TThhee NNeeww DDeemmooccrraatt A Publication of the Peninsula Democratic Coalition (PDC) October 2012 Vote on November 6! PDC Contributes to Democratic Central Competitive Races Committees endorse Thanks to an unexpected and very generous contribution from former Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, in addition to the candidates success of recent summer picnics, voter registration and other The Democratic Central Committees from both Santa Clara fundraising efforts, the PDC is in very strong financial shape. and San Mateo Counties interviewed all Democrats running for Therefore, given the incredible importance of this November’s local non-partisan offices who were interested in being elections both locally and nationwide, the PDC Board has endorsed by the Democratic Party. After evaluating both a decided to make contributions to twelve Congressional and questionnaire filled out by the candidate and an interview, the U.S. Senate races and two California ballot propositions. We interviewing committees made recommendation to the full have also identified additional races that we’re going to monitor Central Committees in both counties. The recommendations closely and may make a contribution to between now and were then approved or disapproved by the full bodies. The November. Democratic Party believes that it is important to encourage and Below is a list of the candidates and causes we are support strong candidates at the local level who represent contributing to along with a quick synopsis of each race. Democratic values. Not only are local decisions important but Barack Obama for President: no explanation necessary. some of those who win locally will go on to serve in higher Ami Bera for Congress (CA-7): Dr. Bera is taking on elected office. Local electeds are the Democratic Party’s all incumbent Congressman Dan Lungren in a rematch of their important “Farm Team” for the future. very competitive 2010 campaign. One big change since then is The Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee and redistricting, as this district now has more registered Ds than the San Mateo County Central Committee urge all Democrats Rs. This is a toss-up and one of the most contested to support the endorsed candidates when they vote in the congressional races in the country. November election. Jerry McNerney for Congress (CA-9): Incumbent The endorsed candidates from Santa Clara County area include: Democrat Jerry McNerney finds himself in a tight battle with • Palo Alto City Council: Marc Berman, Pat Burt, Liz Kniss Republican upstart Ricky Gill, a prolific fundraiser who is • Palo Alto School Board: Ken Dauber, Heidi Emberling, getting support from the national Republican Party. This is a Camille Townsend slightly left-leaning district and while McNerney is ahead, this • Los Altos City Council: Jan Pepper contest is too close to get complacent. • Los Altos School Board: Amanda Burke Aaronson, Jose Hernandez for Congress (CA-10): Astronaut – Vladimir Ivanovic, Pablo Luther, Steven Taglio and Democrat – Jose Hernandez grew up in a family of • Mountain View City Council: Margaret Capriles, Chris migrant farm workers and went on to become an engineer Clark, John McAllister who flew on the space shuttle Discovery in 2009. He is taking • Foothill/DeAnza College Board: Joan Barram, Betsy on incumbent Jeff Denham in a district that now leans Bechtel, Laura Casas Frier Democratic. In San Mateo County, the endorsed candidates are: Anna Eshoo for Congress (CA-14): Anna, who • San Mateo County Board of Supervisors: Shelly Masur obviously needs no introduction, is a long time friend and • San Mateo County Board of Education: Joe Ross supporter of the PDC and we are proud to support her in her • East Palo Alto City Council: Bernardo Huerta, Laura re-election to Congress. Martinez, Larry Moody Otto Lee for Congress (CA-22): Otto is a longtime PDC • Ravenswood School District: Marco Chavez, Sharifa Wilson member, veteran and former mayor of Sunnyvale who is • Menlo Park City Council: Ray Mueller, Kelly Fergusson running for Congress in the Central Valley. We are proud to • Harbor Commissioners: Will Hoisinger, Sabrina Brennan. (Continued on page 7) The New Democrat 2 October 2012 crime, enabling them to testify against their traffickers without Letters fear of prosecution. t t o o Vote *YES* on Proposition 37. Does it cover _all_ food that Taking issue... might be genetically engineered? No, but it's a first step. Let's t h While I usually agree with not let the (non-existent) perfect be the enemy of the good. e Martin Gorfinkel, I must take That the major funding for the opposition is coming from E issue with his Monsanto should tell you which side you should be on. d d recommendations on Vote *NO* on Proposition 38 (and of course YES on i t Propositions 33, 35, 37, and Proposition 30). Prop 38 conflicts with Proposition 30, the o o 38. (I don't know when he Governor's revenue measure that even Martin supports, and r wrote his editorial for the that we need to take effect so we don't have huge cuts to September newsletter, but the education, public safety, and other services. Prop 38 only funds pro and con arguments were education, and only K-12 at that; no money for community supposed to be on the Secretary of State's website on or about colleges. If both pass, but Prop 38 gets more votes than Prop July 24th. I downloaded them August 3rd.) 30, the "trigger cuts" in the Governor's budget go into effect. Vote *NO* on Proposition 33. This was put on the ballot by Steve Chessin billionaire George Joseph, chair of Mercury Insurance. It's a (old) 22nd AD Executive Board Representative retread of his June 2010 Proposition 17, which we barely defeated. It will create a loophole that will allow George (and other insurance companies, but he doesn't care about them) to raise rates. Consumers Union (the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports) opposes it, as does Harvey Rosenfield, the founder of CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL & Consumer Watchdog. Vote *YES* on Proposition 35. Human traffickers are STATE GENERAL ELECTION business people; they do a cost-benefit analysis. Raise the Tuesday , November 6, 2012 - POLL HOURS: 7am-8pm penalties, and some of them will go into a different line of work. Prop 35 also protects the women and girls pressured Deadline to register for the General Election into prostitution by traffickers from being prosecuted for that is October 22. Elect PDC Member Bill JAMES to the El Camino Hospital District Board BILL IS READY TO LEAD BILL IS FOCUSED ON OUR NEEDS • Graduate of Stanford Law School and • Our Hospital has accumulated more the U.S. Naval Academy than $400 million in reserves • Board Member, Community Services • Bill will ensure that any excess Agency of Mountain View, Los Altos, reserve and Hospital net earnings are and Los Altos Hills used to benefit District residents • Leader of a 2005 effort that • Bill will oppose buying facilities well improved public access to financial outside the District, as occurred with information for El Camino Hospital the purchase of the Los Gatos hospital Paid for by Bill James for ENDORSEMENTS: El Camino Hospital District Board 2012 Santa Clara County Democratic FPPC # 1349594 Party, South Bay Labor Council "Under my leadership, our (COPE), Assemblyman Paul Fong, community hospital will focus on Assemblywoman Sally Lieber serving the needs of District (Ret.), Mountain View Bill residents. I will ensure the hospital Councilmember Margaret Abe- remains financially strong and Koga (partial list) under District control." Bill James - Bill James District Board PO BOX 3221 JEl CaAmino HMospitaEl S PDC Member Los Altos CA 94024 www.billjames2012.com Paid for by Bill James for El Camino Hospital District 2012, FPPC ID# 1349594, PO BOX 3221, Los Altos CA 94024 The New Democrat 3 October 2012 The New Democrat 4 October 2012 some extra votes are John Garamendi, Jim Costa, Henry Reminder: Your Social Waxman, Mark Takano, and Alan Lowenthal. Think, too, of your friends and relatives—and their friends Networks Can Help and relatives—in other states. If you want them to vote to help re-elect Obama, and also to elect Democratic Senators and House members, encourage them to register and vote. Your Democrats Win encouragement could be the critical step in getting them to do By Katherine Forrest so. All of the Senate races are important, of course, but key Senatorial races this year are in Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Many of us are actively helping build support for Democratic Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. candidates this year—registering voters at street fairs or the Your phone calls and messages to activate your network ties farmer’s market, walking precincts, and making phone calls to to register and vote could be just what it takes! strangers. But every one of us can use the most effective For a complete list of the states and their voter registration political action tool of all—we can use our social networks. deadlines, visit Taking advantage of your existing social networks is www.longdistancevoter.org/voter_registration_deadline the most effective way of getting people politically s#.UFubuhxkLCg. engaged, better than traditional methods such as phoning, mailing, ads, or door-to-door canvassing. Make a quick phone call or send a message to a friend, relative, neighbor, or Voter Registration training coworker, some time in the remaining weeks before this critical election, and you’re almost sure to have success in getting them to vote. Social networks are powerful channels for motivating people to take political action, because the people in your network already know you, and most of them probably already have a warm, friendly feeling toward you. It’s easy to say “yes” to a friend, especially one with whom you share values and political views.