Supporters & Volunteers, 2009-10

As we leave 2010 behind and take a look back on Das' campaign for the Assembly that spanned half of 2009 and nearly all of this past year, please join us in recognizing the long list of working families, students, educators, environmentalists, labor leaders, public safety leaders, healthcare professionals, local business owners, and community leaders who supported Das and volunteered in one of the greatest grassroots campaigns Santa Barbara and Ventura counties has ever seen... Our apologies to anyone that we may have missed:

KEY SUPPORTERS

STATE LEADERS

• Lois Capps, 23rd District Representative, U.S. House of Representatives
• Alex Gallardo-Rooker, Vice Chair, CA Democratic Party
• Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson (ret.)
• Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder, United Farm Workers
• Jack O'Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Assemblymember Anthony Portantino
• Cruz M. Bustamante, Former Lieutenant Governor of California

LOCAL LEADERS

• Democratic Region 10 Pre-Endorsement Conference
• Steve Bennett, Ventura County Supervisor
• Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara County Supervisor
• Doreen Farr, Santa Barbara County Supervisor
• Janet Wolf, Santa Barbara County Supervisor
• John Zaragoza, Ventura County Supervisor
• Susan Lacey, Former Ventura County Supervisor
• Bill Wallace, Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor
• Gail Marshall, Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor
• Naomi Schwartz, Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor
• Marty Blum, Former Mayor, City of Santa Barbara
• Andres Herrera, Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem
• Dr. Manny Lopez, Former Oxnard Mayor
• Al Clark, Carpinteria Vice Mayor
• Brian Brennan, Ventura City Councilmember
• Carl Morehouse, Ventura City Councilmember
• Helene Schneider, Mayor, City of Santa Barbara
• Roger Horton, Former Santa Barbara City Councilmember
• Grant House, Santa Barbara City Councilmember
• Ed Easton, Goleta City Councilmember
• Michael T. Bennett, Goleta City Councilmember
• Margaret Connell, Goleta City Councilmember
• Kathleen Reddington, Carpinteria City Councilmember
• Jess Herrera, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner
• Jess Ramirez, Oxnard Harbor District Board President
• Saul Medina, Oxnard Planning Commission
• Dan Long, City of Ventura Planning Commission
• David Landecker, Former Santa Barbara City Councilmember
• PUEBLO Action Fund
• Progressive Democrats of Santa Barbara
• Dolores Huerta Santa Barbara County Young Democrats
• UCSB Campus Democrats
• Young Democrats of Ventura County
• Alicia Flores, La Hermandad
• Hank Lacayo, California Congress of Seniors
• Sergio Villa, Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Toni Wellen, Coalition Against Gun Violence

LABOR

• SEIU California State Council
• California Labor Federation
• UAW International (All Affiliates)
• IBEW Locals 952 & 413
• International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 46
• Cement Masons Local 600
• Ironworkers Local 416
• Ironworkers Local 433
• Labors International Union of North America State Council
• Laborers Union Local 220 – Santa Barbara County
• Laborers Union Local 585 – Ventura County
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 620
• AFSCME Local 3299
• State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
• Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council
• Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 273
• Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters
• UA Plumber & Pipefitters Local 114
• Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 484
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 186
• UPTE-CWA Local 9119-4

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS

• Sierra Club
• California League of Conservation Voters
• Abe Powell, President, Get Oil Out
• Marc McGinnes, Founder, Environmental Defense Center
• Linda Krop, Environmental Attorney
• Ken Palley, Santa Barbara Surfrider Foundation
• Richard Francis, SOAR
• Steve Ferry, Santa Barbara Audubon Society

PUBLIC SAFETY

• California Highway Patrol
• Santa Barbara Police Officer’s Association
• Ventura County Professional Peace Officers Association
• California Asian Peace Officer’s Association
• California Professional Firefighters (CPF)
• Santa Barbara County Firefighters
• Santa Barbara City Firefighters
• Ventura County Fire Protection District (VCFD)
• Santa Paula City Fire Department (SPFD)
• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fights (CDF Firefighters)
• Warner Mcgrew, Retired City of SB Fire Chief

EDUCATION LEADERS

• California Teachers Association (CTA)
• California Federation of Teachers (CFT)
• M.L. Peterson, Ventura County School Board
• Arturo Hernandez, Ventura Community College District Trustee
• Stephen Blum, Ventura Community College District Trustee
• Robert Noel, Santa Barbara School Board Member
• Annette Cordero, Santa Barbara School Board Member
• Susan Deacon, Santa Barbara School Board Member
• Tony Winterbauer, Hope Elementary School District President
• Scott Orlosky, Hope Elementary School District Clerk
• Leslie Deardorff, Carpinteria School Board Member
• Beverly Grant, Carpinteria School Board Member
• Alex Pulido, Ph.D., Carpinteria School Board Member
• Ana Del Rio Barba, Oxnard School District Board Member
• Tim Blaylock, Rio School District Trustee
• Dr. Dean Nevins, Goleta Union School Board President
• Susan Epstein, Goleta Union School Board Member
• Bill Gadsby, Goleta Union School Board Member
• Luis Villegas, President, Community College League of CA

WOMEN LEADERS

• California National Organization of Women (NOW)
• California Nurses Association (CNA)
• Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County
• Patty Bellasalma, President, California NOW
• Linda Joplin, former President, California NOW

MEDIA

• The Santa Barbara Independent
• Ventura County Star

VOLUNTEERS

• Ruth Ackerman
• Geoff Aggeler
• Sondra Aggeler
• Hammed Ali
• Emily Allen
• Joe Allen
• Vicki Allen
• Lucia Alof
• Richard Ambrosi
• Dennis Andersen
• Els Andersen
• Jose Andrade
• Jessica Arciniega
• Maryann Atchley
• Mo Aziz
• Zachary Belway
• Nick Behrman
• Thor Benson
• Paul Berenson
• Nicole Biergel
• Hillary Blackerby
• Sarah Blackmun
• Marty Blum
• Anita Blume
• E.J. Borah
• Eileen Boris
• Bud Bottoms
• Teresa Boyzo
• Erik Brinckmann
• J'Amy Brown
• Lorrie Brown
• Michelle Brunner
• Carolyn Buford
• Robert Burke
• Helen Caldwell
• Sylvia Camiel
• Sarah Carr
• Jose Carranza
• Ignacio Cerrontez
• Dianne Channing
• David Chavez
• Claire Chytilo
• Cynthia Cifuentes
• Priscila Cisneros
• Richard Closson
• Jan Clouse
• Charlie Clouse
• Alex Cole
• Elizabeth Colon
• Hal Conklin
• Noah Connally
• Margaret Connell
• Martha Cortez
• Steven Crandell
• Roseanne Crawford
• Joan Dandona
• Marika Davidek
• Adrianne Davis
• Jean Davis
• Jolene DeLisa
• Mike De Ponce
• David Diamant
• Nick Dicroce
• Terrance Dixon
• Janette Duffy
• Lawrence Dworet
• Gayle Eaglewoman
• Ed Easton
• Tyson Eckerle
• Hans Edwards
• Melu Edwards
• Dick Ellison
• Jane Ellison
• Diane Elsner
• Susan Epstein
• Renee Fairbanks
• Jane Fehrenbacher
• Gina Fennell
• Alex Fernandez
• Liz Ferrin
• Bryan Field-Elliott
• Art Fisher
• Louise Fisher
• Norma Fisher
• Ana Cristina Flores
• Mark Foreman
• Ernesto Flores
• Stephen Fountain
• Gina Fountaine
• Carla Frisk
• Milla Gaffney
• Tish Gainey
• Juliana Gallardo
• Kirsden Ganokis
• Alex Garcia
• Beatriz Garcia
• Christian Garvin
• Malcolm Gault-Williams
• Thiphawan Gault-Williams
• Marshall Getto
• Mike Getto
• Gail Gillies
• Jim Gilmar
• Lynn Glasman
• Je Goolsby
• Susannah Gordon
• Beverly Grant
• Charlie Graziani
• Marc Griesemer
• Andre Grimes
• Katharine Gring
• Elizabeth Guerrero
• Mike Hackett
• Sophia Haimovitz
• Bay Hallowell
• Lois Hamilton
• Sally Hamilton
• Jeff Harlig
• Martha Hassenplug
• Sally Hearon
• Dawn Heimenger
• Lee Heller
• Greg Helms
• Amanda Hendrickson
• Bev Herbert
• Cesar Hernandez
• Fernando Hernandez
• Nestor Hernandez
• Jose Hernandez
• Tasha Hernandez
• Tomas Hernandez
• Andres Herrera
• Priscilla Herrera
• Kelly Hildner
• Mark Hildner
• Gary Hill
• Shirley Hobson
• David Hodges
• Sarah Holmes
• Naomi Hopkins
• Sharon Hoshida
• Drew Hunter
• Tania Israel
• Laurie Jackel
• Robin Jacobs
• Greg Jacobson
• Rocky Jacobson
• Jeannette Jimenez
• Audrey Johnson
• Jill Johnson
• Ruben Juarez
• Cheryl Kelmar
• Michelle Kendall
• Arleigh Kidd
• Rachel Kondor
• Kristin Kontilis
• Amalie Kornell
• Linda Krop
• David Landecker
• Chris Lanier
• Daraka Larimore-Hall
• Chuy Leon
• Donna Lewis
• Connie Lindberg
• Hector Loera
• Eric Lohela
• Meryl Lowe
• William Lowe
• Jesse Luna
• Marisol Luna
• Margaret Lydon
• Laurel Lyle
• Charlotte MacMillan
• Chrystie MacMillan
• Jim MacMillan
• Angelica Magaña
• Rachel Maher
• Ann Marshall
• Jill Martinez
• Leoncio Martins
• Patricia Martins
• Stefan Mason
• Cooper Matthieson
• David McDermott
• Meredith McMinn
• Raquel Mendoza
• Yadira Mergoza
• Carol Millar
• Nancy Miller
• Frances Moore
• Maricela Morales
• John Moreno
• Loris Mullins
• Nancy Murdock
• Amy Musante
• Lessie Nixon
• Brittany Odermann
• Edith Ogella
• Hilda Olague
• Melissa Olague
• Laura Olague-Tirado
• Hal Onserud
• Patrick Oviedo, Jr.
• Kate Parker
• Hector Pelayo
• Jeremy Pemberton
• Joshua Pemberton
• Julie Pena
• Gary Pitney
• Kris Pfannenstiel
• Kathryn Pieron
• Anthony Pighetti
• Gary Pitney
• Christina Pizarro
• Heather Poet-Johnson
• Pam Post
• Hazel Putney
• Bill Quirk
• Sarah Rakowski
• Daneil Ramirez
• Florencia Ramirez
• Jess Ramirez
• Victoria Ramirez
• Laura Reed
• Richard Regnier
• Jonnie Reinhold
• Carmen B. Rios
• Everado Rivera
• Michael Rodriguez
• Noah Rodriguez
• Ray Rodriguez
• Kathleen Rogers
• Francisco Romero
• Maria Ross
• Irene Rutledge
• Barbara Sachs
• Amrita Salm
• Ingrid Sarrat
• Helene Schneider
• Gordon Schontzler
• Deborah Schwartz
• John Scott
• Kathleen Scott
• Mahil Senathirajah
• Susan Shank
• Marian Shapiro
• Marty Shapiro
• Fred Shaw
• Willie Shaw
• Michael Shuman
• Leslie Siemon
• Wally Siewart
• Madelaine Singh
• Kathy Snow
• Luis Jose Stephens
• Candace Stevenson
• Michael Stevenson
• Mary Stoddard
• Jen Stroh
• Rosana Swing
• Betsy Teeter
• Richard Teraoka
• Maisee Thao
• Mavis Thibodeaux
• Mark Thies
• Ben Tirado
• Patti Thurston
• Peter Turley
• Nancy Vanantwerp
• Andrea Vargas
• Marcos Vargas
• Roberto Vargas
• Byron & Janice Ward
• Jean Weidemann
• Dee Wingo
• Hap Ziegler

(Map of the 35th District courtesy of Brian Dennert)

Happy Holidays!

Dear Friend,


I have much to be thankful for this holiday season. I am honored to now be serving the 35th District in the California State Assembly. It was a long road to get to where we are today, and I cannot express my gratitude enough for all of your support.

This time of year means many things to different people, but I think we can all agree that it is a good time to be thankful for all the year's blessings and for our loved ones. It's also the time of year to celebrate the strength of the human spirit.

One of my favorite holiday stories is that of the Maccabee revolt of the Jewish people against their Hellenistic overlords in 166 BCE. The Maccabees struggled for their religious freedom against the prosecution of the Seleucid Empire under the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. An army of Jewish rebels, led by Juddah Maccabee, was able to defeat the mighty Empire and re-establish religious freedom in Judea. Of course, today we recognize Hanukkah as the celebration of the re-dedication of the temple following the Maccabee victory.

During the holiday season, we also celebrate the story of the three Magi who traveled across the desert to Bethlehem from Persia to fulfill their destiny of finding a single baby in a manger and bestow him with gifts. Upon their arrival, they also brought warning of the Judean King's plans to murder all the young children in Bethlehem, allowing Jesus to escape persecution. These stories inspire us and remind us of what we can accomplish when we have something to fight for.

I am inspired by you and what you did to work for change this year. Thank you so much for your continued support. Have a happy holiday season.
Sincerely,

Das


P.S. Please visit our new official legislative website.

About AB34

CA Assemblymember Das Williams introduces green legislation

By Robert Cuthbert, Central Coast Democrat Examiner

December 7th, 2010


In his first day representing the 35th State Assembly District, Assemblymember Das Williams introduced new legislation. The bill would upgrade the California Integrated Waste Management Act (1989). According to Williams’ staff, Assembly Bill 34 “…aims to continue the work he started as a Santa Barbara City Councilman by encouraging composting as a way of decreasing the amount of organic materials sent to landfills.”

... the bill modifies an existing law that established a “compost market program.” The Department of Transportation is required to use compost “…in place of, or to supplement, petroleum-based commercial fertilizers in the state's highway landscape maintenance program.” The Williams’ bill expands the definition of compost under the law. The 1989 legislation simply defines compost as “controlled biological decomposition” material from municipal sources. The new legislation adds “vegetable, yard, and wood wastes.”

This small change in definition will have a significant impact. In Section 1 of the act, as reported by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, 32% of solid waste sent to land fills is “compostable.” The legislation sets a goal of reducing that percentage by half in the next ten years. That means diverting 15 to 18 million tons of usable organic compost from the landfills.

Not only would this action reduce already impacted landfills, lower “methane and other volatile” chemical levels, it will also require up to 96 new low-tech facilities requiring the “creation of hundreds of green jobs.”

Numerous and redundant studies show significant savings when organic wastes are diverted from landfills.

After the formal swearing in the new Assemblymember Williams said, “I’m very excited to start to address some of the many issues of concern to the people of the 35th Assembly District and Central Coast region.”

“I look forward to working with other representatives from the region to find the right solutions to the budget, which has an immediate shortfall of $6 billion, finding appropriate revenue sources to prevent further evisceration of vital public services; particularly public education.”

http://www.examiner.com/central-coast-democrat-in-los-angeles/ca-assemblymember-das-williams-introduces-green-legislation

Das's Committee Assignments

Assemblymember Das Williams Announces Committee Assignments

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez has appointed Freshman Assemblymember Das Williams to the Education Committee, Health Committee, Assembly Rules Committee and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

“I am honored by these appointments,” Assemblymember Williams said. “Education policy is a passion of mine and the Education Committee gives me an opportunity to help craft solid California Education policy.”

“All Californians should have access to affordable healthcare and as a member of the Health Committee I can help clamp down on runaway health care costs. As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will have the opportunity to ensure that the California Department of Veterans’ Affairs is offering quality programs to our veterans.”

------------------------------------

View Assembly Speaker Perez's Appointments Letter HERE

------------------------------------

Assemblymember Das Williams represents the 35th Assembly District, which includes Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Ventura and portions of the city of Oxnard.

Swearing-In Video

Video and brief interview of Das' Swearing-In, December 6, 2010:

Das and Tony Strickland Share Legislative Outlooks

Strickland, Williams Share Legislative Outlook at Alliance Board Meeting

Legislators Brief Chamber Alliance on 2011 Goals

During the last board 2010 meeting of the Chambers of Commerce Alliance of the Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties, both State Senator Tony Strickland and Assemblyman Das Williams presented their thoughts on the challenges ahead as lawmakers begin to tackle a $29 billion budget deficit.

While praising Governor-elect Jerry Brown’s frugal tendencies and his outreach to Republican legislators, Sen. Strickland said that the best way to generate tax revenues is to improve California’s business climate. Assemblyman Williams expressed his interest in pursuing higher education as a way to grow the economy as UC Santa Barbara and other local universities produce many of the region’s business startups. Both legislators stressed the gravity of the budget deficit and its impact on California’s economy.

The Chamber Alliance also welcomed two new additions to its membership, the Simi Valley Chamber and the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber which are two of Ventura County’s largest chambers. Furthermore, US Bank is joining the Alliance as a Capitol Circle member.

After adopting a new Public Policy Platform for 2011, the Alliance board elected new officers including Suzanne Scar (Oxnard Chamber) as chair, Patrick Ellis (Moorpark Chamber) as vice-chair, Nancy Lindholm (Oxnard Chamber) as Treasurer, and Bill McFadyen (Goleta Valley Chamber) as Secretary. Kristen Amyx (Goleta Valley Chamber) will serve as immediate past chair.

Finally, Tom Kelley, who is retiring at the end of this year, was recognized for his impressive leadership of the Camarillo Chamber as well as his active involvement in the chamber of commerce community.
Looking ahead to 2011, the Chamber Alliance seeks to increase its presence in Sacramento by scheduling monthly advocacy trips to the Capitol throughout the legislative session.
For more information about the Chambers of Commerce Alliance, please visit our website at www.ChamberAlliance.biz. Input from the Alliance’s member chambers on legislative issues is encouraged.

----------------------------

Above article from The Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties, which serves as a resource and effective advocacy partner for regional chambers that are interested in strengthening our communities' business climate through better policy making.

Attachment

Posted on Friday, December 10, 2010 by Alliance

SB Dem Women's Luncheon

Das had an opportunity to speak to and with Santa Barbara Democratic Women at their luncheon on December 12th:

Photos by Gina Fischer.

106th Assembly

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) convened the 2011-2012 session of the California State Assembly on Monday, December 6th. California’s new Chief Justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, presided over the swearing-in of the 80 Assembly members elected in November, including 28 brand new members. It is the 106th time the Assembly has organized since 1849.

Afterwards, Das formally stated:

“I’m very excited to start to address some of the many issues of concern to the people of the 35th Assembly District and Central Coast region. I look forward to working with other representatives from the region to find the right solutions to the budget, which has an immediate shortfall of $6 billion, finding appropriate revenue sources to prevent further evisceration of vital public services; particularly public education.”

Das was interviewed briefly about the challenges facing the 106th Assembly and he replied:

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20101206SwearingInWilliams2.mp3 (48 seconds)

Later on in the opening session, Das introduced his first piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 34, which aims to continue the work he started as a member of the Santa Barbara City Council by encouraging composting as a way of decreasing the amount of organic materials sent to landfills. The bill also strives to increase green jobs in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and throughout the state.

At the opening session of the 2011-2012 California Legislature, Assembly Speaker Pérez laid out goals the Assembly will work towards to help Californians recover from the recession. “We know precisely what our goals must be: getting California back to work and putting California’s fiscal house in order,” Pérez said. “Each and every one of us knows that the economic pain wracking California will not subside until the 2.3 million Californians on the unemployment line find decent, quality jobs.”

Here’s more from Speaker Pérez in this Assembly Access video:

First Session of The Assembly

First session for rookie lawmakers marks a homecoming

By Timm Herdt, Ventura County Star

Posted December 5, 2010 at 5:22 p.m.


SACRAMENTO — When the Legislature convenes its 2011-12 session today, the event will mark a homecoming for two 30-something rookie lawmakers from Ventura County who will take their oaths of office in the same building in which their political ambitions were spawned.

Both came to the Capitol in the 1990s, just out of college, to work in the offices of high-ranking state officials — Republican Jeff Gorell on the staff of Gov. Pete Wilson, Democrat Das Williams on the staff of Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante.

Each later moved to the Central Coast, left state employment and became engaged in local civic affairs. And in 2010 each successfully set his sights on returning to Sacramento by winning election to the Assembly.

Gorell, 39, and Williams, 37, will represent the two districts that cover most of Ventura County.

Unlike many of the 28 freshmen who will be sworn in today in the Assembly, Gorell and Williams know their way around the Capitol and the hallways in which they ran errands as interns and junior staff members.

Williams describes the experience as an advantage, largely because it has helped him understand the potential pitfalls of being a legislator, a perspective that informed his choices in selecting staff members.

“You have to surround yourself with people who don’t think you’re the center of the universe and will tell you when you’re wrong,” he said.

Both say they are well prepared for the challenge — although Gorell’s is complicated by the fact that he will have to take a one-year leave of absence in March to serve a tour a duty for the Navy in Afghanistan. He is a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve.

“The opportunity weighs on my shoulders,” Gorell said last week of his chance to return to the Capitol as a legislator. “This is my Carnegie Hall, my Wimbledon, my Super Bowl. This is my chance to make a difference; I’m no longer going to be just chattering about.”

Those who remember him from his youthful stint in the Capitol are not surprised by his enthusiasm and idealism. Finance Department spokesman H.D. Palmer, who worked with Gorell in former Gov. Wilson’s press office, good-naturedly compared him recently to the Jimmy Stewart character in Frank Capra’s 1939 film: “Mr. Smith in dress whites.”

Williams has turned to some of his old colleagues from the Capitol to help run his office. He has hired as his chief of staff Susan McIntyre, a woman he worked with when both were on the staff of former Assemblyman Jack Scott, now chancellor of the state community college system.

He said he has requested a staffing allocation that will result in fewer Capitol-based staff so that he can open district field offices in Oxnard, Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Gorell said he feels doubly challenged because in his first year in office he will have “3 1/2 months to do what other legislators have 12 months to do.”

Step one, he said, was hiring a district representative with sufficient stature in the community to be seen as an able surrogate during the year he is away. He selected former Fillmore Mayor Ernie Villegas, a retired regional public affairs manager for Southern California Edison and a recent business partner of Gorell’s at Palladin Principle, a local public relations firm.

Beyond that, Gorell said he hopes to come up with a package of about a dozen bills to introduce before his departure. The first, which he intends to introduce today, would require the state to adopt a budgeting process known as “priority-based budgeting,” in which agencies would receive 80 percent of their prior year’s budget and be required to advocate for any additional money based on their missions.

Gorell said he believes the idea is consistent with the message of frugality expressed by Gov.-elect Jerry Brown during his campaign.

“My hope is to show the governor I want to be a player in his effort to reformulate the way the state thinks about its budget process,” he said.

Williams’ first bill, which he will introduce today, is a proposal to provide incentives to cities to establish or expand composting and green waste programs. Such programs, he said, often “save the end user money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs.”

Gorell and Williams have met several times since their election to discuss ways they could team together to sponsor bipartisan bills of specific interest to Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

One area of common interest is combating gangs, Williams said. “We both share a real interest in gang issues, in giving law enforcement better tools to fight gangs.”