Conventioneering in San Diego

Over the weekend of February 10-12 I went to the California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego.  I attended as a delegate and also went with nine students of the College of the Sequoias Young Democrats Club.  We came down in two vans; two faculty colleagues, Lisa Greer and Sandy Valenzuela, came with us and drove the other van.  This was the club's fourth consecutive annual state convention, and mine as well.  In a recap today at the club meeting, President Jerry Lopez said the experience helped get him energized and eager to help campaign in 2012 for issues and candidates.

Governor Jerry Brown and Senator Dianne Feinstein represented the voices of experience.  Brown understands state government like few others and laid out a clear vision of priorities centered on economic growth, investment in necessary infrastructure and education.  He is keenly aware of limits but realizes there are down payments on the future that must be paid.  Feinstein was the voice of reason in national affairs.  As befits what needs doing in a recession, her focus is jobs now, deficits later.

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Kamala Harris seemed like the leaders of the future, statewide officers who will be the ones to contend for the top posts when the old guard changes.  Newsom, the former San Francisco mayor who was briefly able to legalize gay marriage in the city, has done a great deal of work on a very comprehensive development plan for the state over the next few years.  In addition to his strong speaking skills, the ladies never fail to mention his leading-man good looks.  Former prosecutor Harris was flush off her tremendous performance in the national negotiations over financial malfeasance.  Despite heavy pressure to settle for easy terms, Harris demanded and got a nine fold increase in the penalties assessed to the five biggest banks in the lending and foreclosure crisis, a total of $25 billion, $18 billion of which is coming to California.  She gave a rousing speech on consumer protection and income and tax fairness that brought down the house.     

U. S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis represented President Obama's administration.  She reminded the convention of Obama's many achievements and commitment to keep fighting for initiatives that foster jobs and opportunity.  Access to higher education, labor rights, tax policies that incentivize creating and keeping jobs in America were some of her main themes.

It was a long drive but San Diego is a beautiful city and the Young Democrats got to enjoy a rare close-up glimpse of prominent officials, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who pointed out that a gain of 25 seats in the election could once again make her Speaker.  The YD's also got to run their own show and held their own convention from 4 to 7 on Saturday night.  Besides Jerry, our other attendees were Chelsea Velasquez, Rebecca Salgado, Samuel Diamant, Edith Pedraza, Erin Hitchcock, Jovani Lemus, Evann Peterson and Jonathon Sosa.  (Yes, I got those spellings right!) Most remarkable, COS Young Democrats member Louie Campos was named "Democrat of the Year" for California Region 11 (Tulare, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties)!  It is great to see our young people take an interest in public affairs and work to make a difference.