[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Linda Sutton

by WhatAre Progressive Values [courtesy of Blog for America]

I video taped the speeches for  the California Assembly District AD 14 Candidates  at the El Cerrito Democratic Club 3/25/08.  This will probably only be of interest to people living in California AD 14.

 However, I asked the candidates what are progressive values. How do you think they did on answering the question?  I find Nancy Skinner did the best job of actually addressing what are progressive values.

Progressive Values:Question s for CA 14th Assembly Candidates

California Assembly District AD 14 Candidate speeches

Nancy Skinner at El Cerrito Democratic Club. March 25 2008

March 25 2008 Tony Thurmond at El Cerrito Democratic Club.

Phil Polakoff at El Cerrito Democratic Club, March 25 2008

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Emily Reilly
Democratic Candidate
27th Assembly District

I am a candidate in the 27th Assembly District, and the only currently elected local official in the race, having served two terms as Mayor of the city of Santa Cruz, where I now sit on the city council. During my time as Mayor and on the Santa Cruz City Council I have built a strong record of bringing people together to address critical issues, such as environmental protection, transportation and affordable housing. As an Assemblywoman, I intend to bring that same emphasis on progressive issues to Sacramento – including making universal healthcare a reality.

The truth is that our state’s structural budget deficit is the single largest problem facing the state, because it affects every goal we are trying to accomplish. I am the only candidate who has balanced a municipal budget while also balancing competing priorities. The sensible approach I took with our city budget, judiciously cutting spending when necessary and raising critical revenues, is the kind of approach I intend to bring to my work in Sacramento. As a state, we cannot continue to embrace the Governor's policy of slashing the budget year after year without any attempt to enhance revenues, especially if we are to solve some of our most pressing problems.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Sharon Kyle and Dick Price

As a first-time elected official, Assemblymember Kevin de Leon stepped into a big job this year. Named Assistant Majority Floor Leader at the start of his first term, Kevin supported the Assembly Democratic leadership team of Speaker Fabian Nunez and Majority Floor Leader Karen Bass in dealing with over 1,000 bills in his first term representing the 45th California Assembly District.

To recap his first year, we met with Assemblymember de Leon in his Highland Park office, in the Northeast Los Angeles community he represents. We arrived to find the Assemblymember sitting with a constituent, fellow Northeast Democratic Club member David Brunk, who had dropped in to share concerns. Kevin listened attentively until all of David’s concerns had been aired. Then it was our turn.