Andrea Sorce: From Candidate to Community Champion

On July 4th, I had the opportunity to interview Andrea Sorce, one of the candidates for mayor of Vallejo. We met at the intersection of Alameda and Ohio, right where the parade was starting. Andrea Sorce is not only a mayoral candidate but also an economics professor at Diablo Valley College, bringing a wealth of knowledge in public policy to her campaign.

The Vallejo 4th of July parade is a hallmark event for our community, a time when residents come together to celebrate in various ways. Whether it's the participants in the parade actively engaging with the crowd or the crowd interacting with one another, the parade fosters a sense of unity and shared spirit.

During our conversation, Sorce emphasized the importance of such community events in bridging gaps and strengthening bonds among Vallejo's diverse population. She expressed her vision of a more inclusive and connected community, where events like the 4th of July parade play a crucial role in bringing people together.

The parade has an amazing atmosphere, with classic cars, lively music, and enthusiastic spectators; providing a perfect atmosphere for the future of Vallejo. As I stood to watch this amazing celebration, it was clear that community engagement and unity are at the heart with our city.

Andrea Sorce commitment to enhancing community ties and her background in public policy make her a compelling candidate for mayor. As the election approaches, it will be interesting to see how her vision resonates with the people of Vallejo, who value the sense of togetherness that events like the 4th of July parade bring to our city.

Update September 21,2024

When I first interviewed Andrea Sorce, I saw a determined economics professor with a vision for Vallejo. She spoke of change, community, and the importance of public policy. Fast forward to today, and it's clear that Andrea has grown tremendously within our community, not just as a candidate but as a genuine leader.

Andrea has completely won over Vallejo. She’s not just running for the mayoral seat—she’s proven, time and again, that she is the one and only candidate capable of leading our city forward. What sets her apart isn’t just her policies or plans, but her unwavering connection to the people she serves. Andrea is more than just a politician; she is the face of change in Vallejo.

What’s refreshing about Andrea is her humility. She doesn’t see herself as a politician, and perhaps that’s why she resonates with so many of us. She views herself as a regular person, someone who faces the same daily challenges as the rest of us. This humility is what makes her approachable, relatable, and, most importantly, trustworthy. In Andrea, we see not just a leader but someone we can rely on—someone who understands us because she is one of us.

In every interaction, Andrea continues to prove that she is the leader Vallejo needs, and I couldn’t be more excited to witness her journey from an economics professor to the face of change in our community.

Here is the transcription of the interview with Andrea Sorce

Azelya :So what are your plans for the 4th of July parade and what do you expect to see from the crowd? 

Andrea :Oh I'm excited you know it's a hot day but I think there's a lot of energy and we're really excited to share our message and just enjoy and celebrate Vallejo today.

Azelya :What do you want the crowd to understand about you and your campaign

Andrea:That a better Vallejo is possible and on the horizon and that we don't have to settle for the status quo. That there's a there's a vision for Vallejo that is more inclusive and more transparent and more community centered.

Azelya : What are your top three goals that you want to complete in your first year? 

Andrea: I would like to make sure that our finances first of all are in good shape and that we have a balanced budget and that the city is in good shape going forward. I would like to change the structure of how city hall and council meetings operate to make them more inclusive and encourage public participation and then I think we're going to need to address I know I'm getting past three but we're going to need to address both public safety and the homelessness crisis because those have been left for for far too long without any real plan. So I'm going to be working really hard to try to bring resources into Vallejo to address those issues.

Azelya: So I understand that you're an econ professor at Diablo Valley College?

 Andrea:I am. 

Azelya :So with your understanding of  economics is that one of your top priority for the city of Vallejo to try to get us back to where we should be and not in this financial crisis.

Andrea: Yes, absolutely my background is in public policy so I was always looking at economics from a public policy lens and I think we need that approach. I think it's been missing. it's about taking the resources that we have and making sure that we get them into the highest priority areas and you know it starts obviously with the budget and finances and just being able to make responsible, difficult decisions that aren't politically motivated but are really grounded in what's best for the community. So you want a lot of structure for our community, you want to bring that back because Vallejo doesn't have the best track record with structure, so you want to bring that back and just give parents and older people more confidence into the city that they're bringing their children into. Absolutely, yeah, you know I think especially in the climate right now in the Bay Area, Vallejo is in a position to be at the forefront of making sure that we leave a better city for our youth and that our children here can afford to live here as adults should they choose and I think a lot of people that grow up in the Bay Area, they end up not being able to afford to live in the city that they grew up in and Vallejo is getting there but I do think we're in a position to change that if we're if we're strategic about it now. 

Azelya :Yes , Great ! Okay, so what are your favorite thing about Vallejo? It could be restaurants, it could be community, whatever your top three are ?

Andrea: I mean the community is by far is the best,it's not just the diversity on paper, it's that spirit that intangible of the community I think that's our greatest strength. I think we have so much history and natural beauty as the waterfront, I also love community events like this one such as Juneteenth, Día de los Muertos ,Kwanzaa , all of our community events I don't think you can find this anywhere else the combination of the history ,the beauty ,the community and its a city but we operate like a small town we don't let anyone down.

Azelya : Great thank you for your time ! Have a great rest of your day.