Anatomy of a Latina mayor: part 2

Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune File Photo

Marge Medellin, the keynote speaker at the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration in Madera on March 9, sits in a chair on the stage to deliver her speech.  Medellin passed away on March 31, 2024.

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Former Madera Mayor and first Latina Mayor in California’s history, Marge Medellin, continues her talk at the International Women’s Day Conference held at Madera South High School on March 9. 

Part one documented Marge Medellin’s speech at the International Women’s Day Conference where she was the keynote speaker. She spoke about how she was talked into running for the council seat and trying to convince her mother she was the right person for the job. She earned a seat on the City Council by eight votes. Now, she had to deal with not only the doubters in the public, but also the other City Council members.

“So, I wondered, when is my first meeting (on the council)? I want to be in there and wait for people. Little did I know how I would be received by the council members that have been there for a lot of years. (Marge shared with this writer the names of the two councilmen who treated her so disrespectfully at the council meetings after her election.)