Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Westminster School District

Sergio Contreras A Westminster Story...

Sergio Contreras Jr. is proud to have been born, raised, and educated in Westminster, the "All-American City". As one of six children, Sergio was fortunate to grow up in an environment where his parents instilled in him the values of family, that we are stronger and more productive people when we give and receive support. To this day, he can see how these values can be translated to every part of our community.

One of the most powerful testaments of Sergio's upbringing is that he is the first in his family to graduate from college with not only one but two degrees at California State University, Long Beach. He readily acknowledges that he could not have accomplished this goal without the sacrifice and support of his family.

Sergio has also embraced these values in service for our community. For two years in a row, he chaired a committee that raised at least $35 thousand dollars in order for 35 young people to participate in a leadership conference held in Chicago and attended by other youth from around our nation. His commitment to higher education and leadership resulted in official recognition by California State Assembly Representative Lou Correa, California State Senator Joe Dunn, and U.S. Congressional Representative Loretta Sanchez.

Upon completion of his undergraduate education, Sergio believed he could best support his community by attending law school and pursuing a legal career. For his preparation, Sergio became a volunteer at Orange County Juvenile Hall. As a math and reading tutor, he found himself in what would become a life changing experience. Several times a week, he would counsel parents and mentor their troubled youth. Many of the children, starting at age 9, 4th graders, had never learned to read, let alone had they pursued reading to learn. He also could not escape the fact that starting with this age group, Westminster schools and schools across our nation, have math and reading competency scores dramatically drop to sometimes less than 50%. "I couldn't help but see the legal system as reactive," says Sergio "and I knew that I needed to be proactive if I was to best help my community".

Because of Sergio's graduate school background in Public Policy and Administration, he would be honored to serve on the Westminster School Board, in what he believes is perhaps one of the most significant elected positions in any community. He believes the success of Westminster is dependent on the success of our schools. "We can make Westminster safer," urges Sergio. "With the support of a community, I have seen young minds embrace learning and turn away from violence and crime". Sergio has a vision of what our schools could be, a place bursting with creative young minds, buildings bustling with productive and interested young people, a lightning rod for changes away from the crime and violence that plague our community.

"Our success depends on change".