Candidate for 32nd Congressional Seat

Born in 1958 in Covina, California, Teresa Hernandez grew up in West Covina and attended local schools. As a teenager Teresa became involved in her community and worked on her first political campaign as a senior in high school.

Teresa and her husband of 30 years, Jose, have four children ages 22, 17, and 8 year old twins. It was shortly after her marriage that Teresa enrolled in college while working several jobs to earn her R.N. Degree. She applied her education and skills at Whittier Hospital, while Jose attended film scoring school and played mariachi music at night to help make ends meet for their growing family.

Teresa and Jose opened Cielito Lindo Restaurant in South El Monte in 1986. It has become a local landmark and popular family restaurant. A few years later they formed Hernandez Productions to launch Mariachi Sol de Mexico and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles to produce Mariachi Festivals and shows across the United States. In 1991, Teresa and her husband started the Mariachi Heritage Society to provide in‐school and after school music classes for local children who could not otherwise afford instruments or lessons. Over 7,000 children have attended this program from schools in Azusa, South El Monte, Norwalk and Pico Rivera.

Teresa Hernandez has been living the American dream. After all the hard work, putting herself through school, creating a successful business with 50 employees and managing a family, Teresa still gives back to the community. She believes that in this great country, if you work hard, you could reap the fruits of your labor and then you are able to give back by helping others.

Teresa Hernandez is running for Congress to bring some fresh thinking to the problems facing our country. These are incredibly challenging and difficult days that we as a nation are facing. It is especially important that those who represent us in the United States Congress are committed to a sense of balance and a voice of reason. Government has a vital role to play as we work to get our country back on the right track.

Congress must be fiscally responsible. Congress does not need another career politician. It’s time to send a successful businesswoman, with a proven track record, to talk some sense into our Federal Government. The residents of the 32nd District deserve nothing less!

As Teresa puts it, “I must try to effect change, as Ronald Reagan once said”If not us, who? If not now, when?ʺ That time is now!