Sasha Moreno is seeking the Democratic nomination for Dallas County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4-2. She is currently taking part in a Primary runoff election, that will finally come to a close on election day, May 22nd. Even in the face of an additional election cycle, Moreno feels victorious knowing she battled the odds to land a spot in the primary run off. Though she wasn’t pegged as the original candidate favored to win the race, Moreno has dedicatedly served countless hours on the block walking trail, vowing to serve the community who has believed in her thus far. Moreno is the hardworking, self-proclaimed “underdog”, destined for greatness.
Moreno was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, along the southern border of the United States. Her family’s close proximity to Mexico, particularly Ciudad Juarez, gave her the best of two worlds throughout her childhood: the United States and Mexico. As a daughter of a Mexican immigrant, living on the border heavily impacted Moreno’s perspective on her community as well as various policies, especially immigration.
Moreno’s journey to politics began during the summer 2007. That summer, Moreno accepted an opportunity with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (“CHCI”)working as an intern for her congressman on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. During the legislative session, Moreno distinctly remembers sitting in the congressional gallery when a bill for comprehensive immigration reform was debated in the U.S. Senate. To her dismay, the bill was killed due to a failed vote. It was at that moment that Moreno felt inspired to pursue politics through law and to begin holding elected officials accountable to their constituents. This experience plus her familial cultural influence eventually motivated Moreno to pursue a law degree. She eventually graduated from Pepperdine School of Law.
Moreno has experience advocating for clients in both federal and state courtrooms. She currently focuses her law practice on family based immigration and removal defense. She previously practiced law in the areas of foreclosure defense and corporate transactions. After practicing law for several years, Moreno realized that she could make an even greater impact on the legal community by serving as a judge. Moreno wants more people who encounter the justice system to have an equal opportunity to present their case in court. She believes that “too many people are stuck in the legal system or don’t understand their rights,” leading to negative consequences that impact their everyday lives. Now, Moreno is running for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4-2 in Dallas County, with plans to transform the justice system one program at a time.
Moreno is seeking the Democratic nomination for JP 4-2, a region that covers Irving, Grand Prairie, Duncanville, Desoto, Cedar Hill, Glenn Heights and Ovilla. Moreno has been hard at work block-walking and phone banking since the election began, crafting her platform around the grievances of her constituents. One thing Moreno hopes to implement is night court, giving the employed litigants an opportunity to take care of their legal duties without suffering lost wages from missing work. Moreno also wants to create a mediation program that would allow litigants to receive settlements as opposed to judgements in their case. Moreno wants to ensure she helps the community navigate the legal system while still upholding the laws of our country.
Before running for office, Moreno participated in several programs that prepared her for a campaign including Annie’s List trainings and a fellowship opportunity with the Latino Center for Leadership Development (“LCLD”). She also began meeting with elected officials who have mentored her throughout the process. Though Moreno has had formalized training to run for office, she says “you are never fully prepared for [public office] until you do it.” Moreno believes she has learned the most from her constituents while on the campaign trail.
During the primary, Moreno ran against a two-term incumbent judge. When she decided to run for office, Moreno was told it wasn’t her time to run because no one knew who she was. However, Moreno felt strongly about helping her community and persevered despite the criticism. Her hard work paid off when she beat the incumbent to make it to the runoff election. In terms of advice, Moreno wants women interested in politics to pursue their own instinct. She says, “everyone will give you advice but at the same time, you have to follow your own gut.” She encourages young women interested in running for office to stay strong, stay true to who you are and keep fighting for what’s right.
Sasha Moreno is seeking the Democratic nomination for Dallas County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4-2. Early voting for her campaign lasts from May 14thto May 19th– election day is May 22nd.
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