State Assembly Candidates Lay Out Vision for District

From Left to Right are: Shawn Kumagai, Liz Ortega, Joe Grcar and Jennifer Esteen. Four candidates hoping to represent California Assembly District 20 in Sacramento next year took questions from the audience at the Chabot Theater in Castro Valley. A second forum is scheduled for April 25 in Cherryland.

With the backdrop of the Chabot Theater looming behind, the four most public candidates for the open California State Assembly District 20 seat squared off in a public forum this past Monday.

Candidates Jennifer Esteen, Joe Grcar, Shawn Kumagai, and Liz Ortega exchanged pleasantries and presented their vision on why voters should choose them to go to Sacramento next year to tackle kitchen table issues like job creation (especially for small businesses), affordable housing, compassionate services for the homeless, new funding for public schools, environmental justice, and neighborhood safety. The gathering sponsored by the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce was the first for the business group.  A second forum is scheduled for April 25 at the new Cherryland Community Center.

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.

Some 40 people attended the event with dozens more watching online. Questions from the audience included concerns about jobs and inflation to questions about reducing taxes, stopping property crimes, and renewable energy.

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 focus on making the district a destination with funding for a shoreline park in Hayward and using federal infrastructure money to improve schools. He has also floated the idea of building a tunnel between the San Mateo Bridge and the Tri Valley to reduce traffic congestion.

San Leandro resident Liz Ortega serves on the Alameda County Vaccine Equity Task Force and is a member of the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board. She used her time to discuss how to create the same opportunities for families that her family found coming to California.

“My family has struggled to achieve our American dream through hard work, community support, and a belief that we could have a better life. Unfortunately, for many in our communities, that American dream is getting further and further out of reach. I’m running for Assembly to level the playing field, so every family has a chance of achieving that dream.”

Hayward resident, Jennifer Esteen is a registered nurse currently serving on the Eden Area MAC (Municipal Advisory Board) who is looking to make history as the first Black, Jewish, and openly gay member of the California Assembly. She said she has seen the impact of the pandemic and how government policy should be putting public health at the forefront of all their decisions. 

“I decided to run because as a psychiatric registered nurse I helped to save my clients from being evicted when they were going to lose their housing because a policy decision was to trade their permanent housing for a homeless shelter,” Esteen said.

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. He notes he is the best equipped among the candidates because of his years of service to the country as well as the Bay Area.

“I’m the only candidate who has actual elected official experience,” Kumagai said. “I will know how to get things done in Sacramento on Day One.” 

California’s general election is on November 8. A primary is scheduled for June 7.