On the list of issues:
A) Ending the US occupation of IRAQ - I have attended anti-war rallies, signed petitions against the war, supported numerous resolutions against the war at the DNC, the CDP and the LACDP, and personally discussed my opposition with members of Congress and other DNC members and DNC officers.
B) Eliminating Poverty - In my family, receiving an education and supporting organized labor has been a path for upward mobility. I became a union member at age 16 when I joined the Retail Clerks International Association (which later merged with the UFCW) for my first part time job. For many years I regularly volunteered for the United Farm Workers, because of my belief that good paying union jobs with benefits were the best way to lift people out of poverty. I am proud to have served on the Education Committee of the Native American Caucus which provides college scholarship money for young Native Americans looking to improve their lives through higher education.
C) Universal Single Payer Healthcare - I joined Healthcare for All, and supported Sheila Kuehl's SB840., as well as all Single Payer Resolutions that have come before the CDP Resolutions Committee. I have continually expressed my belief that "Universal Healthcare" is not worth anything if it is not "Single Payer." It is a disgrace that we are the only industrialized country that does not have a national healthcare program, and we will not have one until the insurance companies and drug manufacturers stop calling the shots. Both Democrats and Republicans have to take responsibility for this, since both are beholding to the lobbyists. You should know that I have made my career in health care, working at non-profit community hospitals that treat underserved communities. I currently work at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, where we serve all who come through our doors regardless of their ability to pay.
D) Election Integrity - I have supported numerous resolutions and signed numerous petitions on this issue, but more important, I have helped to raise money to elect Debra Bowen, who is at the forefront of this issue in California.
E) Preventing a U.S. attack on Iran - When a resolution dealing with this issue came before the CDP Resolutions Committee, I not only supported it but spoke up for making it one of the priority resolutions for the 2007 CDP Convention.
F) Preserving a free and open Internet - I supported the Resolution that came to the CDP Resolutions Committee.
G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney - I supported a compromise resolution that called for consequences up to and including impeachment. I feel that putting all of our energy and resources into impeaching Bush and Cheney was a waste of energy that we need to focus on winning back the White House and increasing our majorities in Congress. Once we have done that, and are firmly in charge of the Executive and Legislative branches of government, I think we should seriously look at prosecuting them after they leave office for war crimes and for leading the American people into what they knew to be an unnecessary war.
H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration - As an alumna of UCLA, I participate in the Governmental Affairs Advocacy Program , lobbying elected officials on issues relating to the University of California is general, and UCLA in particular. I believe that we need to spend more money on education than on prisons.
I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality - I have been a proud member of the Stonewall Democratic Club in Los Angeles for many years, and all that it stands for. Civil Rights includes Gay Rights.
J) Promoting Public Financing of Elections - I support all campaign finance reform that includes public financing, but oppose anything that hamstrings the Democratic Party or its ability to communicate with its members.
K) Abolishing the Death Penalty - I have always been opposed to the death penalty on moral and religious grounds. I oppose any legislation that calls for increased penalties for offenders, because I believe it is not effective in preventing crime.
L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence - As a DNC member I was lucky to attend a meeting in Alaska, and visit Prudhoe Bay where the Alaska Pipeline begins. That experience convinced me that it would be a grave misuse of our natual resources to drill in the ANWR, and have been emphatically opposed to that, as well as offshore drilling in California. That being said, I believe that we all need to do our part personally to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. I commute to work less than three miles each way, conserve water in my home, and have a composting system on my property.
If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package? I oppose any and all funding of the war. I believe we should support our troops by bringing them home, and giving our veterans the benefits that are due to them for serving their country. We also need to provide first class medical care (including psychological care) for all those who have suffered the ravages of this unjust war.
How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding? See answer to A above.
Have you ever supported an insurgentprimary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on an issue? I supported Ted Kennedy over Jimmy Carter and worked on his campaign when he ran for President in 1980. As a member of the CDP Women's Caucus, we supported Sunne McPeak ofver incumbent State Senator Dan Boatright in 1988. I signed on as a co-sponsor of a Resolution at the DNC urging Senator Joe Lieberman not to run for U.S. Senate as an independent after he lost the Democratic party nomination. This resolution was withdrawn by the author under pressure from the Connecticut Democratic Party (many of whom were still supporting Lieberman). I think we would all be better off today if he had not run.
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? I have tried to demystify the the DNC by instituting the California DNC Press Democrat, which seeks to inform members of the CDP of DNC proceedings and issues. I have also participated in delivering DNC Reports at CDP meetings. Neither of these was done prior to my time on the DNC. I have faithfully attended all meetings of the CDP, and have made myself available to discuss issues and answer questions regarding the DNC. I have tried to remain approachable and open to hearing all points of view.
Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not? Yes, I think members of Congress and Democratic Governors should have uncommitted status. They should have a say in who our party's nominee will be, since they will be running on the same slate. I also feel that DNC members should have uncommitted status as well. All uncommitted delegates are in a unique position to meet and evaluate presidential candidates. Many of us on the California delegation were very excited when we heard Howard Dean speak to us in 2003, and we came back and spread the word among people we knew here in California. Giving uncommitted status to all of us also means that we will not be running at CD Caucuses, and competing for delegate slots with local activists.
Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running with you and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you? The only slate I have paid to be on is a slate with the nine incumbent female members of the DNC. We have worked together on the DNC as a cohesive group, all of us have skills that complement the others, and I respect the talents that each of the other members brings to our delegation.
What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member? In terms of my leadership, I have served the CDP over the years as an AD Chair, Regional Director, Resolutions Committee Member, and have served my local community as an active member of my County Party, and as a club president. I have also served on the DNC for 20 years, I understand the structure, and what works and what doesn't. I have developed relationships with other DNC members, and can reach out beyond the California delegation to find support for issues.
On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee? There are only three committes on the DNC: Rules and Bylaws, Credentials, and Resolutions. Each committee has about 30 members, so it is unlikely that California will have more than three members per committee. In other words, it is not possible for every DNC member to serve on a committee, but there are other ways of participating at the DNC. In addition to being a member of the Women's Caucus, I regularly attend the Native American Coordinating Council, serving as a liaison with the Native American Caucus of the CDP.
