rebecca@rebeccamthompson.com rebecca@rebeccamthompson.com2017 SF DCCC Endorsement Questionnaire NAME: OFFICE RUNNING FOR: Kimberly Ellis California Democratic Party Chair CAMPAIGN ADDRESS: 1721 Broadway, Suite 201, Oakland, CA 94612 CAMPAIGN CONTACT AND CELL PHONE: EMAIL ADDRESS: Nazneen Rydhan-Foster, 408-250-5735 kimberly@voteforkimberly.com Instructions Please complete this questionnaire and send electronic copies by end of business on March 9 th, 2017 to Adam_Mehis@sfdemocrats.org We will distribute the questionnaires to the SF DCCC members and make them available for the public to view. 1
General Questions 1. Are you a registered Democrat? Yes: No: 2. When did you first register as a Democrat? When I first registered to vote at the age of 18, in 1991. 3. Who did you vote for in the last two Presidential general elections? Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama 4. Have you ever voted for or endorsed a non-democrat in an election? Yes: No: If Yes, who? When? No 5. Please provide a brief summary of your qualifications for this office. (No more than 200 words.) As Executive Director of Emerge California, I worked hard to recruit and train Democratic women to step into political office. In seven years under my leadership, we more than quadrupled our operating budget and doubled its program in California. More than half of our 400 alumnae currently serve in elected or appointed office. My experience as a manager, fundraiser, and public face of a large and growing organization will serve me well as the Chair of the CDP. I am proud of the growing list of elected officials and progressive organizations who have shown through their endorsements that they agree. Our party is at a crossroads. Across California, a disillusionment amongst even our 2
most dedicated party members continues to feed a perception that Sacramento no longer represents their values. We need a leader with the vision to rebuild the CDP from the bottom up; to reach out into our communities, genuinely hear what our supporters have to say, and make the reforms they demand. It s the wrong time for a leader who s a product of the very system we need to change. As the outsider within this context, I believe I m the right candidate for the job. 8. Please describe your contributions to the Democratic Party at the local, state and or/national level in the last 4 years. (No more than 200 words.) Over the past four years (and beyond), I have been working to build the bench of Democratic elected officials throughout California. There are over 200 Emerge California alumnae currently serving in public office, and many others working in other capacities to advance progressive causes. This work is critical to maintaining a healthy party, because it s from this pool that we will draw our future statewide and national leaders. With women comprising only 22% of the state legislature, it is more important than ever that we prioritize programs to correct this gender disparity. I am currently the Secretary of the CDP s African-American Caucus and serve on the party s standing Finance Committee. In addition, I have been involved in efforts through resolutions and in speaking out, on the need to rein in any actions by members of the party or the party itself, that indicate conflicts of interest that would compromise our values. 9. If elected, what are the three top issues you will work to affect? (No more than 200 words.) Our party s membership is its greatest asset, but the current structure and leadership demonstrates a lack of resolve to truly acting on the longstanding concerns and demands of local party leaders and activists. As Chair of the CDP, I will work to -- 1) Democratize the party. The rules that govern our party should facilitate the will of our rank-and-file, not impede it. I will advocate for reforms to give the caucuses a real voice, and ensure that the membership of our committees better represents our diversity. 2) Organize. Our party should get back to what it was traditionally good at, which is organizing. Instead of hiring big-money consultancies to send impersonal mailers, let s put paid organizers on the ground, year-round, to engage voters right in their 3
communities. 3) Innovate. The political landscape is changing rapidly. All across the nation, organic movements and grass-roots initiatives are showing us new ways to recruit and organize. As a party, we need to be agile enough to build on this energy. The Democratic Party should be working with local change-makers to provide coordination, resources and organizational expertise. My plan can be viewed in more detail here: https://voteforkimberly.com/new-pathforward 10. What have you done to mentor women and people of color in your field? (No more than 200 words.) Under my leadership, diversity was a particular focus of Emerge California. I introduced issues of race and class in our programs, where it had previously not existed. Of the more than 200 alumnae trained and inspired by our organization and currently serving as public officials, 56% are women of color! I am enormously proud of this contribution to the diversification of our party. As an active member and office of the African American Caucus, I ve also worked within the CDP to advocate for and advance the issues that are most important to women and people of color. And as Chair, I will always strive to be the face and the voice of a more diverse and inclusive California Democratic Party. 11. Please list the organizations and elected officials who have endorsed you. Labor Unions and Organizations California Nurses Association National Women s Political Caucus of California Political Action Committee (NWPC CA PAC) Madera County Democratic Central Committee Nevada County Democratic Women's Club Monterey County Democratic Women's Club Yes We Can Democratic Club - Long Beach Blue Revolution AD 70 Turlock County Stonewall Democrats AD 3 Progressive Slate Democratic Club of Greater Tracy LIRN Librarians Indivisible Resistance Network 4
Elected and Emeritus Officials US Congressman Mark DeSaulnier US Congresswoman Anna Eshoo US Congressman Ro Khanna US Congresswoman Jackie Speier Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin Assistant Majority Leader Rob Bonta San Francisco Board of Supervisors President London Breed San Francisco Board of Supervisors Malia Cohen San Francisco Board of Supervisors Jane Kim Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf Oakland City Councilmember Lynette McElhaney Perris City Coucilmember Tonya Burke Tustin City Councilmember Letitia Clark Berkeley Vice-Mayor Linda Maio El Cerrito City Councilmember Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto El Cerrito City Councilmember Gabe Quinto Tracy City Councilmember Rhodesia Ransom Antioch City Councilmember Monica Wilson San Francisco Board of Education Matt Haney San Francisco Community College Board Trustee Thea Selby Peralta Community College District Trustee Karen Weinstein Fremont Unified School District Board of Trustee Desrie Campbell Sonoma County Board of Education Trustee Gina Cuclis Stege Sanitary District Board of Directors Al Miller AC Transit Trustee Joel Young El Cerrito Planning Commissioner Carla Hansen Former San Francisco Election Commission Catalina Ruiz-Heal Issues Questions Please only mark whether you SUPPORT or OPPOSE each position. QUESTION SUPPORT OPPOSE 1. Do you support or oppose a woman s right to choose a safe and legal abortion? 2. Do you support or oppose affirmative action? X X 3. Do you support or oppose privatization of essential government services? X 5
4. Do you support or oppose expanding rent control to post-1979 buildings? X 5. Do you support or oppose San Francisco s sanctuary city policy? X If you need to add further explanation or qualification to any of your support-or-oppose answers above, you may do so here: Regarding Question 4 in the preceding section: California remains a place of haves, have littles and have-nots, with the quality of services, schools and infrastructure depending on zip code. Many housing markets across the state have not recovered from the crash in 2008, yet in our urban centers, a six figure income is required for a basic apartment. The Ellis Act and other anti-renter laws at the local and state level make living where you work a non-starter for working families. The voice and will of neighborhood residents must be taken in greater consideration when it comes to rent control. Without it, traditional neighborhoods cease becoming diverse and livable communities. The Ellis Act must be reformed to prevent its use as a tool to raise rents and tougher enforcement mechanisms to go after landlords and owners who violate rent freezes must be put in place. In fact, tenants ought to be able to count on the stability that comes with a 10 year freeze and a 1 year advance notice in any changes of their contracts. I support AB 982, which would extend the Ellis Act eviction notice from 90 days to 12 months. In addition, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act constrains local communities from enacting their own rent control by preventing any buildings from 1995 on to be subject to rent control. Its presence allows the break up of rent controlled neighborhoods and is also used to raise rents. I support AB 1506, which calls for a repeal of Costa-Hawkins. rebecca@rebeccamthompson.com 6