Yader Zeledon — a Merced barber who started his own business on Main Street and then extended his talents to the local real estate market — kicked off his campaign for the District 6 seat on the Merced City Council during an event at the La Finca Branding Iron on June 25.
“Today is not about me, it’s about all of us,” Zeledon told a crowd of supporters inside the restaurant’s Crystal Ballroom. “My story is inherent to all humans who should know there are second chances with determination, resilience, hard work and most importantly faith — anything and everything is possible. Like many families, I face challenges where the road seems uncertain, and as a troubled youth I overcame life-threatening violence, survived open-heart surgery, and as an adult I even beat cancer.”
“I’m running for city council to give back to the community that has given so much to me. I believe everyone and every family deserves to feel safe in their community, and every business deserves smart growth, and I believe every neighborhood deserves to be cared for and represented with pride. Most importantly I believe District 6 deserves strong leadership from someone who is approachable and more connected to the people. A servant to the city and someone who will listen before speaking, serve before leading, and put community before politics, and is just focused on local results.”
Zeledon is known as a barber who has owned the Headquarterz Barbershop in Downtown Merced for the past 13 years. He also runs the popular Cheerful Giving charity event that supports local children and their families during the holiday season. For the last six years, Zeledon has also worked as a real estate agent, and most recently he has started a property management firm along with his wife Jenni.
The campaign event was attended by members of the local real estate community, including Ernie Ochoa, Kim Rogina and Robert Dylina. Indeed, Zeledon has secured an endorsement from the Merced County Association of Realtors.
Annissa Fragoso, a leader with the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Main Street business owner, spoke up at the event in support of Zeledon’s campaign.
“I met Yader in April of 2018 and he was so welcoming like any neighbor in this community — If you needed a cup of milk or a couple eggs and he had them he would’ve given you some,” Fragoso said. “He’s probably been one of the best neighbors I’ve had downtown on Main Street. From that moment on I couldn’t help but love Yader because everything I’ve seen from him has been a beautiful revelation of who he is as a person.”
Fragoso went on to describe Zeledon as someone who is “loving and caring and loves his community.”
“From the first time I saw him do the Cheerful Giving, I thought: ‘What an amazing person to care so much about our people that are in a disadvantaged situation.’ He gives so much time and his own money to this cause, and I kept seeing this event growing and growing. One thing that stood out to me is that Yader has a unique ability to bring people together. Not only that but he donates his own time to give free haircuts and donate his own time for this specific event. But for all these years he’s been doing this, Yader really represents what leadership is all about. Leadership is about pulling people together, and being positive when even the atmosphere doesn’t feel positive, and you just have to keep smiling.”
The District 6 seat on the Merced City Council is currently being held by Councilman Fue Xiong. He has yet to comment on his future plans, and is not currently campaigning for re-election. Another challenger, John Bliss, a Merced resident and teacher at Buhach Colony High School, announced his campaign for the District 6 seat earlier this year.
The official candidate filing period for the local office seats starts July 13 and runs through Aug. 7. Election Day is set for Nov. 3.