San Diego Working Families To Participate in National Candlelight Campaign Against Cuts

Urge Senator Dianne Feinstein to Say: No Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security Benefits, End Tax Cuts for 2%

San Diego– On December 10, San Diego working families will gather at 750 B Street for a candlelight event to keep pressure on Senator Dianne Feinstein to say no to any cuts in benefits to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, and to end tax cuts to the richest 2%. San Diegans spoke out loud and clear about their priorities in this election, and it’s important to remind politicians of that clear message.

Since the election, San Diego’s working families have been mobilizing around the Lame Duck session. On Nov. 8, working families across the country held nearly 100 events outside Congressional offices, health clinics, Social Security offices, construction sites and other community locations.

WHO:            
San Diego working families

WHAT:          
Ahead of the ‘fiscal cliff’ showdown in Washington D.C., working families will hold a candlelight vigil opposing tax breaks for the top 2% and in defense of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

WHEN:          
Monday, December 10, 2012
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

WHERE:        
Outside Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein
750 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101

San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council
3737 Camino del Rio South, #403, San Diego, CA 92108
619-228-8101 Office
www.unionyes.org

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Rep.-Elect Scott Peters Announces First Hires Michelle Dorothy Named Chief of Staff, MaryAnne Pintar is District Director

San Diego – Representative-elect Scott Peters today announced the hiring of his two top aides. Michelle Dorothy, who has been both a District Director and a Chief of Staff for a member of Congress, will be his Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C.  MaryAnne Pintar, who has nineteen years experience in local government and politics, will be his District Director.

“Michelle has solid congressional experience and a meaningful private sector background.  She will understand the challenges around job creation that were so important in our campaign, and she will ensure that our two offices provide efficient and first-rate service to constituents,” Peters said of Dorothy.

Dorothy is currently chief of staff for an outgoing Democratic congressman. Before her work as a congressional aide, she spent 10 years in the private sector in the telecommunications and software industries where she was responsible for the design and implementation of marketing strategies for multi-million dollar product portfolios. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dorothy has a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University, as well as two master’s degrees: one in business administration and one in public and international affairs, both from the University of Pittsburgh.

“MaryAnne Pintar will bring invaluable ties to the community and years of political and government experience to the job.  And her strong communications background will help ensure that my work in D.C. is responsive to our district and the region,” Peters said.

Pintar was most recently the communications director for Peters’ congressional campaign and she was his last chief of staff when he was San Diego City Council President.  She’s managed or worked in various capacities on several citywide campaigns in San Diego, run her own public affairs consulting business, and was also a senior press aide and chief of staff to former Mayor Susan Golding.  Pintar has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, and a Master of Science in Mass Communications with dual emphases in political science and advertising, both from San Diego State University.

Peters spent two of the past three weeks at freshman member orientation in Washington, D.C. preparing to take office in January. He will be sworn in with the 70 other new members in a ceremony on the House floor on January 3.

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Lorena Gonzalez To Run For State Assembly

Elected Officials and Business Leaders Provide Early Support for Pro-Jobs Democrat’s Campaign for Assembly District 80 in South San Diego County

San Diego, CA -- (Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012) -- Working families advocate Lorena Gonzalez will run for the 80th State Assembly District, vowing to seek the seat once it is vacated by the current assembly member, she announced this evening.

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, Congressman-elect Juan Vargas and State Assemblyman Ben Hueso join several Democratic, Republican and independent elected officials, business advocates and community leaders in the 80th District who have already endorsed Lorena. Her election may come as early as Spring 2012.

“I’ve hammered out tough compromises between business and workers, between teachers and our school board, and between developers and environmentalists by putting practicality ahead of ideology.  That approach worked in San Diego County and it will work in Sacramento.  Extremism doesn't work. Pragmatic problem-solving does," Gonzalez said.

Lorena serves as the chief executive of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, an advocacy organization that represents 200,000 local union workers in the region.

As Secretary-Treasurer of the Labor Council, Lorena led successful campaigns for living wage agreements, local hiring preferences and increased education funding for San Diego County workers and their families.

“Respect for working families means respect for their money. Unions negotiate wages and benefits but nothing happens until union members vote. I think that principle applies to taxpayers," she said.

The 80th Assembly District, currently represented by Assemblyman Hueso, includes Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach and the San Diego neighborhoods of San Ysidro, City Heights, Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, Otay Mesa, Paradise Hills and other southern areas of the city.

Lorena will seek election as early as this year if Assemblyman Hueso is elected to the State Senate in a special election this spring or as late as 2016 if he vacates the seat because of term limits.

Early Support for Lorena
Lorena has received endorsements from a variety of leaders representing the district, including Democrats, Republicans and independents:

•             San Diego Mayor Bob Filner
•             U.S. Congressman-elect Juan Vargas
•             Assemblyman Ben Hueso
•             State Senator Marty Block
•             San Diego City Councilman David Alvarez
•             San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald
•             National City Mayor Ron Morrison
•             Chula Vista City Councilwoman Mary Salas
•             Chula Vista City Councilwoman Pamela Bensoussan
•             National City Vice Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis
•             National City Councilwoman Mona Rios
•             San Diego Unified School Board President John Lee Evans
•             San Diego Unified School Board Member Richard Barrera
•             San Diego Unified School Board Member Kevin Beiser
•             San Diego Unified School Board Member Scott Barnett
•             San Diego Unified School Board Member-elect Marne Foster
•             Southwestern College Board President Norma Hernandez
•             Southwestern College Board Vice President Humberto Peraza
•             Southwestern College Board Member Tim Nader
•             Southwestern College Board Member Terri Valladolid
•             San Diego Community College Board Trustee Peter Zschiesche
•             South Bay Irrigation District Board Member Jose Preciado
•             Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante (retired)
•             State Senator Christine Kehoe (retired)
•             Imperial Beach Mayor Diane Rose (retired)
•             San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce* CEO and San Ysidro School Board Vice President Jason Wells
•             San Diego Economic Development Corp.* CEO Mark Cafferty
•             Former San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce* Chairman Mel Katz
•             Incoming Downtown San Diego Partnership* Chairman Keith Jones
(Partial list)
* indicates endorsement by the individual listed only. Organization is used for identification purposes only and does not indicate an endorsement by that organization.

About Lorena
The daughter of an immigrant farmworker and a nurse, Lorena learned the value of hard work and determination at an early age. After graduating from Vista High School in San Diego County, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Stanford University, a Master’s Degree from Georgetown University and a Law Degree from UCLA.

Upon her election to the Labor Council, Lorena became the first woman and first person of color to serve as head of the Labor Council since the organization’s inception in 1891.

Prior to coming to the Labor Council, Lorena worked as the Senior Advisor to California’s Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante. She served as a consultant to the Commission on Economic Development, and was the Lt. Governor’s principal advisor on policy issues dealing with labor, the environment, energy and infrastructure. Lorena was also the Lt. Governor’s appointee to the California State Lands Commission from 2000 to 2006 and served as San Diego City Councilman Ben Hueso's alternate to the Coastal Commission in 2007 and 2008.

Lorena serves on the boards of directors of the United Way of San Diego County, the California Labor Federation, the Center on Policy Initiatives and the Planning and Conservation League.

Nonetheless, Lorena’s most cherished title is that of mother. She lives in San Diego's Sherman Heights neighborhood with her two children – Tierra and Antonio.

www.VoteLorena.com

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Dr. Shirley Nash Weber takes Oath as Newest Assemblymember for 79th District

Sacramento, CA – The start of the legislative year begins with the addition of the newest member to the California State Assembly, Dr. Shirley Nash Weber. Assemblywoman Weber (D-San Diego) was sworn in on December 3, 2012 at noon inside the Assembly chambers at the California State Capitol in the company of relatives and close friends.  Dr. Weber, a professor and department chair at San Diego State University, has a record of creating jobs and serving the community that stretches back over her 30 years as a resident of the district.

“As the new Assemblymember for the 79th District, I realize that the voters have placed a tremendous trust in me,” said Dr. Weber. “There is much work to do specifically in the areas of job creation, education, and investment in infrastructure projects that will put folks back to work. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the good work for the people of the 79th District and for California.”



Dr. Weber will also have a separate Community Swearing-In Ceremony on Saturday, December 8th, 2012 at the Bayview Baptist Church, Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 6134 Benson Avenue in San Diego from 3pm to 5pm.  The public is invited to attend this event. To RSVP or for more information contact Kaamal Martin at (619)279-8154.

Born to sharecroppers in Hope, Arkansas, Assemblymember Weber has lived in California since the age of three. Educated in our state’s public schools, she received her BA, MA and PhD from UCLA by the time she was 26. A respected community advocate known for her work on closing the academic achievement gap, Dr. Weber is the former President of the San Diego School Board. She currently serves as the mayor’s appointee and Chair of the Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission, where she has created jobs by tripling the number of small businesses contracting with the city of San Diego.

She is the first African –American to be elected to office South of Los Angeles.
Assemblymember Weber defeated Republican Mary England by capturing a whopping 60.27 percent of the votes and will take over the seat vacated by State Senator Marty Block representing the 79th District which includes portions of San Diego, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Bonita, National City, and Chula Vista.

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