Questionnaire from CHRISTOPHER STAMPOLIS, candidate for DNC re-election
If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:
a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq: As a DNC member, I have conducted many media interviews during this election cycle and previously. I consistently have stated my opinion that the U.S. should not have occupied Iraq originally and that our Commander-in-Chief should withdraw our troops from Iraq expeditiously and safely. I have supported resolutions at a variety of levels to withdraw our troops from Iraq in a safe, prioritized manner.
b) Eliminating Poverty: As a DNC member, one has the opportunity to leverage one's role in many ways. I brought many delegates from the 2007 CDC Convention to walk a hotel picket line with labor leaders such as Maria Elena Durazo, and I walked as an individual at the picket line next door to the recent CDP E-Board meeting in Orange County. I advocate strongly that people who earn large amounts of money should contribute a substantial portion of their windfall wealth to the common good and I have shared this message at all levels of government. I oppose regressive taxes that burden low income working people with heightened financial challenges. As Chair of my City Planning Commission, I used my DNC experience to advocate successfully for "inclusive zoning" which put my city of residence on record as requiring a minimum of 10% developer set asides for affordable housing. I also have a public record of advocating to protect and expand rent control. I am proud to have leveraged my national DNC position to gain a majority vote locally for food voucher offerings to our poorest community college students. Eliminating poverty should be one of the DNC's top priorities. While the new term of DNC members will have many challenges in supporting our new Democratic President, we also must be the advocates to ensure the Democratic Party stands firm in urgently eliminating poverty.
c) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare: I support Sheila Kuehl's Universal Health Care approach and I supported including sessions on this topic at CDC Conventions that I chaired. I have voted to endorse Universal Single-Payer Healthcare at local and statewide levels. In the coming term, under a Democratic President, I will support the DNC advocating for an effective national healthcare program that will cover all residents of this country.
d) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast): I personally submitted the resolution that put the DNC on record in favor of paper ballots. After I submitted the resolution, a number of national Democratic leaders signed on as co-sponsors and the resolution passed unanimously. I am very proud that I represented our California Democratic constituents effectively by leading the DNC to take this official national stance.
e) Preventing a US attack on Iran: I have met with leaders of Iranian-American Democratic Clubs across California to encourage their trust in Democratic Party support for peaceful relations with Iran. This is an issue on which the new delegation to the Democratic National Committee must stand strong. Without endorsing terrorism or backing down from our country's support for a multicultural, peaceful Middle East, the DNC must continue to convey to our Democratic leadership that we cannot condone provoking Iran or enacting a preventive strike on Iran.
f) Preserving a free and open Internet: I have a strong history of supporting a fully free and open Internet and I have advocated for this value at the local elected level and as a Democratic activist. As a Community College Trustee, I have voted repeatedly to prevent censorship, to protect free speech and to advocate for implementation of open meeting laws and the California Public Records Act. My elected advocacy resulted in posting of electronic agendas and minutes for many aspects of District activities. With a strong local elected record on these issues, I have a solid foundation to support my advocacy as a DNC member for a free and open internet.
g) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney: I continue to support holding hearings on the extraordinary wrongdoing of both Bush and Cheney, focused on, but not limited to civil rights violations, war crimes and felonious contractor misoversight.
h) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration: As a DNC member and a locally-elected Community College Trustee, I have walked the halls of Sacramento many times to protect education funding. Additionally, as the parent of a Kindergartener, this past year I have served as President of the School Site Council at my son's school, which is one of the most diverse in our entire county. We successfully have increased District funding to the school, and we continue to agitate for more translation services so parents and teachers can have effective conferences. Advocating for justice and equity in education is a very high priority for me. In addition to ensuring adequate funding for elementary and secondary federal educational grants, I want the DNC to take a strong stand in favor of expanding federal funding for Pell Grants, higher educational loans and national policies such as the DREAM Act to provide educational opportunities for all our young people.
i) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality: I consistently have voted for full LGBT rights and Marriage Equality at the CDP E-Board level and in my role as a locally-elected community college trustee. I have been a strong voice on my local Board to preserve and expand full benefits for domestic partners, and I have led the Board to steer away from arguments that we should save public funds by reducing domestic partner benefits. As a DNC member, my vote on LGBT and Marriage Issues is solid.
j) Promoting public financing of elections: I was a highly vocal DNC member in favor of Proposition 89 when the CDP considered its endorsement. I spoke on the floor of the CDP E-Board and I helped to shepherd an endorsement of Proposition 89 through the California Democratic Council to ensure CDC's endorsement. Public financing of elections is the best way to give grassroots activists a reasonable opportunity to win elected office. At the national level, I will continue to lend support to states that are courageous enough to try new public financing policies.
k) Abolishing the death penalty: I have a lifetime history of fully opposing the death penalty - uninterrupted from high school days. Prior to my DNC service, I advocated strongly at the Young Democrats of America national convention for YDA to oppose the death penalty. That experience trained me to expect that many Democratic leaders elsewhere in the country unfortunately do not oppose the death penalty. I am a consistent and solid vote against the death penalty in all situations and I have engaged in vibrant discussions with DNC colleagues from other states who disagree.
l) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence: As a Community College Trustee, I have advocated for our local agency to adopt creative green energy policies and I continue to support investing in a variety of green energy opportunities. Here in California, we must stand strong during the scoping process to support our state's 40-year plan to combat global warming. Most other states are not as experienced in these issues and they look to California for leadership. As a two-term vice-chair of the CDP's Environmental Caucus, I bring a special advocacy to the DNC on environmental issues. I will continue to partner with other environmental leaders on the DNC to advocate for the protection of natural resources, land and coast preservation, full funding of environmental oversight agencies and progressive environmental policies that invest now for the health of future generations.
If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?
I would have voted "no." The funding for future "war packages" should focus on safely withdrawing U.S. troops, while protecting those troops waiting for their call to leave.
How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?
I have encouraged Democratic clubs across the state to communicate their frustrations about war funding, in writing, via local resolutions, letters to the editor and letters to their representatives. I also have assisted with training about how to set up meetings with Congressional and Legislative staff so Democratic club representatives learn how to advocate and agitate within the system, even while bringing forth progressive ideals. I also have worked with DNC members who share this concern in other states to assist them in developing and implementing their own local outreach strategies. We need to train Democratic activists across the country to understand Congressional decision-making processes, including the complicated bill amendment structure. And, we need to get Democratic club representatives regularly in the offices of elected officials and staff, so strong relationships will create the leverage needed to win on issues like war funding.
Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on the issues? Explain.
As President of the California Democratic Council, I ensured that a high profile challenger to a well-known Democratic Congresswoman received every courtesy and opportunity to make her case to the CDC, including via excellent advertising placement in the annual Convention program. I have supported many Democrats across the state who have challenged incumbents or "institutional candidates" for a range of local offices, ranging from school board to water board to city councils. I currently support my wife Anna Song as a candidate for an open State Assembly seat as I believe Anna is the most progressive candidate in that race. As a member of the County Board of Education, Anna consistently has advocated for children with special education needs, including those with struggling with autism, physical challenges or juvenile incarceration. She is advocating for strong progressive economic values, including opposition to regressive taxes and support for increasing taxes on the very wealthy.
What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?
Courage, a solid public voting history and experience. As a strong voice for local Democratic clubs and grassroots involvement, I bring a unique advocacy for progressive values to the DNC and the CDP E-Board. My political background started through community organizing experience in the early 1990s and I am trained in Alinsky-style advocacy. As a DNC member, I have used my CDP E-Board position to speak in favor of many progressive issues on the floor of the CDP E-Board, including strong advocacy for the Party to endorse Public Financing. I try to live the values of "praxis" - putting one's beliefs into action. I strive for practical solutions and measurable progress to implement progressive values.
Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?
After living the "superdelegate experience" in recent months, I am convinced the Party does need superdelegates in the Convention process - at least for the foreseeable future. However, I support slightly reducing the superdelegate influence by increasing the number of delegates chosen at the local level. Then the percentage of total superdelegates will be less than the current c. 20 percent. About half the states in the country do not provide the opportunity for a resident to register to vote with a Party. In those states, one only can register to vote with no Parties listed on the registration forms. These states require residents to search out political parties on their own if they desire involvement. Many of these states use caucus systems for their Presidential primary elections, and many of those caucuses require public votes. I abhor the concept that one has to vote publicly if one wants to cast a vote at the most local level for Presidential choice. Can you imagine what it's like to be required to stand up for your candidate publicly against your boss, your spouse, your neighbors and your other community members – as your ONLY method offered to participate in an election? While I will fight diligently for the DNC to change its guidelines so in the future we count only presidential primaries or caucuses that offer a secret ballot and the opportunity to vote absentee, I expect a lot of resistance across the country. One compromise could be to allow for ranked ballots to retain some of the upside to Iowa’s “vote for your second-choice” process. Bottom line on “superdelegates”: Members of Congress, Members of the DNC and folks like Past U.S. Presidents should have the right to participate and vote at Democratic National Conventions. If we grow from c. 4400 total delegates to c. 6500 or c. 8000 total delegates, the 800 “superdelegates” will have less of a numerical impact overall.
Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you?
I am not running on a “slate” of candidates. However, I believe it’s beneficial to ask any candidate – incumbent or not – “What will you prioritize during the coming DNC term?”
My priorities for the coming DNC term include working with our California delegation to deliver:
- A DNC member visitation schedule, focused on communities that rarely see Party officials;
- A Congressional and Appointed Official visitation schedule to bring Democratic officials to “red” communities and Democratic-led hearings to areas underserved by Democratic electeds;
- DNC delegation support for a 4-year funding plan to help our 58 counties meet their needs for year-round presence, whether through facilities for headquarters or other local priorities;
- A expansion of the successful 2005 DNC Listening Tour to take input on the national chair;
- Increased circulation of the DNC Press Democrat, to spread DNC delegation news widely;
- Secret ballots and absentee ballotsoffered in every 2012 Democratic primary and caucus throughout the U.S.
What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?
I have represented California on the DNC for two terms (since 2000). It takes a while to learn the system and to build effective national relationships. Prior to my DNC service, I represented California on the national Young Democrats board for many years, including service as the Western Regional Director. I also have served as State President of the California Democratic Council for three years and CDC State Secretary for five years, in addition to six years as Chair of the 22nd Assembly District Committee and eight years as a co-chair of the CDP Voter Services Committee. Additionally, I have 13 years of service as the Director of "Democratic TV," a widely-commended public access cable show in Santa Clara County. And as the only locally-elected education official on the DNC, I bring a unique perspective from local government to national Democratic advocacy. Serving as an elected Community College Trustee helps with my networking opportunities at the DNC since I have opportunities to build on policy discussions about the impacts of federal law with other DNC members and Congressmembers.
On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee?
I would like to continue to serve on the DNC Rural Council and to assist with varied task forces within the DNC Western Caucus. The DNC Rural Council is at a point where it needs to communicate more publicly with the entire DNC, and by extension, with Democratic activists across the country. "Rural" is defined in different ways throughout the U.S., but we generally agree that community density is one shared criterion. We need to focus our rural Democratic efforts to work for improved access to quality healthcare, broadband services, road and utilities maintenance and equitable education offerings, in addition to strengthening Party infrastructure and elected Democratic presence throughout non-urban communities. Moving Governor Dean's 50-state strategy into counties and municipalities across the nation is a high priority for me over the coming term.
