Local cities
Duarte
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City Council
District 1: Margaret FinlayRecommended
In Duarte District 1, we have a rematch of 2022, as 32 year incumbent, Margaret Finlay, faces planning commission chair, Luz Yesenia Paez. Finlay has a long established record and institutional experience. She has governed mostly as a moderate, advocating for local control in terms of housing policy and homelessness, while also expanding public transit and bike infrastructure. Her record on policing is far more conservative voting for increased Police budgets and increased investment in Flock surveillance.
Commissioner Paez, is part of the Susan and Blanca Rubio political circle. Her stances on housing, policing and homelessness are moderate with an emphasis on local control and protection of single family housing. On the surface, Paez is running as the change candidate but her platform is fundamentally the same as Finlay, while lacking in the governing experience and relationship building that has allowed Councilmember Finlay to make a real impact on transportation infrastructure in the San Gabriel Valley.