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Former State Asemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) announced this week that she will seek a soon-to-be-vacated seat held by 7th District State Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), vowing to run a “strictly positive campaign” in the yet-unscheduled special election.
“My ‘Positively for Us’ campaign will focus on my record of accomplishments and my goals for the State Senate, and will address voters’ concerns by making real progress on issues that matter to us all,” said Buchanan, who is 62.
“No attacks or ‘comparisons’ — which are merely attacks in disguise — will be made by me or my campaign,” she added.
Gov. Jerry Brown will call a special election once DeSaulnier resigns to become the 11th District’s congressman.
The 7th State Assembly District includes Brentwood, Antioch, Pittsburg and Concord to the north, Orinda, Lafayette and Walnut Creek to the west, and Pleasanton and Livermore to the south.
Two other candidates have thrown their hats into the upcoming race thus far: State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord) and Republican attorney Mark Meuser.
The Seventh Senate District includes some of Bonilla’s 14th State Assembly District. Meuser ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate in 2012, losing out to DeSaulnier.
Buchanan, who was first elected to the State Assembly in 2008, was termed out of office this year. She previously served on the San Ramon Valley school board for 18 years and was board president four times during her tenure.
In announcing her State Senate bid, Buchanan blasted negative campaign tactics that she argues are harmful to democracy.
“This was amplified last November when we were overwhelmed with endless negative TV, radio ads and mailers that did little more than anger voters of all political persuasions,” she said. “I’ve heard from our community time and time again that they are tired of these tactics and are reluctant to participate in such a destructive process.”
Buchanan added: “I am not asking my opponents to take any kind of pledge, or to follow my lead, and I cannot control or direct independent expenditure committees. I am simply making a promise to voters so they know what they can expect from me and my campaign. My hope is that this type of campaign will foster a positive and constructive dialogue about what’s best for our future as a region.”
Her endorsement list to date includes former Pleasanton City Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio and current Pleasanton school board members Valerie Arkin, Chris Grant, Jamie Hintzke and Joan Laursen.
Interesting that Ms. Buchanan “blasted negative campaign tactics” yet she donated $500 to Bowser and endorsed him AFTER he sent out his email that was full of false and negative information about Miller and Wright.
Term limit should apply to any elected office. Take time out to reintegrate with the real world.
I do not trust serial politicians. There is something wrong with that ambition.
Highlights again the problem with the Pleasanton school board. Buchanan’s endorsement of Valerie Arkin, Chris Grant, Jamie Hintzke and Joan Laursen is a reminder that they are all left-wing loons.
Bill, you are right about serial politicians. There should be limits on the total number of years that can be served as a state politician (such as 8 years total including any time in the Assembly, Senate or state-level position like Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Governor, Board of Regents, etc.). Also would be a great idea to limit the time the Legislature is in session, such as 2 months/year. Get rid of professional politicians, most of whom are on the take from lobbyists.
Bill, totally agree with you. The purpose of the representative democracy was not a career. It was to be regular folks who worked or lived in the community, taking some time out of the jobs to be a representative. It was part-time as it was not a career and people had to do their real job to survive. We need to go back to a part-time legislature and there should be NO benefits like medical or pensions as they are part-time representation. I would also be in favor of just a small stipend for being in the legislature, or the alternative is to make it a maximum amount per person; enough to pay for a few years and then after that it would pay zero. While we are at it, change the 2-year terms to 4 year terms. 2-year terms mean the person is campaigning their whole term.
One major problem of term limits is that by the time a legislator starts to learn the ropes and how to propose and write and move legislation, they are termed out. This has led to legislation and state government being run by those who have the experience and the tenure, specifically legislative staff and lobbyists who just move from the old to the new legislators. I certainly understand the frustrations that led to term limits, but one should recognize the downside. I also understand that regulation is so pervasive and complex that industries are parceled out to various legislators and the industry lobbyists write the bills that are pushed by their appointed legislator. Constant legislative turnover makes it almost impossible for legislators to counter the influence and force of lobbyists and staff. Term limits seems to have moved government further away from the governed.
Perhaps if we had shorter term limits none of the legislature would figure out how to write bills and we will all be better off.
Anyway, the legislatures know nothing about the legislation they are working on. Only their staff does. I bet that not one person in the legislature has ever completely read a single bill in its entirety.
The more bills that are written and passed, the more regulations which makes it harder to live and work here, and it is too complex for anybody to figure out. The legislatures are grasping at straws to try to find more problems so they can introduce a new law, and then claim they are doing something useful. My feeling is there should be no more bills introduced until the current and long term debt and finances has been worked out. That is the most important thing and all the politicians are avoiding it like a hot potato, trying to force the problem to the next generation.
The current system does not work anymore.
Whether we have longterm legislators or not, the current system is controlled by lobbyists of special interests. After all, it is the special interests that are financing the campaigns and thus controlling the future.