National City Councilwoman Alejandra Sotelo Solis says National City is moving in the right direction.
The city has a fiscally sound budget, a strong public safety presence and has recently improved its transportation and walkability measures.
All of that came under Sotelo Solis’ watch as a two-term councilwoman.
But she insists her work is not done in making National City a better place.
This is why Sotelo Solis, 37, said she is running for a third-term on the city council.
She said she is not a politician but a public servant.
“[I am] not necessarily a politician because as a public servant you really put the public first,” she said. “A politician puts politics first.”
A third generation National City resident, Sotelo Solis is not just a councilwoman. She is the mother to three little girls, and the wife of 12-years to Sweetwater Union High School District trustee Arturo Solis.
When she is not sitting on the dais voting on policy, she is busy working as the Age Friendly Community Manager for the San Diego Foundation, where she is responsible for improving the environment of older adults through services, policy, resources and funding.
Sotelo Solis said she is a homegrown National City native. She went through the public school system in National City and graduated from Sweetwater Union High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science from UC San Diego, making her the first in her family to graduate from college.
If re-elected, the councilwoman vows to continue her work in getting the community engaged at City Hall. Previously, she said she made sure there is bilingual translation at city events such as budget town halls and neighborhood council meetings.
She said she is proud of bringing the city a squadron of fire personnel that will respond to medical calls.
She said she also wants to look at growth with current residents and by bringing more young professionals and older adults to the city. She plans to make National City at the forefront in adopting new, innovative technology.
She said in her eight years in office, she has no regrets.
“As a policy maker you have to be pretty sound in your decision making and I consider those decisions prior and when
I push the button my litmus test is how I sleep at night,” she said. “And in the last eight years, I’ve been able to sleep quite soundly.”
Sotelo Solis said she is different from her opponents because she has what it takes to move National City forward.
“You need experienced leadership [at City Hall], and I am that person,” she said.
In the Sept. 30 edition of The Star-News it was erroneously reported National City Councilwoman Alejandra Sotelo Solis brought a fire station to the west side of the city.
In fact Sotelo Solis helped establish a squadron that will serve the northeast part of the city.
The Star-News regrets the error.
