This is part of our ongoing series for the upcoming legislative races, spotlighting the different candidates who are appearing on the March 26 ballot.

I decided to run for the Metro Council, District 5 because I wanted to make a difference in the community that raised me. I understand the value of hardwork; growing up in a single-parent home, my mom instilled core values in me and my two brothers that have sustained us our entire life, such as hardwork, dedication, and perseverance. This community needs a leader who has lived through tough times and understands how to lead during these tough times. I want to be an example to my community of overcoming adversity and still becoming successful.

Although I grew up in poverty, I still graduated from college and law school. I want children in my neighborhood to see an example of what perseverance looks like. My commitment to my community will be that their voice will always be my vote. I am committed to creating safer communities for everyone in District 5. My plan to lower crime in District 5 will start with a collaborative effort approach, starting with bringing all key stakeholders such as law enforcement, business communities, legislators, community organizations, clergy members, and judiciary members together to form a comprehensive plan geared towards crime prevention. Until we address poverty, we will be just be spinning our wheels in vain, trying to fix things that will eventually fall apart.

I truly believe our community should have a foundation focused on Education. “Education is the Foundation of Everything.” Failing Education gives us high incarceration, high truancy, and high recidivism. We also need to educate our community on how to cope with mental health issues and provide more access to facilities in areas that need mental health services the most.

My name is Daniel Banguel, and I am asking for your support, your prayers, and your vote on March 26, and together we can build a community that we all deserve. The Time is Now!