endorsements

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.

Write In Gregg Daly as First Choice from San Leandro Mayor

Write In Gregg Daly as First Choice from San Leandro Mayor Politics No Responses »

Sep 262014

Pauline Cutter

Pauline Cutter Best Choice, but Vote for Her Third

The following are my ranked-choice recommendations for San Leandro Mayor, as of the time of updating this article. Things can change in political races as you learn more about the candidates, which is why I don’t vote until election day. Note that while I’m making recommendations on this race, I’m not endorsing any of the candidates.

The race for San Leandro Mayor features four candidates: City Council members Pauline Cutter and Diana Souza, theater owner Dan Dillman and former police officer Gregg Daly, who is running as a “write-in” candidate. Politically, Daly and Dillman are the most progressive, Cutter is a centrist while tilts right.

Originally, I thought the real race was between Cutter and Souza, with Cutter as the likely winner. They are both City Council members and running as such. However, Souza has been plagued by scandals, including taking money from California Waste Solutions, supporting the raising of the Chinese flag and continuing to support red-light cameras.

Dan Dillman, meanwhile, is likely to benefit from the anti-establishment vote, which in San Leandro hovers at around 25-30%. That may be enough to knock Souza into third place.

The particularities of ranked choice voting make it possible for voters to vote their conscience while still not wasting their vote on candidates that are unlikely to win. In this case, a voter can comfortably vote for Gregg Daly and Dan Dillman first and second and Pauline Cutter third, knowing that if Souza does make it to the last round, their vote will count for Cutter.

These are my recommendations for San Leandro Mayor:

First Choice: write-in Gregg Daly
Second Choice: Dan Dillman
Third Choice: Pauline Cutter

FIRST CHOICE: GREGG DALY

Gregg Daly

Gregg Daly is running as a write-in candidate to oppose the militarization of the police. A vote for him, therefore, it’s a symbolic vote against the militarization of the police.

Daly, a former police officer, filled out a long and quite thorough questionnaire that I’ve sent to all Mayoral and Council candidates. I found his answers to be thoughtful, intelligent, based on facts and research and a broad base of knowledge and experience. Unfortunately, he’s running as a write-in which means he neither will be tested in the campaign field nor he has a possibility of getting many votes. But as a protest vote, write in Gregg Daly as your first choice. He will be eliminated after the first round.

Gregg Daly has lived in San Leandro with his wife and three children for 18 years. He is a retired California peace officer and former US Army Military Police with MPI and CIDC experience. He currently runs an IT Consultancy firm.

More on Gregg Daly: campaign Facebook page, candidate questionnaire

Dan Dillman

SECOND CHOICE: DAN DILLMAN

Dan is a great guy, and he’s done a great service to San Leandro both through running the Bal Theater and by being a strong liberal voice on civic issues. Dan frequently attends City Council meetings and shares reasonable and often inspired positions. He has spoken up against red light and surveillance cameras, against flying the Chinese flag over San Leandro, for expanding rather than limiting entertainment options and for marijuana dispensaries, among other issues. A vote for him is a vote for the liberal politics he espouses. While Dan is unlikely to win enough votes to become Mayor, I think he can make it past Diana Souza if people who appreciate his idealism vote for him.

More on Dan Dillman: Smart Voter, Candidate Statement, Website, Facebook page

THIRD CHOICE: PAULINE CUTTER

Pauline is a very pleasant lady and she has taken her job as a City Council member seriously. She does her homework, asks questions and tries to make the best decision. However, she is not particularly progressive. She has voted the right way in a number of issues, including against flying the Chinese flag, against red light cameras, against restrictions of entertainment uses in the industrial area, against unnecessary golden handshakes to public employees and in favor of marijuana dispensaries. As a former School Board member, she has reached out to partner with the schools in a variety of projects. However, she has voted in favor of the expanded use of surveillance cameras and supports the militarization of the police department, albeit not as fully as Diana Souza.

Cutter has committed to do the job as a full time mayor, and I think she’ll do a competent job. I don’t think the same of Diana Souza.

More on Pauline Cutter: Candidate Statement, Website, Facebook page

Diana Souza originally ran for City Council to try to get a competitive pool built in Washington Manor. When that proved to be an unpopular expenditure of taxpayer money, she retreated and has since taken direction on how to vote from other Councilmembers and, later, from the Police Chief / City Manager. Not surprisingly, she is endorsed by the police union. Souza has also shown quite an antipathy to collaborating with the schools, and has voted in an extremely conservative manner: in favor of flying the Chinese flag over San Leandro, in favor of red light cameras and surveillance cameras, against marijuana dispensaries and in favor of restricting entertainment in San Leandro. Souza has the support of the owners of California Waste Solutions, who also seem ready to try to take over San Leandro’s garbage contract as well.

Diana Souza: Smart Voter, Candidate Statement, Website, @SouzaForMayor14

San Leandro Talk’s Voting Guide

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