DeJonáe Shaw, Candidate, 2nd District City Council, Rancho Cucamonga

As part of Inland Valley News’ Your Vote, Your Voice election coverage, the newspaper is introducing candidates seeking local office in the Nov. 3 general election.

DeJonaé Shaw, a licensed vocational nurse and president of the Inland Empire Labor Council, is one of four candidates seeking the District 2 seat on the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, including incumbent Councilmember Kristine Scott. Shaw, a resident of the district for two to five years, is campaigning on responsible growth, investment in District 2’s infrastructure and a stronger voice for residents at City Hall.

She previously ran for the 2nd District seat on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in 2022.

Shaw said she is running because she has faced real obstacles herself and wants District 2 represented by someone who has lived that experience.

“I’m running so residents in my district finally get the same investment as the rest of Rancho Cucamonga, and so working families have a voice at City Hall,” Shaw said in her response to Inland Valley News’ candidate questionnaire.

Growth, Investment and a Voice at City Hall

Shaw named three issues as the most important facing the community. The first is responsible growth and development, including adequate infrastructure, traffic and parking planning, and housing working families can afford. The second is making sure District 2 gets its fair share of investment in roads, streets, drainage and other infrastructure. The third is giving residents an early and meaningful say in decisions about their neighborhoods.

District 2 First

If elected, Shaw said her first priority would be pushing for investment in District 2’s streets, sidewalks, parks and other infrastructure. She said those have waited too long for the attention other parts of the city receive.

“As a nurse, I know that safe, well-maintained neighborhoods are part of what keeps a community healthy,” she said. “I’ll fight to make sure District 2 gets the same level of investment as every other part of this city.”

Nurse and Labor Leader

Shaw has worked for more than a decade as a licensed vocational nurse. Through her union, she served as vice chair of its Legislation and Education Committee. There, she said, she organized health care workers around workplace safety, fair wages and patient care standards, and advocated for federal workplace-violence prevention legislation for health care and social service workers.

In April, she was elected president of the Inland Empire Labor Council, which represents unions across industries in the region. She has also worked with youth programs, including Just Us 4 Youth and the Young Women’s Empowerment Summit.

Shaw said her upbringing shaped her as much as her career. She helped raise her siblings and worked nights to put herself through school.

“I understand what it takes to overcome real obstacles,” she said. “That experience shapes how I’ll represent District 2.”

Listening to Understand

Shaw said her approach to representation comes from nursing.

“You can’t help someone if you don’t understand what they’re going through,” she said.

If elected, she said she would hold regular community meetings, stay accessible and responsive, and make sure major decisions affecting District 2 are shaped by residents’ input. She said she would meet people at community events, local businesses or “someone’s front porch,” because not every resident can attend a council meeting.

“District 2 has gone too long feeling like an afterthought in citywide decisions,” she said. “I want residents to know that when something affects our neighborhoods, their voice was part of that conversation from the start.”

Endorsements

Shaw’s questionnaire lists endorsements from Assemblymember Robert Garcia and the San Bernardino County Democratic Party. It also lists a wide range of labor organizations: the Inland Empire Labor Council, which she leads; the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties Building and Construction Trades Council; the nurses’ and health care unions UNAC, SEIU 121RN and NUHW; Teamsters Local 1932; Operating Engineers Local 12; and IBEW Locals 47, 440 and 477. She said a full list is on her campaign website.

Beyond the Ballot

Shaw named Calle Ocho Cuban Cafecito, Wine Now, Cocina Serrano and Epic Events Center as favorite local businesses and places she recommends to others. Her favorite community event is the Saturday farmers market at Heritage. Her drink of choice is coffee, “of course.” She is currently reading “The Let Them Theory.”

One thing voters may not learn from her campaign materials, she said, is that she is “first and foremost” a person of faith. She also has a twin sister and is the eldest of eight children.

Asked for one-word friends and family would use to describe her, she chose “compassionate.”

Her Message to Voters

Shaw said she wants residents to say she listened to understand rather than listened to respond.

“I’m running to make sure District 2 gets our fair share, our neighborhoods receive the investment we deserve, and so residents have a real voice in decisions that shape our own communities,” she said. “I’ll listen, show up, and work for you.”