Hardy Brown | Publisher Emeritus Black Voice News
Many people who follow my column have requested my thoughts and recommendations for the June 7th Primary. In response to these requests, I reached out to candidates I do not know personally for interviews and some of them responded. It was not necessary for me to contact others because I know them personally and am already familiar with their work and commitment to the community. I have shortened my thoughts and comments in the best interest of you, my friends.
Candidates for statewide office
For the statewide office(s) seekers Governor Gavin Newsom has already overcome his distractors by beating them in a recall election and Dr. Shirley Weber has proven her skills and ability to oversee a complicated election that was fair and secure for all voting citizens. This she did in the face of a Republican Party claiming all elections are stacked with voter fraud. Even some of the California Republican candidates making voter fraud clams did not object to the election after they failed in their effort to recall Governor Newsom.
I am proud there is a slate of diverse candidates, both race and gender, from which to make a selection for office. Believe me, race and gender does matter in policy making, I’ve been in closed session meetings and sitting at the table, while policy was being made.
I want to highlight a few of the candidates because they deserve my comments for the public record.
Pete Aguilar has done a wonderful job of bringing over a billion dollars into his district while representing our democracy by serving on the Congressional Select Committee investigating what happened before, during, and after the January 6th Insurrection led by members in the Republican Party.
Alex Padilla has represented us well by serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee and standing up for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in her quest to become the first African American woman confirmed by the Senate to sit on the United States Supreme Court.
James Ramos has done a great job in the Assembly as the first Native American to serve in our state legislative body and he will continue to do so. I am proud to know him and his family long before the tribe had success in gaming and it has not changed his values.
Candidates for local office in San Bernardino County
I know Ted Alejandre, Bob Dutton, Jason Anderson, Clifton Harris and they all deserve your votes. I have known Ted and his wife’s family for a longtime and they have represented us well in the education of our children. I have known Clifton and his family even longer dating back into the 70’s. It is time to break the cycle of the outgoing sheriff selecting who becomes sheriff.
I have attended or observed the San Bernardino City Council meetings since 2019 and council members are now beginning to respect each other and are working together when mayor John Valdivia is absent from the sessions and not interfering, trying to divide the council members.
I have listened to Dr. Treasure Ortiz at council meetings and met with her by ZOOM. In my opinion she would be a “good choice” as our next mayor but after meeting and talking with Helen Tran, Helen would be a “better or best choice” as mayor in my opinion. Tran knows the internal workings of the city and understands the different roles and responsibilities of the mayor, council and city manager. She explained to me her experience of working in another city government where things get done by elected officials working with each other and putting the citizens first.
Helen will bring a new perspective to our city based on her background as a Human Resource Manager. I know from my personal experience that a Human Resource Manager has the experience to communicate with all sides to arrive at decisions that are in the best interest of the city.
Here is a partial of my recommendations.
Statewide
Alex Padilla, United States Senator
Pete Aguilar, Congressman District 33
Norma Torres, Congresswoman District 35
Gavin Newsom, Governor
Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor
Shirley N. Weber, Secretary of State
Fiona Ma, Treasurer
Ron Bonta, Attorney General
Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
James Ramos, Assembly District 45
Local (San Bernardino County)
Ted Alejandre, County Superintendent of Schools
Dejonae Shaw, Supervisor, District 2
Bob Dutton, Assessor/Recorder
Jason Anderson, District Attorney
Clifton Lee Harris, Sheriff
Helen Tran, Mayor, City of San Bernardino
Theodore Sanchez, Council Ward 1, City of San Bernardino
Sandra Ibarra, Council Ward 2, City of San Bernardino
Fred Shorett, Council Ward 4, City of San Bernardino