Mary Salas

Mary Salas is a California politician. She is a former California Assembly member who represented the 79th Assembly District, which includes the communities of National City, Coronado, Imperial Beach and parts of Chula Vista and San Diego. Salas was elected to her office in November 2006 on the Democratic ticket. She ran for the California State Senate in 2010 but narrowly lost the election to Juan Vargas. Salas is divorced and has two daughters and three grandchildren. This year, Salas is a candidate for Chula Vista City Council, a position she previously held from 1996 to 2004.

Before politics

Mary Salas married Sal Salas in 1967 at the age of 19. For the next 17 years, Mary Salas was a stay-at-home mom. Salas and her husband later divorced though they remained close. At the age of 37, Salas enrolled in San Diego State on her way to earning a bachelor degree in social work. Salas graduated Magna Cum Laude. In college, she became involved with MANA de San Diego, a women's organization that mentors young Latinas, which led her into city politics.

Early political career

Salas served as a member of Chula Vista's Civil Service Commission and Planning Commission. Salas became the first Latina elected to the Chula Vista City Council in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000. As a Councilwoman, she chaired the University Working Group to establish a higher education center in the region and currently co-chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee for the “San Diego County Preschool for All.” She gained a reputation as a member who was willing to speak her mind [1]. She fought to expand Chula Vista's participation in cultural arts. Salas was the first city councilmember to question Port Commissioner David Malcolm because of a potential conflict-of-interest. Malcolm was later convicted of conflict-of-interest felony for his business dealings with Duke Energy. Salas ran for mayor against fellow city councilmember, and political ally Steve Padilla in 2002 but lost. She was termed out of city council in 2004 [2]. She served as a member of the Sweetwater Authority Board of Directors in 2006 [3].

Assembly

Salas defeated Jean Roesch in the 2006 general election. Salas was appointed Chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs in 2007. She also served on the following standing committees: Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy; Water, Parks and Wildlife; and the Committee on Health.

Controversy

The Sacramento Bee reported that Salas had multiple accidents in her state-issued vehicle during her time in office, resulting in four claims costing taxpayers nearly $28,000.

In 2002, then-Councilwoman Salas challenged her colleague on the Council, Steve Padilla, for Mayor of Chula Vista. Salas lost that election 53.8% to 46.1%.