RAOUL WALLENBERG JEWISH DEMOCRATIC CLUB QUESTIONNAIRE FOR CANDIDATES: JUNE 2014 ELECTION

Transcription

1 RAOUL WALLENBERG JEWISH DEMOCRATIC CLUB QUESTIONNAIRE FOR CANDIDATES: JUNE 2014 ELECTION The Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club, a chartered club of the Democratic Party, will endorse candidates in the upcoming June 2014 election. Our members will meet on Monday, March 24 th to consider endorsements. All endorsements will be distributed to our list, on our website, and through paid advertising or direct mail depending on our financial ability. Please return this questionnaire to the Club at pac@wallenbergdems.com no later than Wednesday, March 19 th. Please feel free to attach up to 3 pages. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Jill at pac@wallenbergdems.com or All responses will be posted to the club s website and to our membership. Thank you for participating in the RWJDC endorsement process. We look forward to hearing from you Name: Alex Padilla Candidate for: Secretary of State Website: Facebook: SenAlexPadilla Address: alex@alex-padilla.com Phone Number: Why are you running for this position and what do you hope to accomplish if elected? I m running for Secretary of State because I want California to be a shining success story of how we can reverse trends, defy cynics and demonstrate that we can increase voter engagement and turnout. In the last Presidential Election more than 10 million Californians did not vote. Five million were registered to vote and didn t show up at the polls. Another 5 million eligible voters didn t even bother to register. I am running for Secretary of State to change that. Meanwhile, throughout the nation we continue to see attempts to restrict voter registration and undermine voting rights, particularly in minority communities. The Supreme Court s gutting of the Voting Rights Act last year confirms the renewed importance of the Secretary of State s office. As Secretary of State I will not only strongly oppose laws that undermine voting rights, I will work to make California the national counter example to those efforts by increasing voter participation, expanding civic participation and creating greater voter access for all. 2. Why do you think the RWJDC should support your candidacy?

2 It would be my honor to earn RWJDC s endorsement. I am committed to running a grassroots campaign that earns the support of leading Democratic Clubs throughout the State. As a lifelong Democrat who started his career in public service as an organizer with the Democratic Party, I have respect and admiration for the work of Democratic Clubs throughout the state. I am proud to have earned the support of California Young Democrats, Stonewall Young Democrats and 59% of delegates to the State Party Convention. I am proud to be supported in this campaign by former Congressman Howard Berman, a longtime champion for pro- Israel policies, and Senator Marty Block, the chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus. I also have strong support within the San Francisco Jewish community, including endorsements from Senator Mark Leno, former County Party Chair Leslie Katz and County Supervisor Scott Weiner. 3. As an elected official, what steps might you take if the Board of Supervisors or State Legislature were considering a resolution, ordinance, or other legislative action that sought to take an adverse position toward the State of Israel? I am a steadfast supporter of the State of Israel and committed to supporting the special relationship and historical bonds between Israel and the United States. Israel is the lone democracy in the Middle East, and has been so since its inception in We must continue to provide security assistance and aid to Israel and strengthen strategic cooperation between our two nations. We must be vigilant in reinforcing Israel s right to defend itself as the lone democracy in the region and historical homeland of the Jewish people. These policies do not only support Israel, but enhance the United States security and national interest as well. I would not be shy about speaking out on these issues in statewide office. Coming from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, with a large, vibrant Jewish community, I have worked closely with the Jewish community and pro- Israel advocates since my early days on the LA City Council. I hope to continue that work as Secretary of State. 4. What do you view as the two most important policy issues facing San Francisco (in the context of the role you are running to fill) and how would you address these issues? San Franciscans confront many of the same challenges all Californians face among them, rising housing prices and an increasingly competitive economy. As Democrats we know that there is so much government can do to level the playing field for middle class people. I have long supported inclusionary zoning ordinances for affordable housing and while on the LA City Council was responsible for increasing the affordable housing stock throughout the City. In the legislature I ve worked hard

3 to nurture growing high wage industries through green manufacturing incentives and expanded use of renewable energy. As Secretary of State, I will work to increase civic engagement throughout the State so that the middle class has a bigger seat at the table when it comes to policy decisions that affect our quality of life. I won t shy away from using the bully pulpit of statewide office to be a visible, vocal leader advocating for the progressive issues we believe in. 5. What policy issues do you consider as being of special concern to the Jewish community in the San Francisco Bay Area? It seems like every year anti- Israel resolutions and boycotts keep cropping up in Bay Area cities and campuses. While I am a fervent supporter of free speech and vibrant academic discourse, I am also a strong supporter of the historic relationship between the U.S. and Israel. Many of these efforts are harmful to the American- Israel relationship and are disrespectful of the important role in American history of the Jewish community. As pro- Israel advocates, we need to take a more proactive role in building coalitions and educating the next generation of young people about the importance of the American- Israeli relationship. 6. Have you been to Israel? If so, please share a bit about your experience. I have been to Israel twice. In 2003, I was privileged to travel to Israel with the Los Angeles Jewish Federation. This was a particularly eye opening trip. The Israeli- Palestinian conflict was especially violent in 2003 following the breakdown of the Camp David Summit. While we traveled to military installations and border crossings, our group was keenly aware of the causalities and fatalities occurring on a daily basis. Experiencing the tension and trouble of the region for just one week gave me a renewed appreciation of the challenges of daily life in the Middle East and the importance of continued security aid to Israel. We also had opportunities to visit sacred sites in Jerusalem and throughout Israel, which provided a welcome respite from the constant security concerns. In 2010, I once again visited Israel, this time on an AIPAC sponsored trip. On this trip we learned even more about the security and infrastructure concerns of the Jewish state. I look forward to travelling to Israel more in the future to better understand how policy makers can strengthen the important bonds between the U.S. and Israel.

4 About Alex In his fifteen years in elected office, California State Senator Alex Padilla has built an impressive record of accomplishment and has been recognized for his exceptional leadership skills. Now Alex Padilla is running for Secretary of State to engage millions of new voters and make it easier to start a business in the biggest state in the country. As State Senator, Alex Padilla represents more than 1.1 million people in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. More than 70 Padilla bills have been signed into law since he was elected to the State Senate in Around the Capitol recently named Padilla one of 2013 s Most Effective Legislators, citing his ability to take on big bills and keep warring parties within the caucus. Frequently mentioned as one of America s Latino rising stars, Alex Padilla is now President of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), representing more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide. Winning a seat on the Los Angeles City Council at the age of 26, Alex Padilla was later elected by his peers as President of the Council, becoming the first Latino and youngest member ever to serve as President. During his term as City Council President, Padilla also was elected as the President of the California League of Cities, the first Latino to serve in that position. Alex Padilla chairs the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Select Committee on Science, Innovation and Public Policy. Padilla also serves as a member of the following committees: Appropriations; Business, Professions, and Economic Development; Elections and Constitutional Amendments; Governmental Organization; and Labor. Like so many Californians, Padilla s parents immigrated here in pursuit of the American Dream. His father, a retired member of UNITE HERE, worked as a short order cook and his mother cleaned houses. Alex Padilla grew up in the working class neighborhood of Pacoima, graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering and now serves as a member of the MIT Board of Trustees. He lives in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles with his wife Angela and their two sons.

5