Editorials
Have Your Say in the Political Process
The Dems, bless their little restless hearts, are getting restless again. In the last week I’ve been deluged, at both my personal email and my Planet address, with exhortations from a variety of people I think well of (and a couple of not-so-much) to show up on January 26 to vote for delegates to the California State Democratic Convention. Most of them were for the Emeryville gathering of residents of California’s 15th Assembly District, where I actually live and could vote, but I even got one for Assembly District 18, which includes Alameda and environs.
Why should I (or you) care?
The central focus is that California has become a one-party state, or realistically a no-party state. The Republican Party has essentially committed suicide, with California as usual on the leading edge of change.
This last election knocked off another substantial number of Republican congressmembers, and Republicans in the state legislature are getting scarcer and scarcer. When you add in the top-two “jungle” primary, which more often than not pits two self-styled Democrats against one another in the general election, the old advice to “hold your nose and pull the Democratic lever” just doesn’t work.
Delegates to the state Democratic convention, some to be chosen this weekend, can endorse particular candidates in the sea of hopefuls who run first in the June “primary” and then in the November general election. A delegate's endorsement adds luster to a candidate's resume.
Here’s a broader definition of delegates’ powers from one of two slates which are soliciting votes in AD 15, the Progressive-Labor Slate:
“Every two years, the CA Democrats elect 7 self-identified females and 7 other than self-identified females from each Assembly District in CA as delegates to the state party. Those who are elected will have a chance to vote for the new party chair and other leadership. The race is hotly contested and will determine how welcoming, grassroots-focused and innovative the party becomes or how beholden it will remain to big money interests.The hotly contested race for Assembly in the 15th District ended up being won in November by the candidate with far and away the biggest carpet bag full of cash, career politician Buffy Wicks, who has wasted no time aligning herself with San Francisco’s Scott Wiener as the voice of the big money development industry. It’s a sure thing that most of those who voted for her had only a vague idea of what her politics are, and just saw her smiley face and a pretty baby on her numerous glossy mailers. Most of them had no idea that she’s part of the developer-funded faction which wants to wrest control of land use from local jurisdictions.“Delegates elect Party officers, endorse candidates for statewide, legislative and congressional office, attend the annual convention, network with other Democrats, represent your constituency, promote the California Democratic Party agenda, and vote to endorse resolutions and ballot measures.”
The Progressive-Labor Slate in AD15 was the first to drape itself in the progressive mantel, the one most coveted by candidates around here, from North Oakland through Richmond. Their web page spotlights candidates from a wide variety of progressive backgrounds, with the most prominent being Nurses’ Union member Wendy Bloom and Berkeley Councilmember Kate Harrison. Organizations claimed by candidates include a variety of unions, and Our Revolution (the trailing edge of Bernie Sanders).
The other team in AD15 has adopted the apt title of Union of Progressive Leaders. That’s code for “top down”—it’s controlled by establishment state electeds. Pictures of this slate were included in an email from Richmond Mayor Tom Butts, but I couldn’t find any web site which stated their principles if any. Its slate graphic is prominently headed ENDORSED BY SEN. NANCY SKINNER AND ASM. BUFFY WICKS, in case you missed the memo about who’s on top.
I also got an email about the race in AD18 from an old compañera of mine who used to live in Berkeley but has now moved out of state. She asked me to vote for her niece, but sadly I’m not in that district, so I won’t be voting there.
The slate her niece is on, the East Bay Unbossed Slate , does have the best definition of candidates’ political principles I’ve seen. They seem to be the polar opposite of the so-called Union of Progressive Leaders slate which wants to run AD15.
“All East Bay Unbossed candidates will work for new progressive leadership of the state party, and we pledge to join and become active in the Progressive Caucus. We believe the party needs rebuilding from the ground up, and our inspired candidates, who will work together in power and push for authentic change, say the time for new blood, new direction, and fresh faces is now. East Bay Unbossed will stand up for justice for women, people of color, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, people struggling with housing, the economically disenfranchised, immigrants, and all marginalized people. We believe climate change, safe and affordable housing, immigration reform, and a living wage are not sideline issues, but should be front and center in state and national decision-making. It’s time to revive real democracy for all, not later, but now.”The name of this slate, “East Bay Unbossed”, resonates favorably with old timers like me (and Congresswoman Barbara Lee) who supported Shirley Chisholm for President in the 1970s, whose slogan was “Unbought and Unbossed.”
Is there a statewide movement to take over the Democratic Party from the grass roots? My South Bay source, in the assembly district which includes parts of San Jose and Santa Cruz, tells me that an independent progressive slate won their delegate election, which took place last weekend. It seems to be happening all over the state. The East Bay’s Kimberly Ellis, who narrowly lost a bid for the state Democratic chair, is going to try again to get elected as an insurgent candidate.
Would you like to have your say in the AD15 process? Here’s the drill:
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2019
Doors Open: 9:45am
Candidate Speeches Begin: 10:00am
Registration & Voting: 10:30am-12:30pm
Location:
Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL) Gymnasium
4727 San Pablo Avenue
Emeryville, CA 94608
Cross streets: 47th/San Pablo Avenue
You need to be a registered Democrat, which you can do at the meeting. You can vote for the party delegates of your choice at 10:30 and then go home if you want.
More information, including recommended progressive candidates, can be seen at: http://www.adems.vote/ad15/