“Contrary to popular belief, we are succeeding,” says Mark Salinas. Referring to the success of students in Hayward, his comment reflects a positive vision about the city as a whole. As a candidate for Hayward City Council in this June’s primary election, Salinas’ positive outlook is likely an asset in a city that doesn’t have the brightest reputation in Alameda County. Or does it? Like anything else, it depends on who you ask. 

Ask Salinas and you’ll get an enthusiastic review of the city in which he was born and educated – he’s especially focused on children and education. “We need to start looking at Hayward in its entirety and that includes the educational institutions,” he says. “Hayward’s school district is educating more kids than ever in the district’s history and Latinos are the highest performing group in the district,” he adds. 

“We are achieving but in public forums the image of kids is so negative,” says Salinas of public figures who speak at the school and community meetings he attends. “Their tone is so negative – like there’s nothing positive coming out of Hayward. We went from looking at our kids with a bright future to now looking at them as dropouts, gang members, and low performers. We’re not looking at them as leaders.” 

As an instructor at Chabot College, and a mentor and advisory board member of the college’s Puente Project, Salinas’ focus on youth and education is a natural one. His community service has also focused on the young. For the last two years, Salinas has served as executive director of The Kids’ Break-fast Club, a non-profit organization that feeds thousands of Hayward children and families every year. “My professional work and service today in the community has been focused on preparing our community’s kids for leadership,” he says.

In his campaign for a seat on city council, Salinas also points to community service with the HUSD Measure I Oversight Committee, the Latino Business Round Table, Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth, and various other community and neighborhood committees during the last twenty years.

Though new to politics, Salinas is confident about his approach to improve Hayward, which does not include the creation of many new programs. “We need to build on the existing opportunities and make them work better,” he says. “To find ways to finance existing programs and to create revenue - there are some great programs that we can focus on.”

In the current economy, it’s not surprising that Salinas’ campaign is heavily focused on jobs. “I want to focus on economic development to bring jobs to our city – quality, long-term jobs to Hayward,” he says. He mentions ‘bringing business to local business’, a reference to giving greater preference to Hayward businesses when private development comes into the city or for city government contracts. 

Salinas also points out that Hayward is home to federal and state agencies, which he feels can be leveraged better to create more jobs. Tying education and commerce, he adds, “We graduate students at every level of the job market – these are motivated, creative, workers that make Hayward an important place to invest.

Salinas’ sincerity in promoting the virtues of his hometown is undeniable. Regardless of the election results on June 8, his campaign to improve Hayward’s public image will likely continue.

For a complete list of City Council candidates visit http://www.hayward-ca.gov/departments/cityclerk/GeneralMunicipalElection.shtm.