2012 Endorsement Questionnaire

Transcription

1 Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County Endorsement Questionnaire Thank you for your interest in being considered for endorsement by the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County. Please answer each question in 250 words or less. Be honest and direct. Brief answers are satisfactory. Please note: your questionnaire will be posted on our website for Caucus members to review. CANDIDATE/CAMPAIGN INFORMATION Candidate Name: Mario Juarez Permanent Address: City, State, Zip: Oakland, CA Office Sought: Oakland City Council District: 5 Are you the incumbent? Campaign Website: Campaign Yes No_X_ Mario2012.com Mario@mariojuarez.com Campaign Phone: PERSONAL INFORMATION Are you a registered Democrat? Yes_X_ No (The APA Democratic Caucus can only endorse registered Democrats) Are you an APA Caucus member? Yes No_X_ Why are you seeking the Caucus s endorsement? The APA endorsement is important to me because I embrace multi-culturalism and believe that we must all work together. Your endorsement would help to validate that belief. Oakland s District 5 has a notable number of API residents and your endorsement would signal to them your belief that I have an open door to them and seek to work in harmony, supporting and promoting the issues that maybe unique to and particularly important for the API Community. Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 1

2 I am running in a platform of Safety First because we must make Oakland a safer and more crime free place to live. Some criminals view API community members as vulnerable, especially those who are older, and have subjected many in the API community to inexcusable acts of violence. I will work diligently with everyone to fix Oakland s crime issues. My very specific plan puts forward concrete initiatives and goes the necessary step further of outlining specific revenue generating mechanisms to fund public safety in Oakland. My Safety First Plan is too lengthy to include here, but it is available on my website at mario2012.com. List any endorsements you have received. Organizations Democratic Party Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 1021 Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Oakland Unified School District Police Officers Association California Democratic Party Chicano Latino Caucus Alameda County Democratic Lawyers John George Democratic Club Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club East Bay Small Business Council Association Commerciales Profesionales de Oakland Oakland Latino Merchants Association Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance Elected Officials State Controller John Chiang State Controller Steve Westly (Ret.) State Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee State Assemblymember Sandré Swanson State Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski Alameda County Treasurer Donald White Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty Alameda County Supervisor Mary King (Ret.) Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris (Ret.) Oakland City Council President Larry Reid Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan Oakland City Councilmember Pat Kernighan Oakland School Board President Alice Spearman Oakland School Boardmember Christopher Dobbins Oakland School Boardmember Jumoke Hinton Hodge Oakland School Boardmember Toni Cook (Ret.) Alameda County Board of Education Member Marlon McWilson Alameda County Board of Education Member Aisha Knowles Alameda County Water District Boardmember Marin Koller Peralta Community Colleges Board President Bill Riley Peralta Community Colleges Boardmember Linda Handy BART Director Robert Raburn Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 2

3 BART Director John McPartland AC Transit Director Chris Peeples AC Transit Director Mark Williams AC Transit Director Joel Young AC Transit Director Rocky Fernandez (Ret.) East Bay MUD Director Doug Linney East Bay MUD Director Lesa McIntosh East Bay MUD Director John Coleman East Bay MUD Director Katy Foulkes East Bay MUD Director Andy Katz East Bay MUD Director Bill Patterson East Bay MUD Director Frank Mellon Alameda Vice-Mayor Rob Bonta Berkeley City Councilmember Jesse Arreguin Berkeley City Councilmember Laurie Capitelli Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington Berkeley Rent Boardmember Igor Tregub Berkeley Rent Boardmember Asa Dodsworth Emeryville School Board President Miguel Dwin Fremont Vice Mayor Anu Natarajan Fremont City Councilmember Dominic Dutra Fremont City Councilmember Bill Harrison Ohlone Community College Board President Teresa Cox Newark School Boardmember Nancy Thomas Pleasanton City Councilmember Cheryl Cook-Kallio San Leandro Mayor Shelia Young (Ret.) San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos (Ret.) San Leandro City Councilmember Ursula Reed San Leandro City Councilmember Jim Prola San Leandro City Councilmember Linda Perry (Ret.) San Leandro School Boardmember Diana Prola San Leandro School Boardmember-Elect Corina Lopez San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Appointed Officials Oakland Planning Commissioner Michael Colbruno Oakland Port Commissioner Margaret Gordon Oakland Budget Advisory Commission Chair Jay Ashcroft Oakland Budget Advisory Commissioner Richard Zavala Oakland Budget Advisory Commissioner Damon Eaves Oakland Budget Advisory Commissioner Ken Benson Former Deputy Assistant United States Secretary of Commerce Ro Khanna Democratic Party Leaders California Democratic Party First Vice-Chair Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker Alameda County Democratic Central Committee 16 AD Vice-Chair Kathy Neal Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Bonnie Wheatley Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Howard Edgerman Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Dr. Ray Walwan Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Edie Irons Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Carl Jaramillo Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member John Smith Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Patricia Danielson Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 3

4 Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Paul Sethy Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member Margarita Lacabe Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Member-Elect Andy Kelley Alameda Democratic Club President Jim Odie Public Safety Leaders James Williams, OUSD Police Chief Miguel De Luna, OUSD Police Officer Dom Arotzarena, Oakland Police Sergeant Eddie Bermudez, Oakland Police Officer Sean Festag, Oakland Police Officer Environmental Leaders Brian Beverage, West Oakland Environmental Indicator Olga Bolotina, Sierra Club North Alameda County Arthur Feinstein, Chair, Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter Kent Lewandowski, Chair, Sierra Club North Alameda County Alan Tobey, Sierra Club North Alameda County Vinnie Bacon, Sierra Club Southern Alameda County Labor Leaders Dolores Huerta, United Farm Workers Co-Founder Al Marshall, SEIU 1021 Dwight McElroy, SEIU 1021 Dan Rush, UFCW Local 5, Special Operations Business Leaders Carl Chan, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce Jose Duenas, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County Merlin Edwards, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce Darryl Carey, President Emeritus, East Bay Small Business Council Clinton Killian, Oakland Builders Alliance Board Member Enrique Barraza, All Weather Roofing Cuahtemoc Jimenez, Casa Jimenez Restaurant Ramon Rodriguez, Los Mexicanos Market Abel Rodriguez, Bay Farm Produce Rosendo Gamez, Ciudad Mexico Hugo Guerrero, Hugo Tours and Travel Bertha Mendoza, Image Hair Mowgly Rendon, Olympic Glass John Ly, Century Buffett Sam Ye, Yee Holdings Ana Creithian, ABC Security Tony Batarse, Lloyd Wise Margarita Rodriguez, Farmers Insurance Lilian Cabrera, Farmers Insurance Julio Burgos, Sin Mex Body Shop Jose Ferreira, Radiator Shop Frank Pardo, Pardo Insurance Ray Menjivar, Western Wear Josefina Lopez, Corazon del Pueblo Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 4

5 Shawn Nguyen, Majestic Home Furnitures Enrique Barraza, All Weather Roofing Pamela Drake, Lakeshore Business Improvement District Frank Tucker, CEO, Tucker Technology Faith Leaders Father Francisco Figueroa, Saint Jarlett Church Pastor Father Oscar Mendez, Saint Elizabeth Church Pastor Father Jay Matthews, Saint Benedicts Catholic Church Pastor Community Leaders Jose Arrendondo Leslie Bonett, Chair, Cannabis Regulatory Commission of Oakland Rodney Brooks Federico G. Chavez, Administrative Law Judge Nyeisha DeWitt, Oakland Natives Give Back, Inc George Duarte, Bay East Association of Realtors LGR Chair Dan Gray, Gray and Reynolds Carl Hackney, Boardmember, 100 Black Men Gene Hazzard, Oakland Black Caucus Jai Jennifer, Greenstone Developments Andre Jones, Chief of Staff to Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan Carol CJ Jones John Loh, Loh Real Estate Doris Martinez Randy Mejivar Chris Miley Betty Olson-Jones, Oakland Education Association President Emeritus Geoffrey Pete, President, Oakland Black Caucus Robert Raich, Attorney Bob Swanson Trish Tamasbi Shawn Wilson Roy Wilson, Director, Marin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center If we endorse you, will you use our name in your campaign materials? Yes_X_ No CANDIDATE QUESTIONS Please limit your answers to no more than 250 words. 1. What makes you a better candidate for this elected office than your opponents? I ve lived in District 5 since I was a young child, founded and maintain my company in the heart of the Fruitvale and have the most accomplished and broad-based community service track record of the other candidates in this race. I ve earned the trust of, recognition by and friendship from a broad cross section of people from my Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 5

6 extensive community involvement and local activism. My work has improved the lives of many people over the years. My overall objective is to improve our city such that we lead in progressive policies that protect our citizens, workers and the environment. I am running on a platform of Safety First to realize an Oakland where streets are safe and families can be raised without fear of crime. Oakland must realize a substantial decrease in crime through constructive community partnership initiatives, sound prevention strategies, home-grown public safety personnel and its full compliment of well and appropriately equipped peace officers, in addition to traditional policing methods. I also seek to assure that our city workers and teachers can afford suitable housing and that we preserve sufficient industrial land upon which to develop green industry and other gainful employment initiatives that produce long-term jobs at liveable wages. We deserve a city that holds its own based on all of our positive attributes, with an appreciation for and celebration of diversity that continues to grow. I would invite and include Oakland s citizens in the decision making process, identifying common goals that I work to implement. 2. What have you done that demonstrates your commitment to and effectiveness in promoting Asian Pacific American interests in the following areas (and if you have not contributed in these areas, please discuss any area(s) in which you have made a contribution): Education Good nutrition is important for children and their ability to learn. I have funded lunch program for children in multi-ethnic schools in and around the Fruitvale, including Calvin Simmons. Health Care My main contribution to health care has been to make sure that my employees have full coverage. Civil Rights Immigration reform affects the API community as directly as it does others. I have worked trough the Democratic Party on the local, state and national level to push for humane reform in the party platform. Business I helped to create the Fruitvale Business Improvement District (BID) that includes API business members. The BID is responsible for keeping the commercial district clean and maintained as well as looking out for public safety. 3. How have you worked with the API community in the past? My past work with members of the API community has primarily been related to my business operations. I have had a real estate company in the Fruitvale area of Oakland for many years. During al of these years I have hired API staff members and agents as well as secured and serviced API clients. 4. Why do you think appointed and elected offices continue to be under-represented in Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 6

7 terms of ethnic communities? I think a lot of that has to do with false barriers we erect between ourselves that often prevent us from forming effective coalitions. Individual ethnic groups do not generally possess adequate numbers, especially in regards to registered voters, to assure greater representation overall. Given that there is strength in numbers, we must commit ourselves to crafting partnerships focused on mutual interests and who within our minority groups can better deliver on those interests in a given situation. At the same time, and in conjunction with an approach like this, we must also commit to diverse representation within our coalitions. As testament that I believe in this, I have endorsed and helped Rob Bonta in his Assembly campaign, despite the fact that he is running against a Latino candidate, because I believe he is the better choice. Additionally, we must work harder to register voters in the various ethnic communities and then getting them out to vote. I proud to say that one of my active involvements with the Democratic Party has been to register new voters immediately after they are granted citizenship. Our program has operated in front of the Paramount Theater in Oakland where their swearing-in ceremonies took place. 5. What can we count on you to do to address this on an institutional basis? As a member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, I will continue to seek out politically interested young people of all ethnicities and groom them for future political endeavors. Additionally, District 5 has a notable number of API residents and as Council member I will seek to have a diverse staff that is representative of my District. 6. What will you personally do to get input from under-represented communities in your jurisdiction? I plan to have a District Advisory Committee that is as diverse as possible representing all segments of the District. 7. What API policy issues and/or legislation have you championed in the past? As an active member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, I have actively promoted immigration reform. 8. How have you promoted APIs into leadership positions? I have endorsed and helped Rob Bonta to try and get him into the higher leadership position of the California Assembly. 9. If elected to office, would you agree to seek and accept input from the APA Democratic Caucus of Alameda County on relevant policy matters? Yes Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 7

8 Deadline for responses: 5 p.m. Saturday, September 8, 2012 Please your completed questionnaire to karen.fong@sbcglobal.net Thank you for taking the time to seek our endorsement. Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire_2012 Page 8