10/21/2025 UFW Endorses Slate of Candidates in Sunnyside, WA; Committed to Building Farm Worker Power in Washington

Sunnyside, WA - Ahead of the November 4th Election in Washington State, the United Farm Workers has endorsed a slate of local Latina and Latino leaders who will be powerful advocates for farm workers and their families at both the state and local level of government. Each will help bring greater representation to the overwhelmingly Latino community of Sunnyside, an agricultural community home to numerous farm workers and ongoing UFW organizing campaigns.

The UFW urges all eligible voters to cast their ballot for the following farm worker champions:

• Chelsea Dimas for Washington House of Representatives, District 14 Position 1.
• Leticia Zesati for Sunnyside City Council District 1
• Vicky Frausto for Sunnyside City Council District 3
• Raquel Isquierdo-Lopez for Sunnyside School Board District 2
• Evaristo Salas for Sunnyside School Board District 3
• Sandra Zesati for Sunnyside School Board District 4
• Catti Alvarez-Villanueva for Sunnyside School Board District 5

"Sunnyside is a farm worker town," said UFW President Teresa Romero. "The people who make Yakima's agricultural economy possible and who call Sunnyside home deserve leaders who will work for them, just as hard as they work to put food on all our tables. From the state legislature to the city council to the school board, farm worker families in Sunnyside deserve leaders who know them, who come from them, and who will fight for them, especially when it's not easy or convenient. The entire UFW is proud to support these remarkable candidates this November, and it is evidence of our long-term commitment to Sunnyside and the building of political power for all working people across the Yakima Valley."

"It is truly a blessing to have the support of UFW and our farmworker comunidad once again," said Chelsea Dimas, candidate for Washington House of Representatives Legislative District 14 Position 1. "At this moment, when we have an administration that attacks the rights of our hardworking farmworkers and immigrant families, our united solidarity is our greatest defense. Unfortunately, our current leadership in the 14th has failed time and time again to show up for our communities. As the proud daughter of campesinos from Mexico, I carry this fight in my corazón. I will continue to do everything in my power to stand with our farmworker and immigrant communities here in Washington State, from defending their right to unionize to championing policies that protect their dignity, their labor, and their lives."

"It is an honor to have the endorsement of the United Farm Workers," said Leticia Zesati, candidate for Sunnyside City Council District 1. "For me, this is personal - my parents worked in the fields for over 30 years, and I was out there helping as a girl. I saw the long hours, the sacrifice, and the strength it took to provide for us. Those experiences shaped who I am and why I feel such a deep responsibility to our community. Sunnyside and our state can support farmworkers by ensuring fair protections, investing in housing, healthcare, and education, and uplifting farmworker voices in every decision that impacts them. Las familias campesinas are the backbone of Sunnyside, and they deserve dignity, protection, and representation. I will always stand with them."

"It is an honor to once again have the endorsement of the United Farm Workers," said Vicky Frausto, candidate for Sunnyside City Council District 3. "To have the support of those who have woven the very fabric of our region is a profound reminder of the legacy we carry forward. I am grateful for the UFW's trust and will continue working to uplift the dignity and voices of farm working families across Sunnyside and the Yakima Valley. ¡Sí Se Puede!"

"My parents, grandparents, and siblings worked in the fields, and I carry their stories and sacrifices with me every day," said Raquel Isquierdo-Lopez, candidate for Sunnyside School Board District 2. "Sunnyside schools play a strong role in supporting farmworker families by ensuring their children have the tools, opportunities, and support they need to succeed. That means offering strong bilingual education, after-school programs, and resources for families who often work long hours. I would also like to see them honor and teach the contributions of farm workers in our classrooms, so students grow up knowing their parents' labor is valued and respected. To have the support from the UFW - which has fought so hard for dignity, respect, and justice for farm workers - reminds me that this work is about our people, our families, and our future."

"As someone who grew up watching the struggles of the many farm working families, this endorsement is very personal to me," said Evaristo Salas, candidate for Sunnyside School Board District 3. "If elected, I am committed to supporting farm worker families in our schools, including by ensuring the curriculum reflects the struggles and contribution that Hispanic farm workers have made to this region's economy. We need to integrate lessons about labor rights and the struggles it took to get those rights. We also need to increase access to bilingual and migrant education programs and I will work to establish an office within the school district that can help facilitate this. I am also committed to helping the students who have parents working long hours in the fields by providing them with transportation, food security and after school programs.

Lastly, we must listen to our farm workers' families and create a space where they feel comfortable enough to voice the issues that they are facing. They need to be apart of the decision-making process in our schools."

"I'm deeply honored to be endorsed by the United Farm Workers - an organization that represents the spirit and sacrifice of my own family. This is not just political for me; it's personal," said Sandra Zesati, candidate for Sunnyside School Board District 4. "With a 92% Latino student body, Sunnyside schools have a special responsibility to support farmworker families by offering caring, bilingual education and understanding the sacrifices our families make. When we truly value and connect with our students and their parents, we help unlock their full potential and honor their hard work. This is a commitment to our community's future."

"I come from a family of farm workers, and I understand the sacrifices and hard work they made to make sure we had every opportunity to succeed," said Catti Alvarez-Villanueva, Candidate for Sunnyside School Board District 5. "Farm workers want what everyone wants: stability, dignity, and opportunities for their families and children. Our schools can support farm workers by recognizing the unique challenges their children face and making sure they have the resources they need from strong bilingual programs, to after-school opportunities, to connections with community resources. Partnering with families, honoring their contributions, and making sure every student feels seen and supported is how we can better serve Sunnyside's farm worker families."

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