May 162017
 
The Business of Democracy: How California Democratic Party Chair Candidate Eric Bauman Profits from Politics.

Eric Bauman, the so-called kingmaker of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP), is now seeking to become king himself.   He is running to become Chair of the California Democratic Party (CDP), potentially turning the institution into the largest pay-to-play operation in the States. Eric Bauman, a nurse turned manager turned legislative staffer, already receives a generous six-figure salary from his job as senior adviser to whoever the Assembly speaker is at the time – he’s done it for John Perez, Toni Atkins and now Anthony Rendon -, but his real money comes from Victoryland Partners, a political consultancy [Continue Reading]

Jan 052017
 
The Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Starts A New Term with Few Changes

ACDCC Passes Strong Resolution Urging No Collaboration between Local Law Enforcement and Trump Administration Last night, the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee (ACDCC) swore in (ceremoniously, as it turned out) its new membership.  It wasn’t very different than its old one.  Six of our 33 elected members are new, but three of them had previously been alternate members.  In Assembly District 18, where we actually elected three new members, the three defeated incumbents will now be alternates.  The Committee’s Chair remains the same, as do the two secretaries.  The Vice Chair is now the Treasurer and the Treasurer has now [Continue Reading]

Dec 302016
 
Grassroots Democrats Seek to Transform the Democratic Party: Help Them!

Vote for Delegates to the California Democratic Convention at January 7th Election Caucuses. Every two years, the California Democratic Party holds caucuses to elect delegates to the State Convention.  Elected delegates get to vote on the Party’s platform and leadership, as well as on which candidates for state and national office should get the Democratic Party’s endorsement.  Given that California is a heavily Democratic state, the Party’s endorsement can often propel a candidate into a win. Generally, the only people who run for these positions are party insiders and supporters of politicians that sponsor a given slate.  The traumatic failure [Continue Reading]

Nov 062016
 
Developers Skirt Contribution Limits and Funnel Tens of Thousands of Dollars into Fremont Mayor Race

Incumbent Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison is a darling of housing developers.  He has never seen a development worth questioning, much less voting against.  And developers are repaying his generosity with their own, not only directing tens of thousands of dollars directly into his campaign but contributing tens of thousands more to a local Democratic Party organ, money used to produce and send mailers asking Democratic voters to vote for Harrison. According to campaign finance disclosure forms filed with the California Department of State, the Ohlone Area United Democratic Campaign (OAUDC)  has received $60,000 from housing developers in the last two [Continue Reading]