DebD
05-08-2010, 03:00 PM
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMARKSW%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> There has been plenty of information available about candidates running locally, and you can find the local endorsements of the Democratic Party at www.sonomademocrats.org (https://www.sonomademocrats.org/). But what about Democrats running for statewide office? As a delegate to the State Party Convention, I was able to vote on endorsements, and meet the contenders.So here are my thoughts.
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At the outset, let me say that we have a high quality group of politicians in the Party seeking these offices. They range from current officeholders, such as Debra Bowen, Secretary of State, and John Chiang, Controller, to those seeking statewide office for the first time. These are the people that you may not have heard much about.
<o:p> </o:p>
First, is the office of Insurance Commissioner. There can hardly be a more important post at this time. Whoever is the Commissioner will work to implement the new Federal Insurance Health Plan. We need firmer regulation, unlike the approach of our current GOP Commissioner. Of the two candidates, I supported Dave Jones, and he also won the endorsement of the party. Currently a state legislator from the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:city> area, he is a single payer health care supporter, who started his legal career as a legal aid lawyer. He has a well organized campaign, which signals that he is ready to run state wide against the GOP. His opponent, Hector De La Torre, is a strong candidate with a compelling story, and I look forward to voting for him in the future for another post.
<o:p> </o:p>
Next, Lieutenant Governor. This is a tough one and neither candidate managed to secure the 60% needed to earn the party endorsement. In the end, I voted for Gavin Newsom and am supporting him. It was the contrast between him and opponent Janice Hahn at the Rural Caucus that cemented it for me. Newsom acknowledged that he had only a minute to present and told us that he had thought a great deal about ways to build alliances between urban and rural communities and was looking forward to talking to us about them. In contrast, Hahn told us that she would do everything she could to get the water flowing to the <st1:place w:st="on">Central Valley</st1:place> again. No mention whatsoever of the possibility that a member of the caucus could be from a rural district in another part of the state.
<o:p> </o:p>
Remember that the Lt. Governor serves on many commissions and councils, many of which affect environmental policy and that the office of Lt. Governor heads up the Commission on Economic Development.
<o:p> </o:p>
Finally, Attorney General. Six candidates are running in the Democratic Primary! So, with so many contenders, there was no attempt for a Party endorsement. I am still undecided between Kamala Harris and Alberto Torrico. Harris is the DA for <st1:placename w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> and Assembymember Torrico, (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fremont</st1:city></st1:place>) is the Assembly majority leader. The other four are Ted Lieu, who is an impressive candidate, but seems to lack the organization needed, Pedro Nava, Chris Kelly, and Rocky Delgadillo.
<o:p> </o:p>
Hope this helps! Deborah Dobish, AD 1 delegate and 5<sup>th</sup> District Member of the Sonoma County Democratic Central CommitteearriH
<o:p> </o:p>
At the outset, let me say that we have a high quality group of politicians in the Party seeking these offices. They range from current officeholders, such as Debra Bowen, Secretary of State, and John Chiang, Controller, to those seeking statewide office for the first time. These are the people that you may not have heard much about.
<o:p> </o:p>
First, is the office of Insurance Commissioner. There can hardly be a more important post at this time. Whoever is the Commissioner will work to implement the new Federal Insurance Health Plan. We need firmer regulation, unlike the approach of our current GOP Commissioner. Of the two candidates, I supported Dave Jones, and he also won the endorsement of the party. Currently a state legislator from the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:city> area, he is a single payer health care supporter, who started his legal career as a legal aid lawyer. He has a well organized campaign, which signals that he is ready to run state wide against the GOP. His opponent, Hector De La Torre, is a strong candidate with a compelling story, and I look forward to voting for him in the future for another post.
<o:p> </o:p>
Next, Lieutenant Governor. This is a tough one and neither candidate managed to secure the 60% needed to earn the party endorsement. In the end, I voted for Gavin Newsom and am supporting him. It was the contrast between him and opponent Janice Hahn at the Rural Caucus that cemented it for me. Newsom acknowledged that he had only a minute to present and told us that he had thought a great deal about ways to build alliances between urban and rural communities and was looking forward to talking to us about them. In contrast, Hahn told us that she would do everything she could to get the water flowing to the <st1:place w:st="on">Central Valley</st1:place> again. No mention whatsoever of the possibility that a member of the caucus could be from a rural district in another part of the state.
<o:p> </o:p>
Remember that the Lt. Governor serves on many commissions and councils, many of which affect environmental policy and that the office of Lt. Governor heads up the Commission on Economic Development.
<o:p> </o:p>
Finally, Attorney General. Six candidates are running in the Democratic Primary! So, with so many contenders, there was no attempt for a Party endorsement. I am still undecided between Kamala Harris and Alberto Torrico. Harris is the DA for <st1:placename w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> and Assembymember Torrico, (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fremont</st1:city></st1:place>) is the Assembly majority leader. The other four are Ted Lieu, who is an impressive candidate, but seems to lack the organization needed, Pedro Nava, Chris Kelly, and Rocky Delgadillo.
<o:p> </o:p>
Hope this helps! Deborah Dobish, AD 1 delegate and 5<sup>th</sup> District Member of the Sonoma County Democratic Central CommitteearriH