Youth Leaders Gather for Local My Brother’s Keeper Summit
Former Oakland Assemblymember Sandré Swanson authorized his campaign committee’s filing of paperwork to open his account to run for the new California Senate 7th District.
Following the state’s scheduled 10-year redrawing of election districts, the new California 7th Senate District now includes the cities of Oakland, Alameda, Piedmont, Emeryville, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, East Richmond Heights, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Tara Hills, Pinole, Rodeo, and Hercules and there will be no incumbent.
Asked why he is running for the State Senate, Swanson said,
“I am running for the California State Senate 7th District because I have a record of demonstrated success in improving the quality of life for the people of our district.
“So, I am passionately offering my candidacy because I am qualified to serve my years of experience and ability to pursue my legislative priorities, to maximize resources for the education of our children, to ensure accessible Healthcare, support affordable Housing, advocate for small business growth and pursue strategies for a clean and safe environment.”
Swanson served in the State Assembly from 2006 to 2012 and represented the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and Piedmont. Swanson continued, saying “I have already represented half of the voters in this new district very successfully for three terms as a member of the Assembly.”
Swanson served as chair of the Labor and Employment Committee in the Assembly and commented, “I never compromised my principles during the hard fights, and sponsored laws that improved the quality of life in our community. I sponsored laws for workplace safety and wage protection. I led efforts to protect pensions for retirement security and have always supported our ongoing equal pay for equal work campaign.”
As a member of the Assembly, Swanson led the Legislature in the passing of critical laws to protect our children from human traffickers.
“I felt it was very important to rescue our children from being victims of this criminal enterprise that is funding crime in our community,” Swanson said. “I would like to continue our work for the safety of our children.”
Swanson stood nearly alone against leadership’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment monies from cities like Oakland and Richmond. Swanson said “It was important for the inner city to fight to keep redevelopment programs for affordable housing, Senior housing and to fight homelessness. I warned my colleagues in real-time that the elimination of redevelopment funds would lead to more homeless and a growing housing crisis.”
Swanson concluded by saying “History has shown that my hard-fought opposition to the elimination of redevelopment funds was right. I would like an opportunity in the Senate to fix our current housing and homeless problems. It is a moral imperative that we solve the growing homeless crisis in our California cities and regional parks.”
More information about the Swanson for State Senate campaign can be found by visiting www.sandreswanson.net
This story courtesy of Sandré Swanson’s campaign committee.
