Volume 3, Issue 9 |
May 17 - 23, 2006 |
Globe Newspapers endorses
Sandré Swanson for Assembly
District 16
By Sara Henneberger,
Copy Editor
Sandré Swanson has amassed an impressive record of public service during the last 35 years, serving under two of the East Bay’s most venerated leaders, Ron Dellums and Barbara Lee.
The Globe believes that with his proven
record and sound policy priorities, Swanson is the superior choice to represent District 16 in the Assembly.
Swanson began his career at age 22 as the East Oakland representative to the Oakland Anti-Poverty Board. Impressed with Swanson’s drive and focus, former Congressman Ron Dellums hired Swanson in 1973 as a member of his district office staff. During the next 25 years, Swanson rose through the ranks, working as Dellums’s press secretary, senior policy advisor and district director.
When Dellums retired in 1998, Swanson was hired by Congresswoman Barbara Lee to serve as her district director, and later as her chief of staff. Before his recent retirement, Swanson managed Lee’s Washington, DC and California district offices.
“Sandré has been a mentor and has served as an effective counsel whose sound logic and wisdom I trust,” said Lee.
As an Assembly candidate, Swanson’s top priorities include universal health care, affordable housing, successful schools, safe neighborhoods, strong local businesses and secure services for youth and senior citizens.
“The education, health and safety of our children will be my top priority in the California State Assembly,” said Swanson. “I will work for a state budget that makes the education of our children a real priority for California. I believe keeping our promise to our children will help us build strong communities and create sustainable jobs.”
Armed with years of experience tackling difficult social and economic issues for the East Bay, Swanson offers residents the knowledge, resources and heart to fight for District 16.
Working with Lee, Swanson managed the successful effort to secure Congressional authorization for a $252 million Port of Oakland dredging project, which will deepen the port’s harbor to accommodate the newest container ships. This expanded shipping capacity is expected to generate 8,800 jobs, $1.9 billion in increased annual business revenue and $62 million of increased annual local tax revenue.
Under Dellums, Swanson managed the oversight of more than $50 million in federal funds for the clean-up of former military bases in the cities of Oakland and Alameda. Nearly 500 new homes are now under construction on Alameda’s former base. Oakland has used its share of that land to create two new marine terminals and Middle Harbor Shoreline Park.
During his two terms as chairman and commissioner for Oakland’s Civil Service Commission, the caseload for employee and union appeals doubled, largely because Swanson guaranteed that each appeal got a fair hearing. He worked to protect the rights of employees, and also fought for fair promotions for minorities and woman in the city’s police, fire and public works departments.
Swanson is the founder and chairman of the East Bay Conversion and Reinvestment Commission’s Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, which for six years has provided business loans of up to $250,000 to Alameda County businesses that have difficulty receiving traditional financing from banks.
Swanson’s past and present efforts are widespread, contributing to the success and stability of thousands of District 16 residents. The Globe is proud to support a candidate like Swanson, who has earned deep respect and dozens of endorsements through decades of hard work and devotion to his community.
Swanson has learned from the best. Now it’s time to let him shine.