Four Candidates Vying for Assembly Seat
California Assembly District 20 is up for grabs this year and the four leading contenders are scheduled to sit down for a free public forum on Monday, April 11 at the Chabot Theater in Castro Valley.
Candidates Jennifer Esteen, Joe Grcar, Shawn Kumagai, and Liz Ortega have agreed to appear together to answer questions about their individual qualifications and their vision for representing the State Assembly position currently occupied by Bill Quirk. Quirk announced his retirement last year and said he would not seek re-election for the 2023-24 term. Assembly District 20 covers Hayward, Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Fairview, Union City, and parts of San Leandro, Fremont, Dublin, and Pleasanton. According to the 2020 census, there are half-a-million residents in the District, 392,077 of which are eligible to vote.
The Castro Valley-Eden Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the in-person event at the Chabot Theater starting at 6:00 p.m. There will be a live stream provided as well where people can ask questions online. The virtual event will be hosted on the Eden Area Chamber Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EdenAreaChamber.
Hayward resident, Jennifer Esteen is a registered nurse and union organizer looking to make history as the first Black, Jewish, and openly gay member of the California Assembly. She serves as treasurer on the Alameda Health System Board of Trustees. She also serves on the Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council and was appointed by Alameda County Board of Supervisor, Nate Miley. Esteen is the Vice President of Organizing for SEIU 1021, serves on the SEIU 1021 Executive Board, and previously held a position as a board member of the Jewish Youth for Community Action. Her platform includes supporting affordable housing, living-wage jobs, climate justice, protection of immigrants, improving the state’s mental health system, and preserving reproductive freedom.
Castro Valley resident, Joe Grcar says he is tired of the way politicians have taken advantage of people who live in District 20. The retired US Department of Energy scientist says it’s time to put, “Southern Alameda County First.” His 12-point plan proposes creating jobs and encouraging more businesses to open up or stay here instead of sending them to San Francisco or Silicon Valley. He is also in favor of abolishing the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), supporting big construction projects including a toll tunnel directly linking the San Mateo Bridge to West Dublin, and lowering taxes.
Dublin resident and City Councilmember Shawn Kumagai is also openly gay and a third-generation Navy veteran. He has served as district director for Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who represents neighboring Assembly District 16. Kumagai is running on the platform of housing affordability and criminal justice reform, advocating for veterans, helping local businesses recover from the pandemic, and fighting anti-Asian violence and hate.
San Leandro resident Liz Ortega has served as Statewide Political Director for AFSCME Local 3299, the University of California’s largest employee union. She serves on the Alameda County Vaccine Equity Task Force where she fought to secure paid sick leave and hazard pay for essential public safety, health providers, and frontline workers. Ortega’s platform includes job creation, especially for small businesses, affordable housing, compassionate services for the homeless, new funding for public schools, environmental justice, and neighborhood safety.
California’s general election is on November 8. A primary is scheduled for June 7.