ADEM ELECTIONS 2021

My name is Brandon Messerly and I am a 27 year old public school teacher and CTA union member living in San Luis Obispo running for AD-35. I am running to help create a Democratic Party that will fight for a livable, comfortable, and just future for my generation and especially for my students. Having seen the excitement and engagement both across the nation and in California during Bernie’s presidential runs, I hope to ensure that district 35 can be a leader in the fight for large scale, structural, and progressive change. As a teacher and union member, I want the Democratic party to fight for public education and workers. As a millennial and progressive, I want the Democratic party to fight for a Green New Deal to ensure that California remains a livable and thriving state for myself and my students who did nothing to cause the climate disaster. I want a Democratic party that is willing to stand up for immigrant rights and for racial justice. To recruit, encourage, and fight for candidates with plans to dismantle systemic racism and inequality. And I want a party that recognizes that healthcare is a human right and refuses to accept any system that allows people to lose their coverage if they lose their job or forces people to decide between food or medicine. We have seen young people energized and passionate about fighting for large, bold, structural change. Those are the voices the Democrats should be listening to and that is the voice I hope to bring to our state Democratic party.

My immigrant grandparents became union organizers in the New York garment industry, so I learned the power of collective action and the vital importance of unions at an early age. The values that motivated my grandparents– racial and economic justice, gender equity, and environmentalism—motivated me to combat the war in Vietnam, join the struggle for civil rights, and fight for environmental protection and against environmental racism during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. I was teargassed in DC, arrested in Philadelphia, and chained to a tree in the national forest during those tumultuous times.

These are the values I want to represent at the state party level. I believe we should build a true multiracial democracy and economy where everyone is treated justly and equitably. I want a society that is welcoming and safe for all people.

I will advocate for specific laws and policies that uphold those values. I’ve been a political activist and organizer most of my adult life, and for the past several years have been focused on criminal justice reform at the state and local levels. I was active in the legislative campaigns to pass bail reform (SB 10) and strengthen the rules around police violence (AB 392), and helped pass a pair of ballot measures (Propositions 47 and 57) that instituted other much-needed reform in the prison system.

Through my work on these statewide campaigns I have built relationships with other ADDs around the state, and with elected officials and legislative staff in Sacramento and here at home. I will leverage those existing statewide relationships to help build the power of our local Democratic Party.

I live in the City of SLO with my beautiful wife Dona; we have lived AD 35 for 13 years. My professional career in environmental consulting has spanned academia, government, and the private sector. I taught resource management and environmental law at Cal Poly from 2008-2020 while also operating a successful small business that employed 60 people. In addition to my values and my deep commitment to intergenerational, intersectional, and transformative change, I bring organizational skills and management expertise to the party.

I am running for Assembly District Delegate to carry our progressive values forward. Please consider giving me your vote.

My name is Sherri Stoddard. I’m running for my third term as an ADEM. A retired RN, I became involved in politics through my union, California Nurses Association. I served on the Board Of Directors of CNA for almost 20 years, until just this past September, when I retired. I was also a Bernie delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2016.

My beliefs are based in social justice and equality: Healthcare is a human right, and Medicare4All is the vehicle. Only removing the for-profit motive in our system will rectify our many problems- as long as there is profit to be had, insurance companies will continue to put profits over patients. People are routinely denied care and cannot afford care. Covid has proven the utter failure of our system. We also need a clean and sustainable environment. Immediate changes must be made- the Green New Deal is the way forward. Cleaning up our environment while at the same time building a new infrastructure is better for our health and adds millions of head-of-household jobs. Bills for both the GND and M4A include a just transition, ensuring training and jobs for workers.

Workers’ rights to unionize is a necessity to ensure living wages – a start in the direction to getting back to having a real middle class.

The outrageous inequities in this country, including racial, gender, and economic injustice, need to end. We need campaign finance reform, including the end to Citizens United, and we need a Democratic Party that respects transparency and truly represents the electors. Profit driven greed in our criminal justice system continues institutional racism against people of color and the poor. Being non-white and being poor need to be decriminalized, and there must be accountability in law enforcement. A welcoming and safe America for all (immigration, refugee, and asylum reform, reinstatement of DACA) and embracing diversity will enhance all our lives. Affordable housing and work to end homelessness should be a top priority.

For the last 20 years I have fought for these ideals- educating, organizing and advocating, and showing up on the streets to elect progressive candidates, support legislation and social justice causes. I will continue to do so. It has been gratifying to be able to represent progressive values here on the Central Coast these past four years, and I would be honored to continue.

I am running to be your Assembly District 35 delegate because it is my hope that my experience as a housing advocate, nonprofit project manager, and Planning Commissioner can offer unique insight to build a SLOCDP that wins elections as a champion for racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.

When I moved to San Luis Obispo almost five years ago, I began working for a local affordable housing nonprofit – first as a policy analyst and now as a project manager. While I fell in love with the area and have experienced an extraordinary quality of life on the Central Coast, I quickly realized the privilege that often comes with happiness here. Racism, pain, and poverty is hidden all too often in plain sight. We have a moral imperative to do better.

Subsequently, I began serving in a number of roles to leverage my affordable housing experience to help those facing housing, food, and/or medical insecurity. I served as VIce-Chair of the Human Relations Commission with the City of SLO, a group tasked with increasing equity for all City residents. I also joined the Steering Committee of SLOU40, a group dedicated to expanding civic engagement and advocacy among the under 40 demographic.

Most recently, I was appointed to the City of SLO’s Planning Commission, a role in which I have proudly supported affordable housing and the most progressive Climate Action Plan in the nation. I promoted the inclusion of equity in our City’s financial goals as well as ensured that environmental justice remains central to the implementation of our ambitious climate goals.

During my time in San Luis Obispo County, I have also supported a number of local Democratic candidates including Jimmy Paulding for Supervisor, Ellen Beraud for Supervisor, and Heidi Harmon for Mayor.

I hope to work with you to build a SLOCDP that is anti-racist, pro-housing, and pro-environment. Thank you for considering me for your vote!

Hi 35th district neighbor! My name is Paden McNiff and I am running to be your ADEM representative. I am a 21 year old woman, a Cal Poly graduate, an organizer, and a progressive Democrat to my core.

Right now, I spend most of my day hosting virtual events to turn out the vote in Georgia as an associate with Flip the West (which, ps – reading this pre January 5th? Let’s phonebank together! Reach me at the number below.) Before that, I consulted for progressive, environmentalist candidates throughout several California cities with the Next Generation, managing strategic communications so candidates can focus on the issues that matter. Locally, I’ve advocated extensively to keep our district blue.

I was the President of Cal Poly Democrats throughout the 2018-2019 primary campaign cycle, in which I conducted widespread campus mobilization efforts for campaigns like Ellen Beraud for Supervisor and pushed the student body left through coordinated voter contact. I was Adam Hill’s field campaign director, worked on Congressman Carbajal’s first re-election campaign, and provided consulting and data development for Mayor Harmon’s most recent campaign. I worked closely with the nonprofit and grassroots sectors of our SLO community as the Co-Chair of the 3rd Annual SLO County Convention; a coalition building event I planned and executed alongside the SLOCDP. Additionally, I’ve completed a hands-on, 8 week long organizing training with the DNC, served on the NC-09 special Congressional election, and worked for Cal Poly’s Gender Equity center – I like to stay busy.

If you’re still reading, thank you! So, why should all of this matter to you? Here’s the deal. If you choose to elect me, my promise to you is that my duties won’t stop at attending meetings and casting a vote. I have the drive and experience needed to build our progressive base and strategize for landslide candidate victories. Our community is ready for change, and I’m ready to do the work needed to present and advocate for our message in a manner that is accessible, actionable, and creative.

I’m running to represent you, and that doesn’t stop on election day. I’m here to hear your concerns and fight to ensure your needs and values are represented on our state platform. Contact me anytime at padenmcniff@gmail.com or (919) 360-6177. I’m ready to better our district and state with you by my side.

I’m running for re-election as Assembly District delegate of the 35th Assembly District to continue the work of building the presence and the stature of the California Democratic Party in AD35. Our party’s message should be simple and to the point: The Democratic Party will fight for you and your household to be able to work one job with wages that sustain you and provide for future needs, to have educational opportunities that are accessible and affordable, to see a doctor and not be worried about the cost and to get full value for your tax dollars.

In 2007-08, I volunteered to coordinate the voter contact and get out the vote efforts for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Although local party leadership was doubtful about Mr. Obama’s prospects until he became the nominated candidate, our fledgling group built an organization that won San Luis Obispo County for the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the first time since 1964.

In 2010, I volunteered to manage the campaign of a most brilliant and practical candidate for Assembly who remains the candidate most in touch with the needs of our district’s constituency in 30 years of living here.

In 2012, I volunteered to coordinate the voter contact and get out the vote efforts of the Democratic Party in San Luis Obispo County during a scurrilous attempt to undermine organized labor.

I have volunteered for sixteen years to raise awareness of the benefits of improving Medicare and expanding it to cover everyone, building community and power around this issue in our congressional district.

I’m hoping during the upcoming term to create space for a new generation of leaders whose diversity represents all Nature’s wonders in human form. It is past time for their transformative power to be unleashed.

My name is Daniel Rushing. I am a lifelong progressive and Democrat. I am also an artist, a chef, a manager, a salesperson, a husband and a father… and I believe that we have done great things together as a party. I also believe that, as a party, we have only scratched the surface of what we can do together. This is why I want to join the ranks of Assembly District Delegates representing AD-35.
As a delegate, I will work to ensure our party supports candidates and initiatives that further the rights of workers to organize, make a living wage, and to live in the communities where they work. I will support every avenue to ensure higher education is accessible to all those who seek it. I will fight to limit the power of corporate dollars in our democracy, to support a Medicare for all, to protect our future and planet with green and sustainable policies and jobs, and to march hand-in-hand in solidarity with my fellow progressives to ensure a future where justice is not just blind, it is actually just.
I am also a co-founder/leader of the SLO County Democratic Party’s new Civic Engagement Academy (CEA). CEA’s goal is to foster a grassroots understanding of local government among groups of SLO County residents that have not previously engaged at that level with their local elected officials. The program extends over the course of a year and features in-depth seminars hosted by local electeds and activists, and offers the opportunity to directly connect with local leaders, ask questions, and network with other locals looking to make a difference in local government. Ideal candidates include high school and college students, local business owners, local non-profit leaders, and, literally, anyone else interested in learning a little more about what local government does, why it is so important to take an active interest, and how to get involved.
Building relationships with neighbors, community, and empowering others to take action with us is the heart of our party. As AD-35’s delegate I look forward to joining others to fight for our values together. I’d be honored to represent you.

Hi! My name is Antonio Ramirez and I am running to represent Assembly District 35 with the California Democratic Party. I would like for you to consider your vote for me as I am feel I would be able to represent the Central Coast with fidelity and integrity.

I was born and raised in Guadalupe located in Santa Barbara County. I am a first generation gay person of color who has worked hard to become a community college counselor for my local community college Allan Hancock College. I have also been recently elected to serve on the City of Guadalupe’s City Council for a second term. An honor I do not take lightly.

Since a young age, my family has shown me what it means to pay it forward and through my acknowledged privilege, I want to be able to provide a voice for those in my community. Although I am limited in the amount of characters I can include in this statement, if elected to serve, I will not limit my abilities to create an equitable playing field for all to thrive.

Lastly, I have created a short video so you can see who I am as a person. Someone proud to be representative for all people in the community:
https://youtu.be/yKrzX5PJdc8

Thank you all for your consideration

Hello! My name is Ethan Stan and I want to serve as your ADEM representative for Assembly District 35.

I am a community organizer, graduate student, and aspiring city planner proud to call the City of San Luis Obispo my home for the past three years. Shortly after moving here with my now-wife (a 4th generation SLO County resident), I dove into getting to know this community and helping its most vulnerable residents as a volunteer and advocate. I believe serving as an ADEM will allow me to represent these issues at both the regional and state level while forming crucial connections between Party leadership and the grassroots by building coalitions based on our shared values and vision.

I have seen firsthand how dire the situation here in SLO is for the houseless and the working class – from helping folks outside my front door by hosting a Little Free Pantry, to working with local activists to advocate for housing and racial justice. Through all the frustrations and difficulties, I still have boundless hope for the City of SLO, SLO County, and the incredible State of California. In the next few years, we have an unprecedented opportunity to finally enact progressive legislation that materially benefits the majority of Californians: Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and meaningful solutions to California’s housing and homelessness crisis.

I am very lucky to have the time, energy, and privilege to commit to this endeavor. I am white, able-bodied, and thankfully just financially secure enough to spend my free time organizing. The people whose interests I want to represent simply do not have that luxury. My other identities – as a progressive, as a Jew, as a big-hearted planner that believes solidarity can change the world – drive me to serve.

I would be honored to have your support. Thank you!

I am interested in being a California Democratic Central Committee Delegate for AD35. I would like to see more participation from Northern Santa Barbara County along with San Luis Obispo County participation in AD35. It is particularly important to have representation from both Counties as our AD35 delegation at the State level. A coordinated effort is required to elect a Democrat in AD35.

I have been serving on the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee (SBCDCC) from District 4 since 2019. I was just re-elected during the 2020 Primary election for another four years. I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Lompoc Valley Democratic Club and will continue in 2021. As part of the Campaign Team for the past two years, I have been highly active in canvassing, phone banking, and other campaign related activities. In November 2019, I worked as a volunteer at the California Democratic Party Convention in Long Beach.

I served in the Army for 3.5 years. My basic training was the last Woman’s Army Corp (WAC) class. After that they went to co-ed training. I worked as a bio-med tech (repaired medical equipment) during that time and was stationed state side at schools or major medical centers. I was in the first class that allowed women into this field.

After the service I worked at a hospital then for General Electric medical systems, manufacturer of medical equipment, where I worked as a field service engineer and serviced all their equipment in Los Angeles county, and other areas. I repaired bedside monitors to include blood pressure, heart rate, ECG and telemetry units, then CAT scanners (my favorite job). Then I worked at the Los Angeles Times, as a journeyman electronics tech. Repairing everything that plugged into the wall – computer and phone systems, communications networks, lasers, printers, printing press, type-set machines.

For the last twenty years I have lived in Lompoc and currently own and manage an apartment complex. I actively participate in Lompoc City Council meetings and watch the meetings virtually these days.

I believe that the Democratic Party stands for what our Constitution promises us. I would like to be a part of the continued positive changes that are being made in the CA Democratic Party.

Juliana Neel was born, raised, and educated in the Santa Maria Valley. Growing up transgender in a conservative community posed its own unique challenges and has ultimately given her the resilience to fight alongside communities in their continual battle for equal rights.

Juliana Neel is currently the President of the Santa Maria Valley Young Democrats. Juliana has spent her young adulthood making positive change in Santa Maria with various organizations such as Women’s March, House of Pride and Equality, and the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley. Most recently, Juliana worked as Field Organizer for Osvaldo Sotelo’s Santa Maria city council campaign. She is a dedicated progressive fighting for causes like racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s rights.

Juliana believes that the time has come for Northern Santa Barbara County to be properly represented at the state party level, and she believes that she is the woman for the job.

Stephen Scopatz; Entrepreneur, Engineer, Consultant, Manager

Currently residing in Lompoc; native Californian. Having lived in Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles, and both the Silicon and Central Valleys, I know California.

Lifelong Democrat, earliest volunteer work was Jerry Brown’s 1st campaign for governor, before I could vote. Currently an active member of the LVDC. I tend to be more progressive than the party center although the center of the party is moving towards the way I think.

Like many of you, I have had a terrible year. I lost my source of income and insurance at the end of 2019. After having a comfortable middle-class income based on my education and experience, I suddenly found that I had to take advantage of several programs that I supported but never imagined I would come to depend on like Covered California, Unemployment and SNAP. I plan to work until age 70, when I will receive enough social security to cover my monthly expenses, but now at 63 I am not finding work as an engineer. I apply to a minimum of 3 jobs a week to keep receiving unemployment and after months of this I have only had short-term consulting work. The point of explaining this is that I have direct, recent experience with both the state and federal safety net. I can tell you the safety net needs improving, and I have some ideas.

Other issues that I want California Democrats take clear positions on include:

-The drain of tech companies out of California, see the recent announcements by Oracle and Tesla. This is going to hurt the long-term financial health of the state. In Santa Barbara county, many startups move out of the area after they reach a certain size; they cannot continue to grow larger here.

-Public Colleges and Universities need to be funded as a public good and not on the backs of the students and community colleges need to be tuition free. A well-educated workforce will keep the state strong.

-California has to protect and preserve both state and federal public lands within our state. We also need sensible water management that meets the needs of our agriculture industry and the drinking water of our cities.

-California is in the path of disaster due to climate change; we are vulnerable to ever increasing wildfires and sea level rise. We need renewable energy and to achieve carbon neutrality on an accelerated timetable. We need to lead on this issue.

As a small town I believe Lompoc, and other communities like it, lack equitable representation in the governmental and political structures of the Central Coast. Along with this, the youth and future of these communities are even more severely underrepresented. I am running for delegate of A35 to change this. Smaller communities must become more engaged in the goings-on of the county, state, and federal decision making processes. As a delegate, I will seek to utilize the position to its fullest potential. Not only would I give small communities across A35 a voice at the table who understands their concerns, but I will help give them access to a network that is not often made available to them. In order to ensure every community is having their voice heard and their needs met, there must first be a focused effort to raise them up. If I am elected, this is what I plan to do.

My name is Tori Keen and I’m running for Central Committee in AD-35. I ran for City Council in Atascadero this year and have been involved in my community since I moved here ten years ago.

I currently work as a family law paralegal in a small law firm in Atascadero. I deal with a very diverse population and help people on their worst days.

I want to work with local leaders to encourage more progressive policies on issues that matter now like climate change, homeless population, affordable housing and economic growth that will benefit all of the Central Coast.

I want to be a voice for diversity and inclusivity. It is more important than ever to make sure that we are including all voices and opinions when we make decisions. This may mean reaching out to groups and populations that will be particularly affected by certain decisions to make sure that their voices are heard. I want to be a voice for those that feel they can’t speak up or help amplify those that feel they are not being heard.

I want to look at how national issues can be dealt with on a local level including affordable housing and climate change.

I look forward to working with the central committee to move forward on progressive issues and ideas and coming up with solutions that work for everyone.

My name Robin Wolf, and I am running to represent the Democratic Party as an Assembly District Delegate for District 35.

As a Progressive Candidate I believe in Equality, Opportunity, and Justice for all people through Affordable Housing, Medicare for All, Accountability in Law Enforcement, Investing in our Communities, Decriminalizing Addiction, Campaign Finance Reform, and The Green New Deal.

A lifelong member of the restaurant, hospitality, and tourism industry, I am a committed advocate for those fighting to earn a fair wage and I fully support Unions and Labor Organizations. In government I offer a unique skill set and perspective into an industry that is an economic force in our area and provides a living for many of our residents from all walks of life including many marginalized communities. I have learned to listen and to bridge divides between people to ensure everyone has a seat at the table.

I am dedicated to greater community engagement in local government, especially our youth and traditionally underrepresented voices.

In this time it is more crucial than ever to have strong, dedicated voices representing the needs of our community and our state. I am fiercely committed to fighting for those most vulnerable and making sure each constituent and their needs are heard, valued, respected, and engaged.

I have always told myself that as soon as I have less on my plate I would get involved in the local political party because I believe in grassroots political action. The reality is that I don’t think there will ever be a time that “slows down” but I do believe that this is the right time for me to step up.
As an educator over the last 19 years I have seen exactly how elections matter to our students, their families, and to the schools. Schools have become the place for wrap around services but rarely have enough resources to complete the job for students or their families. Bandaids are no longer enough.
Our society needs to build a future that finds real and sustainable solutions.
We need to continue to create a Democratic Party that recognizes that there are no simple answers to complex problems and we have to have real, honest, and difficult conversations.
We can’t be afraid to stand up and speak up for what is right and just- no matter how difficult the conversation is.
This is a challenging time in our state and nation but I do believe we are up to the challenge and I believe that my skills as an educator, my role as a local president, and my leadership at the state level would help me serve to represent AD-35.
I would appreciate your vote to represent AD-35 and welcome the opportunity to help conduct party business to strengthen the California Democratic Party.
Thank you,