Dear Colleagues,
Vote-by-mail ballots and sample ballot pamphlets have already begun arriving at voters’ homes leading up to the June 3rd primary election.
I want to call your attention to several important races that will be on this ballot:
1) San Diego County Board of Education-District 3: Alicia Muñoz
For voters in the central to southeastern section of the County, Alicia Muñoz will be on your ballot to fill a vacant seat on the County Board of Education. Alicia is an AFT Executive Council member, and a faculty member and President of the Academic Senate at Cuyamaca College. This is a critical race for us as the winner on June 3rd will win the seat. (map of District 3)
2) San Diego County Board of Education-District 5: Rick Shea
For voters in the northwestern section of the County, Rick Shea will be on your ballot to fill a vacant seat on the County Board of Education. Rick is a retired teacher, former union negotiator, and former assistant to the Superintendent of the County Office of Education. This is also a critical race for us as the winner on June 3rd will win the seat. (map of District 5)
3) Propositions B & C – YES (on both)
For voters who live within the City of San Diego boundaries, passage of Propositions B&C will approve the plan that rezones the Barrio Logan area to provide a buffer zone between the heavy industrial and chemical-use facilities and the rest of the neighborhood. That means no polluting companies or homes can locate in the buffer zone in the future. This plan will cost no jobs and its passage will ensure the integrity of the community planning process.
4) San Diego Community College District: District A-Maria Senour and District E-Peter Zschiesche
Incumbents Maria Senour and Peter Zschiesche have always been friends of labor and public education advocates. Their opponents have no educational experience or expertise. With only two candidates in each of these races, the outcome of these two races won’t be decided until November, but if you live in District A or District E, please be sure to cast your ballot for Maria or Peter.
5) San Diego Unified School District-District B: Kevin Beiser
Kevin Beiser is also an incumbent seeking re-election who has always been on the right side of any issue dealing with children and education. The outcome of this race also won’t be decided until November, but if you live in Kevin’s District please be sure to cast your vote on his behalf. Kevin is a middle high school math teacher at Granger Junior High and previous “Teacher of the Year” recipient.
6) State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson
Tom Torlakson has been a champion of public education for children of all socio-economic backgrounds, and has fought hard against the heavily funded privatization special interests. He has also assisted the CFT in their battle against the ACCJC. Tom’s chief opponent is a well funded charter school/privatization advocate.
Below is a more exhaustive list of all state and local races that have been endorsed by the Labor Council.
Please let me know if you have any questions or would like additional information on any of these candidates or measures.
In Unity,
Jim
Jim Mahler, President
AFT Guild, Local 1931
San Diego & Grossmont-Cuyamaca
Community Colleges
Brothers and Sisters:
Ballots began arriving in the mail this week for the June Primary Election and we have important decisions to make when we vote that will impact our future.
In previous generations, working people stood together in their unions and at the ballot box and, together, we created the 40 hour work week, paid vacations, and good American wages. Together, we elected leaders who stood up with us and fought for a strong middle class. But now the middle class is being systematically dismantled by Wall Street bankers, CEOs, and the politicians who advance their proposals to outsource our jobs and give bigger tax breaks to themselves and their friends at our expense.
Today, the only thing that stands in the way of the big business political agenda is what stood in the way in our grandparent’s generation: working people standing together and voting for leaders who will fight along with us to preserve the American dream!
The candidates listed below have been carefully considered by union members across San Diego & Imperial Counties and these are the leaders we believe will stand together with us. Many of these will be close races and your vote will make a difference! If you vote by mail, please help elect these labor champions by filling out your ballot and mailing it in this week.
PROPOSITIONS
| Number | Position | Title |
| 41 (Statewide) | YES | Veterans Housing and Homeless Protection Bond Acto of 2014 |
| 42 (Statewide) | YES | Public Records. Open Meetings. State Reimbursement to Local Agencies |
| B (City of San Diego) | YES | Protect Children’s Health and the Environment |
| C (City of San Diego) | YES | Protect Children’s Health and the Environment |
CANDIDATES
| Seat | District | Candidate |
| Congress | 49 | Dave Peiser |
| Congress | 50 | James Kimber |
| Congress | 51 | Juan Vargas |
| Congress | 52 | Scott Peters |
| Governor | Jerry Brown | |
| Lieutenant Governor | Gavin Newsom | |
| Attorney General | Kamala Harris | |
| Controller | John Perez | |
| Treasurer | John Chiang | |
| Secretary of State | Alex Padilla | |
| Insurance Commissioner | Dave Jones | |
| Superintendent of Public Instruction | Tom Torlakson | |
| State Assembly | 56 | Eduardo Garcia |
| State Assembly | 77 | No Endorsement |
| State Assembly | 78 | Toni Atkins |
| State Assembly | 79 | Shirley Weber |
| State Assembly | 80 | Lorena Gonzalez |
| Board of Supervisors | 5 | Jim Wood |
| Assessor/Recorder/Clerk | Susan Guinn | |
| District Attorney | Bob Brewer | |
| County Board of Education | 3 | Alicia Munoz |
| County Board of Education | 5 | Rick Shea |
| San Diego Community College District | A | Maria Senour |
| San Diego Community College District | C | Peter Zschiesche |
| San Diego Community College District | E | Rich Grosch |
| San Diego Unified School District | B | Kevin Beiser |
| San Diego Unified School District | C | Michael McQuary |
| Chula Vista | Mayor | Mary Salas |
| Chula Vista City Council | 1 | Steve Padilla |
| Chula Vista City Council | 2 | Pat Aguilar |
| San Diego City Council | 2 | Sarah Boot |
| San Diego City Council | 4 | Myrtle Cole |
| San Diego City Council | 6 | Carol Kim |
| San Diego City Council | 8 | David Alvarez |
| Imperial Valley Board of Supervisors | 5 | Ray Castillo |
| Imperial Valley Board of Supervisors | 3 | John Renison |
| Imperial County Superintendent of Schools | Todd Finnell | |
| Imperial County Public Administrator | Joan Durham | |
| Imperial County Assessor | Robert Menvielle | |
| Imperial County Superior Court Judge | Seat 1 | Veronica Henerson |
| Imperial County Superior Court Judge | Seat 3 | Ruth Montenegro |
In Solidarity,
Richard Barrera
Secretary-Treasurer, San Diego Labor Council