As Executive Director for the Paramount Chamber my mission was to market the City of Paramount, and its business community to promote economic growth. Working for the Paramount Chamber afforded me the opportunity to network with every segment of the community and to understand the function and purpose of each. While serving in this role I discovered many organizations had the same goals and by working together success could be achieved. I spent many years building relationships, making introductions, and encouraging partnerships. Great things happened at the chamber but two things stand out the most; when I started working for the chamber it was on the verge of bankruptcy, I ran a one-woman operation for several years and put in more hours than I care to remember. But when I left, we had a budget surplus and were named one of the top chambers in the region by the Press Telegram Business Journal. The other was developing the Paramount Pulse Beat; a community paper with a monthly distribution of 20,000 copies. The Pulse Beat was created out of necessity. At the time there wasn't a local paper that covered local events. When I sent press releases to publications that served the city, they rarely if ever got published. Great things were happening, but the only time we made the papers is if something bad happened. The Pulse Beat was totally driven by the community, we didn't have a reporter or writer just an editor, me. I published stories about the business community but the paper just wasn't taking off. One day I put a local story on the front page and the phone started ringing for advertising and subscriptions. Most of the content came from residents, non-profits, and churches who submitted stories. Eventually the city purchased a page to promote its programs, and the school district inserted a 4-page pull out with district news and students’ successes. The paper was distributed throughout the city for more than 20 years, it’s still published by the Chamber online. While at the chamber I was also appointed to Paramount's first Public Safety Commission. Serving as a commissioner allowed me to see how local government works and gain a deep understanding of how Paramount's public safety services were delivered. As a commissioner I went to the City Council and proposed a new way to address a huge problem; cars speeding through our neighborhoods putting our children in danger. The idea; speed humps. Not to be confused with speed bumps which the city adamantly opposed. My neighborhood became the testing ground for the first humps which proved to be effective in slowing down speeding drivers. Today, you can find speed humps installed throughout Paramount. This experience along with others as a commissioner were very useful when I ran for City Council several years later.

When I was elected to the City Council, I had years of experience working with organizations to achieve common goals, with a clear understanding that communication and an open mind are the building blocks for success. Once elected I worked on one of my greatest concerns; an adversarial relationship with our school district. Fortunately, while at the chamber, I met a school board member who shared my vision for improving city/school relations and working together for the children. We formed a city/school ad hoc committee and met monthly to discuss a variety of topics and see how we could use our limited resources to benefit the entire community. We began communicating on a regular basis and found a number of ways to work together. One such partnership is PEP (Paramount Education Partnership) this program brings together the city, school district, business community, and faith-based organizations to achieve a common goal; increase Paramount’s education level. If achieved this would benefit every sector of the community; residents raise their standard of living, crime decreases as economic situations change, employers have access to an educated workforce, the city reaps the benefits of more disposable income, and the faith-based community helps change people’s lives. To date more than 450 students have been awarded 1.4 million in scholarships for a college or trade school of their choice. The PEP program served as a catalyst for Pennies for PEP; which raises scholarship money, Boulevard of Scholars; which displays individual pole banners on major boulevards with students’ pictures and their college destination. The city also celebrates education month by holding special events to recognize outstanding teachers and students.

My greatest challenge so far has been serving as the mayor during the pandemic. So much fear, so much loss, so many people in need. I am very proud of Paramount's response to the pandemic. Within days of the county mask mandate, I initiated the distribution of 30,000 free masks to Paramount residents; upon learning children wouldn’t be in classrooms I initiated a partnership with the school district to provide free tutoring; to meet basic necessities I worked with my colleagues to organize food distribution sites; meals were delivered to seniors, prescriptions were picked up, homes were visited for wellness checks, and birthdays were celebrated. The city also distributed more than $58,000 in rent and mortgage relief for Paramount residents. 

Today Paramount continues to move forward with new ideas like the recent adoption of two ordinances that address street racing and intersection takeovers, a problem throughout the state. One ordinance allows for the confiscation and sell of the violator’s vehicle, and the other allows for $2,000 fines to spectators.

I sit on the city's Homeless Ad Hoc Committee and we are exploring all options to find solutions for our homeless. Last year staff found shelter for 19 homeless individuals and we are currently evaluating existing programs and housing options in neighboring cities.

Affiliations: Member Paramount Heritage Club, SELACO Policy Board Member, Commissioner for SEAACA Animal Control

Honors: Paramount MUSA Outstanding Service to the Community Award, Rotary Paul Harris Award, Soroptimist Woman of Distinction, California Assembly Public Safety Person of the Year

I do not belong to a political party because I believe you vote for the best person to do the job. If only everyone would set politics and egos aside and just focus on problem solving what a wonderful world it would be. My philosophy; serve with honesty, integrity, and a desire to make life better for those you serve.

Paramount Runs on People Power!

As the former President and current member of Paramount USD, Yesenia Cuarenta has been a champion for Paramount's youngest residents for the past 4-years and has spent over a decade working as an educator in Southeast LA. As a lifelong resident of Paramount, a product of Paramount USD, Yesenia has built strong ties within her community and is currently focusing on establishing The Paramount Kiwanis Club which focuses on community service and volunteer work to support local children and families.

Yesenia promises to continue her mission of making Paramount one of the safest and best places to live in, by focusing on supporting small businesses and creating greater access to city resources for Paramount's residents. Yesenia brings her experience as a city leader and lifelong resident to the decision-making table. Yesenia has helped run her family’s business for over 15 years.

Yesenia received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California and hopes to continue to serve the people of Paramount on the City Council, to ensure that the community's voice is heard, and their values are represented. 

Linda is a current Public Works Commissioner (served two Terms-Chair/Present Vice-Chair),

Paramount Chamber Ambassador (Past President), Paramount Unity Committee (Vice Chair),

Community Wide Parking Commitee (Vice Chair),

Neighborhood Watch Lead -Coordinator,

Women's Commission,  

My political philosophy is very simple. I believe that economic security is for everyone.  Also, tht no one should be homelss, hungry or abused

the age of individualism, increasing social autonomy, and political self-determination – is now the age of enormous progression and novelty in political thinking

I am a proud father and U.S. Military Veteran who has been blessed to find a home here in Paramount for five years sharing my passion for service in a community that truly embraced my family.

As a highly active member of our community, I am honored to have been appointed to a City Commission and volunteer on three committees. I have enjoyed discussions with residents on the importance of a unified Paramount that embraces the richness of a diverse community and welcomes all perspectives with fair and equitable leadership.

I humbly ask for your vote and the opportunity to work with city and school leadership helping to increase post high school education in all forms, reducing the number of our children lost to the criminal justice system and building relationships between Paramount residents and law enforcement.

I will strive for a well-informed & engaged public by increasing community outreach efforts in support of our fiscal responsibility, homeless population, fair and equitable access to resources for small businesses, and most of all, encouraging ALL Paramount residents to look out for each other.

I believe what makes this country so great is the different perspectives that gives us all the opportunity to create real solutions to many of our social challenges. However, in our current state, I believe that many of us have forgotten that we are ALL Americans. Regardless of each citizen's political ideology, we must find a way to learn more about how our country men & women live, what drives them and have the empathy to appreciate their position and perspective. Communication is the single best tool we can use to reunify our country. This communication supported by a genuine desire to move forward and the integrity to stand by decisions made and promises offered will give us all the confidence of a united nation. 

Of course, this is no easy thing. As citizens, we must be diligent in electing officials who truly look to make things better for all citizens, not just the priviledged or well-funded. Doing this will foster a more fair and equitable leadership body of the people and for the people. Most importantly, WE MUST be honest with the public. Making promises that cannot be kept only continues to sow distrust in the community. Each voter and resident understands that not everyone will get everything. From my experience, people just want to make sure their elected officials are working in the best interest of the community as a whole. Getting out there and communicating directly with the community is essential to creating that assurance.

Not everyone uses or has access to many of the forms of communication used. With that, meeting with the community periodically is essential. A good example of why, would be... many residents have never seen or heard of their current leaders. They are just names on the ballot. I look to ensuring I am not just a name on the ballot, but a face and voice that the community will trust to represent their views and values.