TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th is election day. If progressives want a solid voice in American politics we gotta influence elections. And off-year, low voter turnout elections like what is coming up TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH are the best chances for progressives to affect the outcome.
I now turn to some California endorsements from Democracy for America's Silicon Valley group and from Progressive Majority, one of the most successful grassroots organizations around.
First, Silicon Valley: (with links)
Los Altos City Council
* Randall Hull [1] (also endorsed by the California League of Conservation Voters and Sierra Club)
Palo Alto City Council
* Pat Burt [2]
* Dan Dykwel [3]
* Sid Espinoza [4]
* Yiawey Yeh [5] (also endorsed by Sierra Club and California League of Conservation Voters)
Palo Alto Unified School District
( vote for three only )
* Claude Exran [6]
* Wynn Hauser [7]
* Barbara Klausner [8]
* Camille Townsend [9]
Sunnyvale City Council
* Seat 4: Dean Chu [10] (also endorsed by South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, Sierra Club, California League of Conservation Voters, Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers Association)
* Seat 5: Otto Lee [11]
* Seat 6: Ron Swegles [12]
* Seat 7: Melinda Hamilton [13] (also endorsed by Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers' Association and South Bay Labor Council)
Gilroy City Council
* Cat Tucker [14]
Cupertino City Council
* Gilbert Wong [15]
Now I turn to Progressive Majority's endorsements in California:
Pete Aguilar, Candidate for Redlands City Council - At Large (Incumbent)
Pete Aguilar is a 28-year old, first-time Latino candidate for city council in the city of Redlands, located within San Bernardino County. Pete was appointed to an open seat on the city council, but has never run for office. However, he has been very involved in Democratic campaigns throughout the county. The current city government is narrowly Democratic, though the city's electorate is strongly Republican. Redlands has at-large elections for city council, and Pete and the other Democratic incumbents are up this November. There are seven total candidates running for the two available seats.
Click here to support and learn more about Pete [16].
Rick Hutcheson, Candidate for Palm Springs City Council - At Large (Open Seat)
Rick Hutcheson is an openly gay first-time candidate who is running for the Palm Springs City Council. A former Staff Secretary in the Carter administration, Rick is running for one of two at-large seats up in November. This election cycle and the next cycle will see all of the openly gay members of the Palm Springs City Council and mayor termed out. As one of the progressive strongholds in Riverside County, it is important to maintain progressive strength here. There are eight candidates and no incumbents running for two at-large seats.
Click here to support and learn more about Rick [17].
Carolyn Tillman, Candidate for San Bernardino City Council - Ward 5 (Challenger)
Carolyn Tillman is a first-time candidate running against Republican incumbent Chas Kelley in the race for San Bernardino 5th Ward City Council. She is a long time public servant and currently works for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. Her opponent is a conservative who was a candidate for mayor two years ago - recent controversies over the spending of public safety bond money has dogged his tenure. Because Republicans currently hold a 4 to 3 majority on the city council, this race is the key to flipping control of this city. Four candidates are running for the seat, including incumbent Chas Kelley. The other two candidates include a perennial candidate and a contractor angry over a lawsuit with the city.
Rikke Van Johnson, Candidate for San Bernardino City Council - Ward 6 (Incumbent)
Councilman Rikke Van Johnson is a first-term incumbent representing the 6th Ward in the city of San Bernardino. Four years ago, he defeated the Republican incumbent, Betty Dean Anderson, who is attempting to win back her seat. Councilman Van Johnson is the only Democrat up for re-election in 2007 in San Bernardino. The 4-3 majority Republicans hold makes Van Johnson's re-election vital to flipping the city council. As a minister, he is also a key leader in the city's African-American community.
So, from Silicon Valley to the Inland Empire, PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th!
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