Margarita Lacabe

Fremont: David Bonaccorsi & Raj Salwan best Choices for City Council

Fremont: David Bonaccorsi & Raj Salwan best Choices for City Council Politics No Responses »

Oct 012014

davidbonnacorsi David Bonaccorsi is, to put it simply, the most progressive candidate running for City Council in Fremont this year. A lawyer, he understands the importance of due process, presumption of innocence and the need to preserve constitutional rights; concepts that often escape his will-be-colleagues. He also understands the need for fact-based policy making and for the use of common sense in making policy. For example, as a member of the planning commission he voted against banning medical marijuana patients from growing cannabis plants in their backyards. Fremont does not have a medical marijuana dispensary and the alternative of growing marijuana inside a home can be dangerous because of the electricity and humidity needs for such endeavor. The Council, however, decided to address complaints about cannabis plants getting too tall not by imposing a height limit on such plants, but by banning them altogether.

Competence and common sense, coupled with the willingness to do your own research and stand up on your own two feet, are among the most important qualities for a Council member. It’s for these reasons that I endorse David Bonaccorsi for Fremont City Council.

Raj Salwan

I have known Raj Salwan for several years, since he has been an alternate in the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. He is truly one of the nicest people I have ever met. He is pleasant, caring, polite, and completely and absolutely non-conniving. In other words, he is the antithesis of a politician. What he’s doing in politics, I will never know.

But it’s exactly these human qualities that make Raj, who is running as an appointed incumbent, such a pleasure to endorse for the Fremont City Council. He brings a degree of humanity, of conviviality – in the literal sense of the word – and of calmness, that I think is needed in every legislative body. Raj listens and he gets down to the basics, how will this affect the community?

I neglected to include him when I first posted by Fremont endorsement because for me he’s such an obvious choice, that I saw it as a given that he’d get elected. I hope he will.

I reached out to all candidates for City Council in Fremont and invited them to meet/speak with me and/or respond to a candidate questionnaire. I only endorse candidates who are strong liberals, are committed to accountability, transparency and fact-based legislating and who are intelligent, competent and knowledgeable.

See Marga’s 2014 Voter Guide for recommendations on propositions and other local endorsements.

Berkeley: Soto-Vigil, Worthington and Beier for City Council; Alper and Daniels for School Board

Berkeley: Soto-Vigil, Worthington and Beier for City Council; Alper and Daniels for School Board Politics No Responses »

Oct 012014

These are the candidates that I’m personally endorsing for Berkeley races. I have spoken with them and/or received answers to my questions and have been incredibly impressed by their qualities. As I look at the list, I can’t help but note that all my recommendations are for men. This doesn’t make me happy, and yet it’d be utterly sexist of me to chose a woman just because of her gender. I will note that in the School Board race there are two women running who seem capable and caring, and who are very well thought of by all Berkeley politicians I’ve spoken to. I am not recommending them because one of them just did not impress me as much at the Democratic interview – though it may have been more her manner than her answers – and the other is very close to the Bates machine.

Alejandro Soto-Vigil

City Council District 1: Alejandro Soto-Vigil

I have seldom met a candidate with the commitment, energy and plain force than Alejandro Soto-Vigil exudes. He is young, in his mid-30’s, but I would describe him as an old-fashioned liberal, a Latino version of a young George Miller, Ron Dellums or Barbara Lee. At a time when politicians reflect the values of those who fill their coffers, Soto-Vigil stands for the poor, the disenfranchised, young families, students,Berkeleyans.

I had a long conversation with Alejandro, and I am confident he has both the education (political science degree from Cal, followed by law school), experience and clear policy thinking to make him succeed both at the City Council level and beyond. I also think that he will be listen to the community and bring new ideas to the table.

Kriss Worthington

City Council District 7: Kriss Worthington

Kriss Worthington has been in the Berkeley City Council forever, and yet Berkeley deserves to have him there for even longer. He is currently the leading liberal voice in the city, taking the side of residents against the benefits of developers. His opponent, Sean Barry, who has the support of Mayor Tom Bates, is not ready for the position. His inability to answer some of my questions – he had no idea what Urban Shield was, for example – made me wonder whether he actually reads newspapers.

George Beier

City Council District 8: George Beier

I wish I lived in Berkeley District 8. Not only is it beautiful there, but it would mean that I’d get to chose between three great candidates. Of the three, George Beier stands up for a couple of reasons. First, he is not afraid to stand up for his beliefs, even when it goes against the interests of his allies. Second, his answers to my questionnaire for city council candidates were among the best I’ve gotten from all candidates. They showed that he is clear about his principles, and he knows how to think about the issues critically and analyze possible consequences. Finally, the Berkeley City Council is strongly divided between the Tom Bates camp, with 5 members, and the liberal camp, with 3. Unlike his opponents, George is not supported by either faction, which would allow him to be the bridge builder and swing vote that the Council really needs.

School Board Ty Alper and Josh Daniels

I had the opportunity to hear all the candidates at the Democratic endorsements. I also spoke with a couple of them, and received answers to my questionnaire from two of them. I was particularly impressed with Alper and Daniels.

Ty Alper

Ty Alper is a social justice attorney who runs Boalt’s death penalty clinic. He is also the father of three kids attending Berkeley public schools. He is intelligent, definitely committed to education as the way of lifting children up, a clear thinker and someone who will bring a different perspective to the Berkeley School Board. He is endorsed by liberal lion Robert Reich, among others. I very much appreciated how well thought out the answers to my questions were, and how Ty believes in data-driven solutions, rather than on suppositions. I believe his analytical approach, and his persona experience both as a lawyer and as a current parent at Berkeley schools, will enhance the quality of the decisions made by the Board.

Josh Daniels is a young education attorney and current President of the Berkeley School Board. I was impressed by his approachability, understanding of the challenges, and progressive values. He seemed the candidate most committed to understanding and honoring diversity, while taking the needs of different student groups into account. I also thought he was the most energetic of the incumbents and the one who had the most comprehensive view of the issues, perhaps because he is an education attorney. He had great answers to my questionnaire.

I reached out to all candidates for Berkeley City Council and School Board and invited them to meet/speak with me and/or respond to a candidate questionnaire. I only endorse candidates who are strong liberals, are committed to accountability, transparency and fact-based legislating and who are intelligent, competent and knowledgeable.

Other Berkeley Endorsement: Tony Thurmond for Assembly.

See Marga’s 2014 Voter Guide for recommendations on propositions and other local endorsements.

Albany: Paul Black, Charles Blanchard Best Choices for School Board

Albany: Paul Black, Charles Blanchard Best Choices for School Board Politics No Responses »

Oct 012014

Paul Black

Paul Black, the sole incumbent in this race, responded to my questionnaire even though he actually wasn’t seeking the Democratic endorsement. He told me that this was a non-partisan race, so he did not want the endorsement of any party. You just have to love the quality of the candidates you get in Albany 🙂

Black’s answers were intelligent, showed that he is on top of issues and that he’s a careful thinker. Black shows those same qualities on his writings.

Charles Blanchard

Charles Blanchard is a former School Board member who retired in 2008, amidst accolades. I found his approachability refreshing, and the answers to my questionnaire showed a commitment to progressive values. He is familiar with the district and seems committed to make Albany schools thrive even more.

I reached out to all candidates for Albany School Board and invited them to meet/speak with me and/or respond to a candidate questionnaire. I only endorse candidates who are strong liberals, are committed to accountability, transparency and fact-based legislating and who are intelligent, competent and knowledgeable.

Other Albany Endorsement: Tony Thurmond for Assembly.

See Marga’s 2014 Voter Guide for recommendations on propositions and other local endorsements.

Castro Valley: Dot Theodore for School Board

Castro Valley: Dot Theodore for School Board Politics No Responses »

Oct 012014

Dot Theodore

The Castro Valley School Board needs a change in leadership. Last year there was a big uproar among parents and members of the community, when the School Board decided to move the Alma preschool to the lower baseball field of Marshall Elementary, without notifying parents of either school. The School Board’s response was this was in the agenda, so parents should have considered themselves notified.

Dot Theodore, a parent of two children at Castro Valley public schools, is running for School Boads to heal those relationships between the School Board and the community. She wants to make sure that parents and community members are included in important decisions, what a concept!.

I spoke with Theodore at length and was very impressed by her intelligence, her understanding of the multiple concerns at the Castro Valley school district, including the need to reach out to underprivileged and minority communities, is impressive. She would be a breath of fresh air in the Castro Valley School Board.

I reached out to all candidates for Castro Valley School Board and invited them to meet/speak with me and/or respond to a candidate questionnaire. I only endorse candidates who are strong liberals, are committed to accountability, transparency and fact-based legislating and who are intelligent, competent and knowledgeable.

See Marga’s 2014 Voter Guide for recommendations on propositions and other local endorsements.

Howard Kerr, candidate for Oro Loma Sanitary District

Howard Kerr, candidate for Oro Loma Sanitary District Politics No Responses »

Oct 012014

Howard Kerr

The Oro Loma Sanitary District includes parts of San Leandro – which parts, I’m not actually sure. They have contracted with Waste Management for garbage collection, so if you live in San Leandro and get your bill from WM, you are in the Oro Loma district. Oro Loma has an elected board of directors, and this year five candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for three seats. I have sent all candidates a 3-question questionnaire based on the fact that I assume others, like me, know very little about sanitary districts.

Here are the answers and candidate statement from Howard Kerr, an incumbent who’s been on the board since 1986

– What does the Board of Directors of the Oro Loma Sanitary District do and why are you best suited for that position?

The Board sets POLICY. The General Manager implements Board’s policies. I am well suited for the Board because of my University education at UCLA School of Public Health Sanitation. My qualifications include years of experience as a state Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), supervising Code Enforcement Programs, including the numerous regulations on sewage, garbage and public health. I have also had extensive experience working directly with the public.

– What will be the most important issues facing the Board in the upcoming four years, and how will you tackle them?

The most important issues for the Board are to finish the current projects such as replacing of aging sewer, and to complete the Ecotone environmental project. Board members must be aware of ever-changing governmental regulations and the tremendous costs of compliance, and be able to predict new requirements years in advance.

Big issues clean up the bay and to determine practical re-use of recycled water.

– When the contract with Waste Management expires, will you consider contracting with California Waste Solutions or another company that does not have its transfer station in San Leandro?

Oro Loma has a multi-year garbage contract and this subject will not be an issue for the new Board in the next 4 years.

Candidate Statement

My education and qualifications are: Oro Loma Sanitary District is often referred to as a most efficient public agency for good reason. We made it that way. Oro Loma’s Board actually reduced sewer rates and created lower costs for mobile homes and apartments. Oro Loma’s sewer rates are the lowest in the County, and are less than sewer charges reported by 150 statewide agencies. Yet, Oro Loma Sanitary District is financially sound and completely debt free. Oro Loma has not accepted Federal Stimulus funds, nor State money that could be taken back by the State. Oro Loma employees, management and Board of Directors are proven to be committed toward successful development and maintenance of good, quality services at lowest costs to ratepayers. I was educated at U.C. Davis, U.C.L.A., Chico State College, Chabot College, and Chico College of Commerce. I am a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the State Department of Public Health. I am a former San Leandro Vice Mayor and Councilmember, Past President of the Washington Manor Homeowners Association and Associated Homeowners of San Leandro. I have been active in community services in San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Cherryland and Ashland. Vote for me, Howard Kerr. 352-1000 or hwkerr@sbcglobal.net.

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