than my other one, and that to me was an injustice," said Ruiz.
