TULARE – Newly-elected Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo swore her oath of office in a ceremony held at the Tulare City Council chambers, an event that was attended by federal, state and local representatives and campaign supporters.
During the ceremony on Jan. 31, Macedo was introduced as a “daughter of the Valley” by former U.S. Representative Connie Conway. Macedo grew up in Tulare and owns a consulting business that provides legal advice to agricultural firms. Macedo has a law degree from San Joaquin College of Law. Her father was a former mayor of Tulare for several terms.
“I was the father that said, ‘You know, Allie, I don’t know if you really want to do this,’ and she looked right at me and said, ‘Oh, I am doing it’,” her father, David Macedo, said. “She goes, ‘I’m not only going to run, I am going to run and win.’”
Macedo said that her goal is to bring Sacramento to the Valley. She said that the region deserves more credit than it gets and she hopes to be able to change that. One of her mentors and backers, U.S. Rep. David Valadao said that her skills are much-needed in the state capitol.
“Her ability to listen and to learn from those experiences and to have an open mind is a luxury for having a representative,” Valadao said. “And, Sacramento does need that right now. The disrespect of our community is a problem.”
Valadao added that he is excited to hear Macedo take bills to the house floor that will benefit residents and provide much-needed improvements.
Trace Gallagher, anchor for Fox News @ Night, was also there to celebrate Macedo’s swearing in. Macedo appeared on the television program several times during her campaign and intends to continue appearing as a newly-elected representative.
“She is made for television, not just because of the way she looks or sounds, but because she is thoughtful,” Gallagher said. “She literally thinks about every question, and if you watch her, think about what she says, because she has thought about it.”
Gallagher made several anecdotal references to sports experiences including a story about learning to double his socks to prevent blisters and a story about how his high school baseball coach pulled him from a game for not hustling on a fly ball during a baseball game.
“Whatever you do, you get up there and do it to the best of your ability,” Gallagher said. “When Alexandra Macedo goes into Sacramento, and maybe in the future going into Washington, she is always going to get pushback. She has got to know that the people on the other side, they’re not wearing two pairs of socks, they are not going to run it out, so if you keep showing up, you keep pushing back and you keep fighting the fight, you are going to win.”
Macedo was endorsed by former Assemblymember Devon Mathis, who resigned his seat at the end of his term. Macedo was elected on Nov. 5, defeating fellow Republican Xavier Avila 69.2% to 37.1%. Three Democrats also ran in the election with none getting more than 15.2%. She was sworn in previously at the state capitol on Dec. 2.
