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Membership deadlines for Endorsement forums

The membership deadline passed in late July for the August endorsement forums. The deadline for membership to vote in the September 23 forum, for Kensington races, is August 24.

ECDC endorsements are made in each election cycle according to our by-laws (pdf). Only members in good standing for 30 days prior to the endorsement forum may vote, and the ECDC may only endorse Democrats in any race whether partisan or non-. A candidate must be selected on ballots of 60% of the members present to gain the club’s endorsement.

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July Meeting Recap

By Hilary Crosby

We kicked off our meeting by giving our members a chance to sign the City Council nomination papers ECDC members Janet Abelson and Gabriel Quinto. This task was made more enjoyable because ECDC member Sylvia brought a chocolate cake to share her celebration of her 75th birthday. Betty Brown announced the July 30 rally for the 49th anniversary of Medicare celebrated by the Campaign for a Healthy California (CHC) and included groups like National Nurses United and the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) and pointed out that there are several other events going on.
Program Vice President Gabriel Quinto convened the meeting and introduced the State-wide propositions that will appear on the November ballot. The Club voted on the following propositions:

  • Proposition 43–Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act-no action; further discussion needed
  • Proposition 44-State Reserve Policy- no action; further discussion needed
  • Proposition 45-Approval of Healthcare Insurance Rates-YES
  • Proposition 46-Drug and Alcohol Testing of Doctors. Medical Negligence Lawsuits-no action; further discussion needed
  • Proposition 47-Criminal Sentences. Misdemeanor Penalties-YES
  • Proposition 48-Referendum to Overturn Indian Gaming Compacts-NO
  • Proposition 49-Amendment to overturn Citizen United Ruling-YES 
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City of El Cerrito Ballot Measure

The City of El Cerrito sent out the following information to community leaders (many of our Club members have already have seen this) about the sales-tax measure for the City on the ballot in November:

The El Cerrito City Council placed a local funding measure on the November 2014 ballot to extend the existing voter-approved Measure R at the one cent rate for twelve years. If enacted, this continuation measure would generate additional locally-controlled funds for local projects and services, with money that could not be taken by the State.

Measure R was previously approved by local voters four years ago. Measure R is extended at the one cent rate, the City will be able to maintain current levels of public safety, including police services, neighborhood patrols, crime prevention programs, and rapid 9-1-1 response times, as well as after-school programs for children and teens and city parks, playfields, paths and open spaces.

The focus of the sales-tax extension is:

  • Maintaining current levels of firefighters, fire protection and emergency medical services
  • Maintaining rapid 9-1-1 response times, neighborhood police patrols, crime prevention and investigation
  • Maintaining earthquake and disaster preparedness programs
  • Maintaining after-school programs for children and teens
  • Maintaining and improving city parks, playfields, paths and open space

The Club will consider endorsing this measure on Aug 23.