Meet the candidate: Juan Manuel Guerrero
Name: Juan Manuel Guerrero Age: 57 Office running for: Justice of The Peace Precinct #2 (Re-Election)
Family: Married, 7 children and 17 grandchildren
Employment: South County Justice Court; Justice Of The Peace, Second Precinct Experience: 4 years in office, currently What is your background? What in your past experiences helps qualify you for this seat? I am currently the justice of the peace for South County and have been serving for 4 years. I grew up in the area (Somerton) and worked alongside my father in field work when I was not in school. I served 10 years in the United States Navy with the field marine force as a combat corpsman (FMF). I am a combat veteran. 20+ years of law enforcement experience. Have worked in the private sector in both state and federal levels of government. I am a graduate of the University of Arizona and Arizona Western College.
What do you feel is the most important duty of this office? Maintaining the integrity of the court and the office of justice of the peace. Having judicial temperament. The aptitude to know and apply legal rules, analyses and procedures to different facts and circumstances. Be ethical. Have experience and education. Have the courage to make decisions on what the law requires. Have the ability to communicate and the ability to listen. To understand that discipline is to instruct, not to punish.
If elected, what is the one issue on which you would focus to improve Yuma’s quality of life? How? There is no single issue that I would focus on. All issues are important, especially if it affects our way of life and community. Since day one I have been actively engaged with the community and its projects, I will continue my work as long as the community of South County wants me here. The office that I hold does not belong to me, it belongs to the residents of South County. They and they alone will decide when I should leave.
What is one thing you want voters to know about you? I am very proactive. I do not wait for things to happen to react. I always address issues before they become unmanageable. I am fair, honest and I stand firm in my convictions. I realize we live in a country of laws, in where our citizens have to maintain a certain code of conduct and that’s what makes us a great nation, our respect for our rule of law.