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Here are the Weekly editorial board’s endorsements of candidates for State Assembly, State Senate and Congress positions representing Pleasanton. We reached our decisions based on email interviews on endorsements, and our review of past reporting and other research.
State Assembly
State Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) is running for a second straight term representing the Tri-Valley and the rest of the 16th Assembly District.
Bauer-Kahan has impressed in the nearly 22 months since she was sworn into elected office for the first time, with a range of legislative accomplishments in the State Assembly including bipartisan bills on gun safety, climate change and streamlining government processes as well as leading the first-ever Select Committee on Women’s Reproductive Health.
She has also represented Tri-Valley priorities well in Sacramento, including authoring a bill to better preserve Tesla Park southeast of Livermore and advocating in favor of local control amid the state housing policy debate.
Facing her on the Nov. 3 ballot is Joe Rubay (R-Alamo), who sits on the Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee. He is prioritizing COVID-19 recovery, transportation, the environment and returning political balance to the State Capitol. But with Rubay lacking elected legislative experience, we needed to see a more detailed campaign platform including specific achievable policy proposals.
Vote to re-elect Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to Assembly District 16.
State Senate
State Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) is campaigning for a second full term after winning a special election in May 2015 as an Orinda councilman to fill the State Senate District 7 vacancy at the time.
In the five-plus years since, Glazer has proven himself to be a worthy legislator who prioritizes the needs and desires of District 7 constituents, even if it means voting against the party line from time to time. He is exactly the sort of thoughtful, independent decision-maker that the Tri-Valley deserves.
Glazer’s track record of bipartisan legislative successes on topics like assault weapons, flavored tobacco and protecting small businesses speaks for itself, as do his key goals for the term ahead such as public education, the environment, advocating for local control and responsible budgeting.
Opposing on the ballot is Julie Mobley, a Danville resident running for public office for the first time who advanced out of the March primary as the lone Republican candidate with next to no campaign. Mobley highlights important topics such as business and school reopenings, infrastructure, reducing fire risk and public safety, but she offers few actionable policy proposals and has no prior legislative experience. The State Senate should not be an entry-level political position, especially in 2020.
Vote to re-elect Steve Glazer to Senate District 7.
Congress
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Livermore), a former Dublin city councilman and Alameda County prosecutor, is seeking a fifth consecutive term representing Pleasanton and the rest of the 15th Congressional District.
In these uncertain times, District 15 needs a representative with legislative experience, deep ties to the Tri-Valley and institutional knowledge with sincere, actionable policy goals aimed at improving residents’ quality of life. Based on those important criteria, Swalwell stands alone in this contest.
Like we wrote ahead of the primary in March, we hear the criticisms of certain readers lamenting Swalwell’s rising profile in D.C. — the notion that he’s focused on his national image, TV appearances or party standing, rather than discernible accomplishments in and for the Tri-Valley. Or, maybe they’re just projecting because they don’t like his politics or vocal presence?
Objectively, Swalwell is the only viable candidate on this ballot — and a highly qualified one at that. His opponent, Alison Hayden (R-Hayward), who has never held elected legislative office, appears to be running a campaign focused on fear-mongering and untenable ideas that aren’t rooted in federal policy.
Vote to re-elect Eric Swalwell for District 15.
A last ditch effort by the bias Left Pleasanton Weekly Editorial Board to insure that their uniformed Democrat readership vote Democrat. No shame here is there? The Board must actually believe there are ‘undecided’ voters out there in LaLa land. Hello, did anyone actually just wake up or come back from the moon?
I will keep this short, because I don’t want to play into the embarrassment of the suggestions offered here. Let’s just use Eric (Russia, Russia, Russia) Swalwell as the basis for my talking point. How the board can support, with a straight face, Eric Swalwell britches any sense of sanity. Seriously? A person who carried the water for Adam Schiff (in particular the Democrat Party) for 4 years with what has been debunked, destroyed, and defaced as a hoax, a coup, and probably, the biggest treasonous act of a President (Obama) in American history. A person who has hidden from his constituents and run from the questioning about his lies since the truth finally emerged. At this point, Revered Wright would get my vote if he was the only person running against Swalwell.
So Democrats, what you are saying is we Californians are left to your devices, ill management, and downright criminal decisions. This is the best you can offer, a has-been corrupt politician with characteristics on par with Harris.
Lastly, remember, Karla Brown was a Republican and switched parties in February. She is anti-Costco and receives funding support by anti-Costco voters. She is also supported by Matt Sullivan. You vote here in and say goodbye to your vote.
God help us all.
How neat. PW once again sides with complete incompetents.
Stop sending me email asking for my subscription. Why would I give my money to people who endorse/vote against my interests?
Think it through.
Dan
Some of these commenters attempting to justify Swalwell as a continued choice have been in the basement too long with their magic cotton mask wrapped around their head. Sad. There isn’t much you can say beyond that.
@ Sharon Souza
Back when Karla Brown was running for City Counsel in 2012, Matt Sullivan was a ‘Key Endorsement’ for her campaign. You think he doesn’t endorse her know?
http://www.smartvoter.org/2012/11/06/ca/alm/vote/brown_k/
“Like we wrote ahead of the primary in March, we hear the criticisms of certain readers lamenting Swalwell’s rising profile in D.C. — the notion that he’s focused on his national image, TV appearances or party standing, rather than discernible accomplishments in and for the Tri-Valley. Or, maybe they’re just projecting because they don’t like his politics or vocal presence?”
Or maybe because he has accomplished little for the district and is not the “moderate” that he claims to be?
Swalwells’ legislative experience consists of renaming a post office in Dublin.
PW, what you wrote is fantasy fiction!
“Glazer’s track record of bipartisan legislative successes on topics like assault weapons..”
Not a “success” at all. So called “assault weapons” are rarely used in crime and the criminals do not care about/will not comply with laws restricting legal purchases of firearms.
Like most members of his party, Glazer is out of touch with reality on this issue. Firearms (objects) “cause” violence, criminal misuse is conveniently rationalized (spun) as “gun violence”, and legal, law abiding gun owners doing nothing wrong get repeatedly accused of “not doing enough” to stop it. Don’t fall for the “gun safety” claims. This is yet another step on the path to criminalize private gun ownership in the state (with some of the strictest gun laws in the nation) by regulating it to the point of being meaningless.
“Bauer-Kahan has impressed in the nearly 22 months since she was sworn into elected office for the first time, with a range of legislative accomplishments in the State Assembly including bipartisan bills on gun safety, climate change…”
Sounds like your definition of “range” is quite narrow.
Exactly what is so “impressive” about another Democrat claiming the state somehow does not have enough gun control measures and environmental regulations? Par for the course for the political left while ignoring Constitutional rights/compliance costs for businesses and residents.
“A last ditch effort by the bias Left Pleasanton Weekly Editorial Board to insure that their uniformed Democrat readership vote Democrat. No shame here is there? ”
Not much.
We are expected to be impressed by Bauer-Kahan’s “range of legislative accomplishments” and to vote against her opponent. How difficult is it to get her bills passed when her party has supermajorities in the state legislature and the governor is also a Democrat? Only if you didn’t tow the left wing party line on taxes, spending, illegal immigration, gun control, etc. Claims of “bipartisan” bills? It would not have made any difference if Republicans had voted “yes”, “no”, or didn’t bother voting at all.
Whether you agreed with Catherine Baker or not, she didn’t just support/vote the party line.
PW’s endorsement of Swalwell is incredibly disappointing but telling. Swalwell stood on TV and looked right into the camera and said he had “absolute proof” that Donald Trump should be impeached because he had proof that Trump was influenced by Russia. Now we know the truth. Swalwell lied. He backed the phony impeachment efforts wasting millions of American taxpayer dollars while delaying action against Covid. As a Democrat, he will be voting for the party platform of no borders, no deportation of criminal illegal aliens, free health care for illegal aliens, defunding police, abortion up to the point of birth and after for failed abortions, no bail, Supreme Court packing, censorship by Big Tech, taking away 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, letting China off the hook for human rights violations, stealing of intellectual property, building up of their Navy, intrusion into the China Sea, take over of Taiwan and Hong Kong…etc etc etc. So PW, I guess you like all those positions. You won’t even stand up for America and the Constitution. Very very sad. We have an excellent alternative to Swalwell in Allison Hayden. I know who to vote for.
The dems have a long history of siding with communism…FDR giving Eastern Europe over to Stalin, HST not helping stop Mao in China, and then his half hearted measures is Korea and Berlin. Ya, go ahead and vote dem.
@Candyce Roberts,
Candidates like Allison Hayden are part of why Republicans lose so badly in California. She promotes qanon and other crazy conspiracy theories and wants to be taken seriously. Go look at her twitter feed.
“Candidates like Allison Hayden are part of why Republicans lose so badly in California. She promotes qanon and other crazy conspiracy theories and wants to be taken seriously. Go look at her twitter feed.”
Let me guess. It’s perfectly “rational” and “sensible” for Swalwell to want to confiscate firearms from law abiding people who have nothing to do with violence – and then call it “violence prevention”? Nothing wrong with “free” health care for illegal immigrants? Rigging/packing the Supreme Court just because his party lost the last presidential election?
@MichaelB,
I’ll take all of that over qanon and the other crazy conspiracy theories Allison Hayden is pushing.
Katherine Baker was a sensible local Republican politician and I was sad to see her lose. Allison Hayden is a nut, and I will be happy to see her lose in a landslide (which she will).
I got a post card from Republican candidate Jerry Penten with Swalwell’s photo on it. Anyone that thinks spending money on a post card with Swalwell’s mug on it has no clue about his constituents.
No on Swalwell
No on Pentin.
Jake – After I read you post I looked at Karla Brown’s list of supporters at http://www.Vote4Karla.com and Matt Sullivan is NOT on it. If you want to be a trusted poster – keep to the facts. The rants and raves is filled with Fake News, and that is another website.