State Assemblyman Steven Raga has endorsed three Filipino American candidates running for judicial, borough council and school board seats in New York and New Jersey, citing their public service experience and ties to the communities they hope to represent.
In an Oct. 30 announcement, Raga backed Judge Karen Cortes-Towers for New York County Civil Court, Venessa Manzano for Emerson Borough Council in New Jersey and Jonie Planillo-Pachay for the Lebanon Township Board of Education, also in New Jersey.
Raga, a Queens Democrat, became the first Filipino American elected to the New York State Legislature in 2022. His endorsements connect that milestone with efforts to expand Filipino American representation in courts, local government and public education.
Judicial experience
Raga cited Cortes-Towers’ judicial service and leadership in the legal profession in endorsing her Civil Court candidacy.
According to his announcement, she became the first Filipino American Family Court judge in New York state and the first Asian American to lead the New York State Bar Association’s Judicial Section.
“Judge Cortes-Towers has demonstrated the integrity, experience, and commitment to public service that New Yorkers deserve,” Raga said.
He described her campaign as an opportunity for voters to elect the first Filipino American to New York County Civil Court.
Community ties in Emerson
In Emerson, Raga backed Manzano, a mother of three whose family has lived in the borough for more than a decade, according to the announcement. Her professional background is in higher education and research.
Raga said he had worked with Manzano in Queens and New Jersey and had seen her commitment to families and community service firsthand. He pointed to public schools, access to community resources and responsive local government as areas where her experience could inform her work.
“Her dedication to Emerson’s families, young people, and neighborhoods reflects the importance of community-centered leadership and meaningful representation in public office,” he said.
Financial oversight and local schools
Raga’s endorsement of Planillo-Pachay emphasized her financial expertise and their shared history as co-founders of UniPro, a Filipino American organization.
A certified public accountant and certified internal auditor, Planillo-Pachay has more than 15 years of experience in compliance, finance and organizational accountability, according to the announcement.
She has lived in Lebanon Township for nearly a decade and has a daughter whose education gives her a personal stake in the school board’s decisions, Raga said.
“She understands the importance of making sure public resources are used effectively and transparently,” he said.
Raga said their work together through UniPro also informed his support.
“As a fellow UniPro co-founder, I’m proud to support Jonie and her commitment to building spaces where Filipino Americans can lead and serve,” he said.
