I have known my husband Joe Lopez since we met as teenagers, when both of our families were farmworkers. We’ve raised a family together and built a life together and I know Joe Lopez in a way that nobody else ever will. I was outraged and disgusted when I received a mailer from Pamela Campos’ allies—filled with blatant lies about Joe. They absurdly claim that Joe is both pro-choice and anti-choice. They falsely claim he is against equal marriage rights. None of these lies are true.
This is a cheap, deceitful tactic meant to tarnish his reputation and turn him into a villain in the eyes of voters. It’s disgusting and disrespectful.
As a longtime caregiver and proud SEIU #2015 member, I’ve spent my life working as a long-term care giver. Joe has done the same in his career—he was an active member of the Deputy Sheriffs Association Union, where he negotiated contracts for his fellow deputies, always fighting for their rights. We are both lifelong Democrats. I remember with such pride how as a young man Joe fought alongside Cesar Chavez for fellow farmworkers as a member of the United Farmworkers Union. And his commitment to the underdog has never wavered.
When he faced discrimination as a Latino as a young San Jose police officer, he fought back, and won. And today Latino officers go to work with protections against discrimination that Joe helped win. He has spent his career not just protecting the public during the day, but on nights and weekends he mentored young people and helped organize a national group of Latino law enforcement officials to fight for fairness at all levels of our society.
Together, Joe and I raised two amazing children. Over the years, Joe has always been the rock of our family – and we would never tell anyone else what choices they should make for their family. That is their choice to make.
And yet, Joe’s political opponents have the nerve to suggest that he’s not pro-choice based on a questionnaire from a group Joe never spoke with.
Let me set the record straight: Joe Lopez is pro-choice and firmly believes that a woman has the right to make her own medical decisions. Those choices belong to her, not politicians. And when it comes to marriage, Joe and I fully support the right of any couple, gay or straight, to marry.
I sincerely hope the Campos campaign will call on their allies to put an end to these lies and dirty tactics. Politics shouldn’t be this ugly. Joe, in his usual grace, even praised Pamela at the last candidate forum, telling her parents that they raised a fine daughter. Now, Pamela, it’s time for you to show some integrity. Tell your allies to stop this dishonest campaign—District 2 deserves better.
Thank you,
Terry Lopez
