CSEA, the classified employees, endorsed three candidates who promise to make the Banning USD administration accountable to the students, parents, staff, and citizens of the Banning Unified School District. This is an important election for Banning schools. It can finally ensure that spending cuts start with management's perks, instead of essential staff. Banning has no more bilingual aides, and is slashing library staff hours. Meanwhile, administrators continue to spend freely on attorneys and consultants, as though they worked at Goldman Sachs. They don't. They work for us.
On November 8th, Banning residents can exercise their power to change the school district by electing Alfredo Andrade, Alex Cassadas, and Ray Curtis to the Banning School Board. You can give them the authority to supervise the administration.
Isn't it about time that the Banning School Board did that?
(Welcome to Fera, who is creating the CDP's online content - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Right now CA Dem staff and volunteers together with local Democrats in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties are hard at work setting up the first-ever joint (state and local) Latino Voter Registration Project in the Inland Empire. This week, we're launching the "It Gets Bluer" online and social media campaign to spread the word and let Democrats in the Inland Empire know that Democrats across California stand with them as they work to turn the tide in one of our state's final remaining GOP strongholds.
Christopher Guerrero, Field Director for the California Democratic Party, described it this way:
"We've set up shop in the Inland Empire and together with our Democratic partners in San Bernardino and Riverside we're going to register as many Latino voters as we can between now and November 2012," said Christopher Guerrero, Field Director for the California Democratic Party. "We are taking the fight right to the GOP's doorstep here and in what's considered a red (GOP) area a lot of Democrats and potential Democrats may feel like they're the only one in the area. That's why we're coming together to announce to the whole community and to Democrats across the state that It Gets Bluer, and together we will work to turn the Inland Empire a bright shade of Democratic blue."
Before initiating the project's field component, the CDP's field and data teams analyzed recently released Census data and past voting trends and cross-referenced the data in the Party's voter contact file. Using geospacial tools, the results were then overlaid on detailed maps of the San Bernardino and Riverside areas to determine potential Democratic voter "hotspots" in the Inland Empire. Joint CDP and local field teams were then created in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties to register potential Democratic voters in those "hotspots."
(I got to know Darren while on the Kamala Harris campaign, and now he's running against Sharon Runner for Senate. The Choice is Clear! - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Progressives: We are working the phones to make sure this seat flips into the "D" column. Registration's close, so turnout is the key! Come help us man the virtual phonebanks!
(Edit by Brian: Details for the phonebanks and the ad over the flip.)
I wanted to use an old Marine Corps Adage to motivate us to GOTV for every swinging Progressive Candidate across California. We need the Governorship! We need the Senate! We need the Congress! And we definitely need the damn 2/3rds that Republicans have used to keep us from enacting Progressive Change in California. For these final 2 days we have to focus like a laser on electing candidates to help further our cause. Jerry Brown is ahead by 10 pts., so let us focus on the down ticket races that will indirectly help him. Let's focus on Sen. Barbara Boxer who has fought tooth and nail for Progressives in California! Let's focus on Gavin Newson or Kamala Harris who have taken bold strides in advancing a Progressive Agenda despite have themselves painted as a San Fransisco liberal or soft on crime. Finally, but not the least of all lets focus on electing memebers of Congress, State Senate, or Assembly who represent California's interests. California Republicans will make up the some of the leadership positions in Congress, Assembly, and Senate. We have to bring these members down! We must face our fears and go boldly once more into the breach dear friends. Only our tenacity can ensure our victory. I will see you on the beach November 2.
With 2 weeks left until E-Day, California Progressives have been building a firewall to beat back the tide of the Red Menace. We are walking precincts, knocking on doors, engaging voters neighbor to neighbor, and phonebanking, phonebanking, phonebanking!
The task at hand is daunting and morale may flag and spirits may dwindle, but I say we must stand together! We must show not just California, but the nation that we will not go quietly into the night; that we, the Progressive Movement, on principle will not go down without a fight.
In this this vien, the acronym G.R.I.T. should serve as a rally cry to all activists in our movement.
Grim Determination:We may not have the enthusiasm of the other side, but we have the intestinal fortitude to soldier on in the face of long odds and short tempers. We will snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Regain the Momentum:Very soon...maybe not today, maybe not tommorrow, and because of our efforts we will regain the momentum. Maintaing a positive attitude leads to positive results.
Intensify the Effort:Every waking moment and every single body should be focused on winning this election. If we are not exhausted by the time this thing is over, then we have not done enough.
Turn the Tide:Our organization is better than the Teabaggers and thier allies, our determination is greater, our GOTV is legendary! We can win this!
The Riverside/San Bernardino County area, aka Inland Empire (whose Empire, I always want to know)recently beat Detroit for the dubious honor of being No. 1 in unemployment nationwide. The Democratic challenger for the 65th Assembly District, Carl Wood, is running on job creation and tax fairness (ie, make corporations pay their fair share). The incumbent Republican has no record whatsoever on jobs, and recently gave struggling homeowners the back of his hand on foreclosure relief.
The only hope for turning this District around is voter turnout. A bit of local press on Wood's odds in the extended diary. Carl's Act Blue page is here.
Isadore Hall, Assemblyman for the 52nd District, brought five volunteers with him for precinct walking and carne asada. More from Isadore Hall, CA52AD, on the flip.
CHERRY VALLEY - 65th Assembly District Democratic challenger Carl Wood has invited Republican incumbent Paul Cook to a series of debates. In a personal letter Wood declared it "our duty" as candidates "to make every effort to inform voters about our candidacies." In an election year where voters are said to be hostile toward incumbents Wood's invitation includes his assurance that he will make "every accommodation" for Cook in order to make these debates happen.
Wood's campaign manager, Michael Kreizenbeck, hopes Cook will agree to the debates. "A debate that discusses issues like jobs, home foreclosures and the substantial needs of veterans is certain to hurt Cook's chances of reelection, but I don't see how Cook can run from this opportunity to explain himself directly to voters," Kreizenbeck said.
In a dramatic illustration of my campaign theme that Republican incumbent assemblyman Paul Cook is out of touch with his district, he was quoted in Monday's Riverside Press-Enterprise on his reason for voting against Sen. Mark Leno's SB 1275, which would help homeowners by requiring banks and mortgage companies to better communicate with delinquent borrowers about modification options before beginning the foreclosure process. Said Cook, "I needed a good reason to vote for it and I just didn't see it."
Well, Mr. Cook, let me suggest a few good reasons. Our Assembly District 65, in the heart of the Inland Empire, has the highest unemployment rate of any large metropolitan area in California (15.1%, second nationally only to metro Detroit). We are Ground Zero for the foreclosure crisis; when the New York Times did a series on foreclosures, they came to Moreno Valley for their interviews.
Widespread foreclosures lead to failing neighborhoods, which in turn burden already underfunded schools. Many schools in the 65th lag behind the rest of the state, mortgaging (no pun intended) the futures of our area's youth.
Cook's response to these multiple crises in his district? Not a single bill that addresses the economic crisis or relief for its victims. Although he proclaims his passion for recognizing the service of military veterans, his legislative record contains nothing that addresses the needs of the thousands of veterans in the 65th District facing unemployment, foreclosure and possible homelessness.
The 65th AD is poised to turn Democratic. From a 23% Cook win in 2006, the Republican margin was cut to 6.5% when I ran against him in 2008. If ever there was an area needing the solutions that only progressive Democrats can provide, it is the Inland Empire in 2010.
(8.15.10 Disclosure: My union, CSEA, endorsed Wood, and I volunteer on his campaign.)
Carl Wood is the Democratic candidate for the CA 65th Assembly District, the most depressed area in the nation after Detroit. Carl is a lifelong labor guy with deep roots in the community. As Public Utilities Commissioner, Carl Wood helped guide the state through the disastrous energy crisis, protecting the interests of workers and working class utility consumers.
Wood is unapologetically liberal and direct, in a very pleasant way. Here he is at the California Democratic Convention last April 2010:
(CaliforniaForever works on Carl Wood's Assembly campaign)
Carl Wood, the former PUC Commissioner that ended those rolling blackouts is now the Democratic contender for the 65th Assembly District seat, most of which lies in Riverside County. On June 15th it was reported in the Press Enterprise that a communications mix-up between the Riverside ROV and the USPS allowed 12,563 absentee ballots that were mailed on time to remain in the custody of the post office past their due date. The law is that the ballots cannot be counted unless they are in the ROV office on Election Day, June 8th. In a press release dated June 17th, after the fiasco became public, Carl Wood proposed a simple solution to prevent the disqualification of valid ballots in future - use the postmark to determine the timeliness of absentee ballots.
Two weeks after Wood took the lead, neighboring Republican Assemblyman Brian Nestande has followed according to an article in The Desert Sun, by introducing legislation to, you guessed it, allow postmarks rather than arrival time at the ROV to determine whether the ballots are on time. Of course it is possible that Nestande did not know that Wood had introduced the idea two weeks prior. Success, as they say has a thousand fathers.
Where was Carl Wood's incumbent opponent on the electoral travesty? So far Assemblyman Paul Cook is a no show on the thousands of uncounted ballots. If the AWOL incumbent ever decides to address the loss of voting rights to thousands of voters in his district, he may be hard pressed to avoid supporting the policy solution of his fast-acting opponent, Carl Wood. Perhaps in this case success will have only 999 fathers.
I just got done watching Jon Stewart's excoriaton of the South Carolina state Dems in which Dems in SC blamed Republican misdeeds for Alvin Greene's election as their representative for the Senate. It reminded me of the accusations (excuses) hurled in by Democrats in our party for our results in election contests. We have always accused the Repubs of "slamming" voters in our county through the registration process. I say to our fellow Dems,it is our fault!!! When was the last time we conducted a robust registration drive? How long has it been since we canvassed Democratic households and urged them to vote absentee? During my campaign to be on the Central Committee I canvassed households and the MAJORITY of them felt like they were the only Democrats on the block when a Democrat lived right next door to them!!! We have to admit that we fucked up before we can move on. Let us have this catharsis so we can achieve an Inland Empire that is truly representative of the people.
Now that the Central Committee Race is over (I finished dead last BTW). I feel less constrained to guard my feelings and plans that I had for the Democratic takeover of the Inland Empire. The Democratic Problem in this county is that we do not have enough name recognition to get elected. We may be a blue county but we don't have the city council people, mayors, board of supervisors, ect. that are representative of the numbers that we possesess. We have to get local and build a foundational structure to launch candidates. It has to be bottom up, not top down in order for us to win.
I was proud to attend the event held for Senator Barbara Boxer at the San Bernardino County Central Committee on Memorial Day. The mood was festive and lively as Senator Boxer laid into her opponents and defended her record on offshore drilling moratorium, the stimulus package (which is seen by the expansion and rework of the 215 FWY), and health care reform legislation. She is really trying to build a grassworks network here in the Inland Empire and I am glad that someone of such import has FINALLY paid attention to the Inland Empire aka the bastard step-child of the Democratic Party. However, we do need a new microphone system for the SBCCC because the one provided kept cutting off and was sometimes caught in an ear screeching feedback loop. Afterwards, Sen. Boxer attended the VA Hospital in Loma Linda to chat with veterans there and pay them the respect and honor they deserve for their service. For full disclosure, I am running for the Central Committee of San Bernardino County and if elected I will raise funds to purchase a new mic system!
In 2008, California more than any other state helped elect Barack Obama President of the United States. We canvassed in the harsh desert terrain of Nevada and Arizona. Also, we made over 3 million calls. However, much to the chargrin of the California State Democratic Party that victory did not translate into the much of the down ticket flipping of Republican seats because of the intense focus on getting Obama elected. Now, in 2010 the importance of activating these grassroots networks and applying that laser like focus to our own state cannot be ignored or marginalized. Organizing for America (OFA) should not be relied on to heavily contribute to victory in 2010.
Every swinging Progressive in every county should be going all out making calls and knocking on doors to encourage the 1st time voters and persuade elusive independents to vote Democrat in November. 3 is the magic number and we can do it, if we hit the streets hard and fast.
The Inland Empire stands ready to flip these 3 seats. After looking at the numbers, the 63rd and the 36th are prime for flipping in San Bernardino County. I won't comment on the 64th or 65th because those races I have not analzyed yet.
In 2010, the Inland Empire will finally go from being the bastard cousin of Democratic Party politics to a nascent power player in the setup to 2012. Why do I say this? First, many Congressional disticts and Assembly districts in the Inland Empire went for Barack Obama in 2008. The flurry of Progressive activism in this area was euphoric and in it lay the beginnings of a foundation. Secondly, we have recieved peripheral attention from major Democratic power players such as Barbara Boxer who announced her 2010 senatorial bid in Riverside County and Gavin Newsom who came to the Inland Empire during his exploratory bid for Governor. Finally, the Progressive faction in the Inland Empire is finally achieveing the organization structure to compete against the Blue Dog faction which has consistently won and whose performance has been circumspect in the California Legislature and Congress.
While much work remains. I remain optimistic about our prospects in 2010 and beyond. If we hit the Regressives hard and hit them early we can achieve our desired results in November.
Meet Carl Wood, Democratic challenger to the GOP's Paul Cook in the California 65th Assembly District. Carl is a lifelong advocate for labor and civil rights, a true blue progressive. Last election, Carl narrowed the spread on this race from 23% to 7% with only a skeletal campaign. He's well known in Riverside County for his work as a Public Utilities Commissioner under Gray Davis, battling the forces of Enron.
This time, the 65th is a priority for local Democratic clubs and labor unions. So far Carl has the endorsement of the California Labor Federation, CNA, CTA, CSEA, CWA, LIUNA, SEIU California State Council, SEIU RN 121, Teamsters Council 42, Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), and United Auto Workers (UAW).
This is a purple, not red district, and the incumbent's staff is already making panicky mistakes. See over the flip. **Correction: Previously listed UDW among endorsers, which was incorrect.**
Today I'm at the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee Strategic Planning Retreat. We are 44th CD, 45th CD, 64th, 65th AD, 80th AD, and the 37th SD (election April 17th if someone gets 50+1). Riverside County frankly deserves maximum attention from the CDP, as we have the seats that could flip. Manuel Perez's win in the 80th was a long time coming, and we need the rest in 2010.
Carl Wood is running again in the 65th, but couldn't join us today as he's just now returning from Copenhagen. I read the following letter on his behalf to the RCDCC, and here it is for the Calitics crew:
Dear fellow Democrats,
I regret not being with you today for this important Retreat. As many of you know, I have been in Copenhagen, Denmark for the past ten days as an official member of the U.S. labor delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference. My flight arrangements were made months ago and could not be changed when this Retreat was scheduled.
As the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for the Utility Workers Union, I serve on the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force and represent my union in international meetings on climate change and other matters. Along with union representatives from around the world, our delegation has been working to ensure that the international agreements that will guide the transition to a low-carbon economy will include economic protections and millions of good new jobs for working people.
Last night, President Obama addressed the nation on an issue we all know is critically important: making sure every American receives quality, affordable health care. Obama echoed the words of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy who wrote that accomplishing this goal will truly show the "character of our country."
Ken Calvert's response? Falsehoods, fabrication and fear mongering. Just read what he had to say:
"It's the pathway to nationalized health care." - Press-Enterprise
"The public option is an absolute deal killer." - Orange County Register
