Includes WEast County, Bay Point, Pittsburgh and parts of Martinandz and Antioch.

By allen D. Payton

Rudy Recile, a small-business owner and retired Army major, is a first-generation American currently running for Congress in California’s new 8th congressional district. In Contra Costa County, the district includes Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, El Cerrito, Pittsburgh, and the northern part of Antioch.

His campaign materials read: “Recile is the American Dream. His mother came to the United States from the Philippines to improve the lives of her children. Rudy learned early in his life what a privilege it is to live in the United States of America.

A Christian and family man, Recile owns a small website development company known as YCDI Corp. which he founded in 2013, worked for the US Department of Agriculture as a data manager and “a proud retired US military officer,” he shared. According to his LinkedIn page, Recile received a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University in 1996 and a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management in 2005 from the National Graduate School of Quality Management.

Recile is the husband, brother and uncle of numerous nieces and nephews and since 2018 has been Treasurer of VFW Post 2333 Fairfield-Suisun. He is also treasurer of the nonprofit Tools of Learning for Children, which supports educational program modules for teachers.

During his 26 years in the military, 14 years at the executive level, Récile spent six years as a contract agent representative for the United States, managing tasks in multi-million dollar contracts. He was stationed in Illinois, South Korea and Washington, DC. His last military duty station was at Fairfield. After retiring from the military in 2014, “my wife and I loved California so much that we decided to stay,” he shared.

During his 26 years in the military, 14 years at the executive level, Récile spent six years as a contract agent representative for the United States, managing tasks in multi-million dollar contracts. He was stationed in Illinois, South Korea and Washington, DC. His last military duty station was at Fairfield. After retiring from the military in 2014, “my wife and I loved California so much that we decided to stay,” he shared. Récile and his wife, FeSallygumay “Sally” Catillo-Recille live in Vacaville, just inside the neighborhood. Unlike his opponent, Representative John Garamendi, who lives in Walnut Grove, 29 miles from Antioch, the nearest city to the 8th district. Federal election rules only require that a member of the United States House of Representatives live in the same state as the district they represent.

The 8th CD includes all or part of the towns of Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Suisun and Vacaville in Solano County and the northern part of the waterfront in Contra Costa County, including Richmond, Kensington, El Cerrito, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Pinole, Hercules, Rodeo, Crockett, Bay Point, Pittsburgh and parts of Martinez and Antioch.

Map of the 8th Congressional District showing the location of Vacaville.

During his work with the USDA, Recile worked as an instructor for the Division of Plant Protection and Quarantine with seven years training agricultural officers in 35 of California’s 58 counties.

Recile, who says he’s on a “mission to empower American citizens and raise our voices for the common good and restore our country with new blood and fresh ideas” explained why he’s running.

“Like you, I’ve seen career politicians, in Washington DC and California, working just to keep their jobs, which has had a negative impact on how adults and children see the world. At the same time , they ignore the needs of the community. If we continue to vote for the same lawmakers, we will continue to lose!

“While serving in the US military, I was fortunate to be stationed at the Pentagon as a logistics officer interacting with personnel and agencies at the highest levels of the military,” he shared. “I walked the halls of the Pentagon and Capitol Hill coordinating with various employees and agencies, each with their own flavor, across Washington DC. I became knowledgeable about how these different types of people performed their duties. I learned the language of Washington and how to successfully accomplish what needed to be done.

“Looking back to the 2020 election cycle, I was not happy with what I witnessed,” Récile continued. “I concluded that my 33 years of experience in the federal government were better used to be part of the solution instead of sitting on the sidelines. I have volunteered with community organizations, voter registration drives and other events. I’m on a mission to restore our country with new blood and fresh ideas

He researched what it would take to run for office and Recile’s biggest obstacle was the Hatch Act which prohibits government employees from campaigning or running for office. In May 2021, he resigned from his position at the United States Department of Agriculture and devoted himself full-time to his website business. Then, in July 2021, Recile filed for California’s 3rd congressional district. But in December 2021, the new congressional district (CD) lines were approved and as a result, he is now running in the 8th district.

“I choose again to serve and make a difference for California and our country as a candidate for California’s 8th congressional district,” Recile said.

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Recile says his top platform issues include energy independence for America, support for the Bill of Rights, accountability in spending our taxes, support for veterans, environmental and health issues. water in California, crime and quality education and school choice

“The Constitution does not give us our rights. However, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were created to protect the God-given rights of the individual,” he shares on his website. “The Bill of Rights is so important to us now more than ever!!! The left is constantly chipping away at our civil liberties. The left is trying to normalize free speech to silence, limit the ability to practice one’s religion, to limit the ability of US citizens to purchase firearms and to have selective due process when certain people are arrested.

“Congress needs to control its spending and better manage the people’s money. There is a lot of money to run the government. The big question is where the money goes when the government spends it. This is a big task and I hope to garner enough support to achieve real fiscal responsibility for the people,” reads the Recile website.

He is developing a non-profit veterans support center, co-developing a non-profit veterans group home offering services to veterans. Both organizations plan to work closely with the Veterans Administration, county offices, veterans’ organizations, and other service-providing nonprofits.

To address the drought and lack of water for farmers in the Central Valley who produce “more than 150 agricultural products for the nation”, Recile said he would find or introduce legislation to obtain subsidies to help the local agencies with infrastructure and water supply systems.

“In 2014, California passed Prop 47, raising the crime rate from $400 to $950. In the summer of 2020, there were 574 riots across the country. Forty of the riots turned violent. Gangs “blitzkriegs have entered stores stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise. These crime waves must be stopped. City officials and prosecutors must hold their ground and arrest and charge these criminals,” Recile said.

“I support successful public schools and believe in equal opportunity, where parents in every neighborhood should be free to send their children to public, private or charter school if they choose,” a- he shared.

For more information about Recile and his campaign for Congress, visit www.rudyforuscongress.com, his Facebook page, email rudy@rudyforuscongress.com or call (707) 689-2509.