Peoria has been home to my family since the late 1800s.
Our grandfather, Natividad Lebario, was born on Dec. 25, 1885 and our grandmother, Aurelia, was born in 1895. Together they raised 10 children, one of them being my mom Lydia, who is a product of the Peoria public school system and graduated in 1943. She will be 92 years old this year.
While my mom and most of her siblings moved on to other cities throughout Arizona and California, our aunt Toni decided to stay in Peoria and maintained residence in their original home, which is still standing at 8415 W. Madison Street.
She owned and operated Toni’s Beauty Salon for 45 years. Her shop was located on 83rd Avenue just south of Grand Avenue. I have fond childhood memo-ries of going on Saturday mornings and getting my haircut, while my mom was getting her hair styled.
So, you see, I have a long, rich history in the city of Peoria.
My wife is a product of the Peoria Unified School District and a Cactus High School graduate. We are proud to call Peoria home.
Along with our two beautiful children, we have seen the city evolve and grow since we built our home in 1997. Our city continues to adapt and nurture the rich history of Peoria, while maintaining relevance with its growing, diverse population and economy.
My city and the surrounding area has much to offer — from the Peoria Sports Complex being the home to the first Major League Baseball spring training and player development facility in the country shared by two teams to a major U.S. military training facility in Luke Air Force Base.
Peoria boasts country clubs, mountains and trails, a highly sought out school district, water sports and relaxation at Lake Pleasant, an auto mall, as well as entertainment districts. This city is a great place to raise a family, anchor your corporate headquarters, start a small business, and yes... retire.
I am proud of my family’s long history of leadership, business ownership, philanthropy, civic duty and a little politics in the city of Peoria.
Our grandfather was a career rancher, a sharecropper and then decided to go out on his own growing and selling cotton. He did this until his passing in 1939. Our Aunt Toni was a true leader and the first Hispanic businesswoman in Peoria, who led with others in mind and believed in equality.
Upon retiring, she continued to volunteer her time and cut hair at St. Vincent de Paul’s barbershop and was part of a story written in the Arizona Republic in 1996 where she was quoted as saying, “she is the one who is grateful for the chance to help others.”
She always wanted to make a difference in the lives of others, which led to a run for city council in 1957. I can only hope I can make a similar impact and continue and build on my family’s legacy in the city of Peoria. My wife and I look forward to building lasting memories with our children in Peoria.
And, I will continue to house my business in Peoria and serve the public by influencing a thriving city and school district as a member of the Peoria Unified School District governing board.
Editor’s note: David Sandoval was elected to the PUSD governing board in 2016.
