Ralph Miller

DNC Questionnaire – Ralph Miller (received 5-26-08)

Ralph I. Miller

2 Tamal Vista Lane

Kentfield, CA 94904

h. 415.925.1077 c. 415.250.9500

6^th AD Executive Board Representative

Member, CDP Hispanic and Progressive Caucuses

Board Member, Latinos for America

Candidate Statement:

Progressive government is the cornerstone of progressive change in America.
A progressive Democratic Party will help ensure the long-term survival of the Party and an expansive engagement of grassroots and community leaders in the process of leading our party and our nation. My primary objective in running for election to the Democratic National Committee is to provide an independent progressive voice for the Latino/Hispanic community in setting the course for progressive change in America and selecting our national leadership.

Progressive E-Board Coalition

DNC Candidate Questionnaire

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

b) Eliminating Poverty

C) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)
E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
F) Preserving a free and open Internet
G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration
I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

I have discussed and written regarding the illegality of the War in Iraq and the disproportionate impact of the War on Hispanic-American communities.
I have marched to Oppose and End the War.

b) Eliminating Poverty

Working with Marin Grassroots Leadership Academy to help train and engage Latinos in the San Rafael, CA, area to formalize their legal status in the USA, engage in vocational training, and participate at the political level.

C) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

Support, included as topic of training activities.

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)

Actively supported, campaigned and produced Spanish and English Radio Spots for Debra Bowen’s campaign for Secretary of State.

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran

Strongly oppose pre-emptive action against Iran.

F) Preserving a free and open Internet

Support. Writing blogs.

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

Support.

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration

Support.

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

Support equal rights at all levels.

) Promoting public financing of elections

Support. Helped with training in Oregon (Democracy for Oregon), on this
issue and discussed at length with proponents and detractors. I believe public
financing of elections can help bring about increased transparency and
reduced dependence on private interest groups for those seeking office.
K) Abolishing the death penalty

I moved to California 25+ years ago in some part because of our we did not
have the death penalty, then worked on retaining Rose Bird (worked against the
recall). Unfortunately, we lost. I do not believe we have the right to
take any life and there are too many instances where errors have led to wrongful
convictions for me to ever feel comfortable with arguments that attempt to
justify the death penalty on a "tough on crime" basis.

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

Absolutely support, and have also discussed, lectured, and appeared on radio
addressing the issue of nuclear energy as an impractical solution to energy
independence. Renewable energy is the only way to go, but we need to be
careful not to accept any single solution as a panacea. The real solution is a
combination of localized solutions such as wind, solar, etc., as appropriate.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

Firmly Against.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?

Building support for opposing the funding with other Members of Congress.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging

an incumbent on the issues?

Yes

Explain.

I worked with the Howard Dean for President Campaign, Jerry McNerney (write-in campaign and vis-à-vis Steve Filson), Charlie Brown (1^st and 2^nd campaigns), and am supporting Mark Leno over incumbent Carole Migden in SD-3.

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 a short, but active engagement in Latino/Hispanic organizing and training around the country through Latinos for America, of which I was a co-founder, Latinos for Dean, of which I was California Chair, and Democracy for America, as founding trainer of the DFA Training Academy.

Working through the DNC will not be a new experience for me. As Hispanic Caucus Whip for the Howard Dean for DNC Chair race, I was responsible for culling the endorsement of the caucus to endorse Governor Dean on first ballot.

In my work as 6th AD E-Board Representative to the CDP, I have been a stalwart champion of openness and accountability in the management of the State party's financial and organizational structures.

As one of the lead architects of the California 58-County Plan, recently adopted by the CDP for grassroots engagement, I understand the importance of reaching out to every community and every voter through a strong and locally-focused network of neighborhood and community visibility programs.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

Yes. I think the Party benefits from a wide and varied representation by members who have demonstrated their commitment, vision and activism to building the Party and engaging voters through the promotion of strong Democratic values. The participation of “Super” delegates in the nomination of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Nominees, however, should be guided by the principle of balanced representation of their constituencies.

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?

Yes, I am running with Mayme Hubert, Mal Burnstein, Karen Bernal and Norman Solomon. Karen, Mayme and Mal are officers of the Progressive Caucus; Norman and I are active members. The process in which I engaged was entirely personal association with each of the others.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

During the course of the Dean for DNC campaign, I spoke with nearly all the members of the Hispanic Caucus, the California, Texas, New York and delegations from numerous other states, and the national leadership. This experience uniquely prepares me to serve the Latino/Hispanic community on the DNC. I specifically understand the key challenges and important issues affecting Hispanics and Progressives in America. I have several professional acquaintances and friends who are currently serving on the DNC.

As co-founder of Latinos for America in 2004, I trained Spanish-speaking activists and leaders around the country. During the past four years I have nurtured a close association between LFA and Democracy for America. Together, we have been able to extend this engagement to thousands of progressive activists in almost every state of the Union.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee?

Rules & Bylaws and Budget & Finance

## ##