REMARKS TO THE ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE CANDIDATE SCREENING COMMITTEE
August 19, 2006
Hayward, CA

Prepared for delivery

I’m proud to say I’ve been a Democrat since the day I was born and I’ll be a Democrat until the day I die.

I’m proud to say I’m a member of 3 different democratic clubs—the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, Cal Berkeley Democrats, and the East Bay Young Democrats.

I’m proud to say that I’ve attended every statewide democratic convention since I moved to California.

I’m proud to say that before I moved to California, I interned for Senator Ted Kennedy, and that since moving here, I’ve worked hard to defeat the recall election, I led the movement at UC Berkeley for Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, and I walked door to door asking voters to reject Governor Schwarzenegger’s wasteful, anti-union special election last year.

I think one of the largest challenges we face as Democrats—right up there with winning a majority in state houses, in Congress, and winning the White House—is that we fight to elect Democrats who, in the words of Paul Wellstone, represent the democratic wing of the Democratic party.

I’m running for City Council because I believe my opponent is not only out of step with the values of my district, demonstrated by his votes to cut police and fire services, but also with the values of our party.

The incumbent was the only person on the city council who voted against a resolution expressing opposition to Schwarzenegger’s special election. He voted against that resolution, while I actually campaigned against Arnold’s initiatives.

The incumbent also refused to support the striking workers at the Claremont Hotel in their efforts to demand a fair contract.

I’ve already participated in more delegations and pro-labor rallies than the incumbent, in spite of the fact that he’s had a much greater opportunity.

And so I’m honored to have been endorsed by the AFL-CIO Alameda County Central Labor Council, along with Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Max Anderson—and the Wellstone Democratic Club’s electoral action committee just recommended to the full club that I be endorsed for my race.

Not only has the incumbent worst on labor issues, but just last month he voted against allowing Berkeley voters to decide for themselves whether they want to get money out of politics. He refused to support allowing clean money onto the ballot this November. There’s nothing I support with such great passion as clean money, and I think we need it now. We won’t have any meaningful Democratic reform in this country without clean money, without getting powerful corporate money out of politics.

On the Rent Board, I’ve been an advocate for affordable housing, while the incumbent has proposed 7 new ways to raise rents. He’s refused to put a dime of general fund money into our affordable housing trust fund, while I advocated for funding it at levels it was at while Loni Hancock was Mayor. The incumbent has also refused to oppose the condominium conversion initiative on the November ballot that will allow for the eviction of 500 people per year. Mayor Bates and Councilmember Capitelli have come out against it, and my opponent refuses to take a stand. I support affordable home ownership, but I don’t believe we should provide ownership opportunities by evicting tenants, but instead we need a genuine first-time homebuyers program.

I also am a strong believer in diversity, and I’m proud to support Debra Bowen this November—and I believe we need more female candidates and candidates of color. My opponent’s record on commission appointments, however, has included zero African Americans, zero Latinos, and only one Asian businessperson.

While I’m running in a non-partisan race, I’m running as a Democrat because I believe we should stand for Democratic principles—things like support for labor and the environment, diversity, affordable housing, and electoral reforms like clean money, and I’d be honored to have your support.