Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson Kicks Off State Senate Campaign

Pasadena’s Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson kicked off her “million dollar” campaign among friends on Wednesday for the 2016 California State Senate race.

Jack Huang, owner of 168 Restaurant and Lounge, hosted Robinson’s first Meet and Greet as candidate for District 25 to fill the seat Senator Carol Liu will leave empty.

“I have a love for Pasadena and being a local elected official I’ve seen some of the effects that the decisions in Sacramento have taken on our local policy making,” Robinson said about her reason for running. “I want to bring the personal touch I feel I have as representing District 1 to representing the rest of the senate district.”

Her supporters, longstanding and new, cheered on the issues Robinson said she hopes to address and several chorused “Thank you Jacque.” One supporter asked, “How are we going to survive without you looking after us?”

Robinson says she seeks to help balance the amount of women seats in the State Senate; 11 women currently sit in the 40 seats. Issues she hopes to continue address include helping recently returning incarcerated adults released by Assembly Bill 109 and father’s rights in regard to childcare.

“She is already a champion for us here and I know she’ll be a champion for us at the senate,” Hilda Delgado said as she introduced Jacque as the next senator.

“Home-grown” in Pasadena, Robinson attended Pasadena Unified schools including John Muir High School. She has served on the Pasadena City Council for two terms and has confirmed she will run again in 2015 for District 1.

Diane Peterson-Moore has been a supporter since Robinson began her political career, “Jacque is always willing to listen, to learn, to offer her ideas and accept others’. I am a firm believer, as a baby boomer, its time to share the wealth of leadership with gen X. It’s not about Jacque, it’s about Jacque’s agenda and Jacque’s agenda is the people’s agenda.”

Three others are listed as likely candidates for District 25 including Former Member of State Assembly Anthony Portantino, Krystee Clark, an entertainment Executive, and Rose Bowl Stadium Director Chris Chahinian at http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/districts/SD25/.

According to the California Secretary of State, Anthony Portantino For Senate 2016 reported contributions totaling $61,324 in 2013, with $543,781 cash on hand.

The 25th District includes Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, part of Los Angeles City, and most of the San Gabriel Valley east to Claremont.

Robinson’s campaign has just begun. Quoting the nonpartisan research group Maplight, Jacque told her supporters it costs an average of $1 million to run for California State Senate.

“I offer you a fresh face and one of renewed ability to succeed Senator Liu. We don’t have to keep recycling the same officials,” Robinson said.