Former student Jordan Eldridge was back at De Anza College May 5 to pass out petitions and register students to vote. This is one of many ways he has been involved in local politics since graduating from De Anza in 2008.

In the 2010 California primary, Eldridge is running for the office of Santa Clara Democratic Central Committee of the 22nd District which incorporates Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View and parts of San Jose. The Central Committee is the decision-making body of the Santa Clara Democratic Party, which is responsible for endorsing local candidates and measures.

Eldridge has received endorsements from Paul Fong, California assemblymember of the 22nd District; Dolly Sandoval, former Cupertino city councilwoman; Sally Lieber, former speaker pro tempore and assemblywoman; and the Silicon Valley Young Democrats.

“It’s going to be a difficult race but it’s not like a full blown campaign,” said Eldridge.

Aside from encouraging students to vote, Eldridge serves as the assembly district delegate to the California Democratic Party and is a commissioner for the Santa Clara County Health Advisory Commission.

Eldridge was a student at De Anza from 2005 until he graduated in 2008 with an Associate of the Arts degree in social and behavioral science. During that time, he was active in campus clubs, and was elected as the Inner Club Council chair of programs from 2007 to 2008 and as student trustee of the Foothill-De Anza District the same year.

“De Anza has been a huge influence on me,” said Eldridge. “I was very passionate about many political issues but I knew if I wanted to get anywhere I would need to go to school.”

He was active in the Democratic Party during his term as student trustee. He volunteered for Fong’s campaign for state assembly in 2008, was executive vice president of the Silicon Valley Young Democrats, and represented the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender democrats in the Santa Clara Democratic Party.

“[Fong] has been very helpful in getting me involved with democratic politics,” said Eldridge.

Others he sees as mentors include Clark Williams, vice chair of the Santa Clara Democratic Party, and Evan Low, mayor of Campbell.

“I’m pretty much surrounding myself with a lot of good people,” said Eldridge.