1021 Meets the Candidates

Walking precincts and talking with candidates we support

See what happens when you walk precincts? You get to meet the people you’re helping to elect.

For the past few weeks we’ve taken SEIU 1021’s camera on precinct walks to capture the contributions of SEIU 1021 members in these historic November 4 elections. And since the opportunity came up, we cornered a few of the candidates we’ve endorsed and asked them about their visions for our state and communities and what they plan to do in office.

Gayle Shirley, SEIU 1021Gayle's not running for anything. She's out walking for two Sonoma Co. Board of Supervisors candidates. She talks about the relationship between electing worker-friendly candidates and winning better contracts, and why she’s always so engaged. She also shows off the precinct-walking tools she got at 1021’s recent Political Campaign School.

Shirley Zane, Sonoma Co. Board of Supervisors, District 3One of Gayle's candidates, Zane believes labor-management relations are about building relationship; that's why she opposes the county's outsourcing of contract bargaining, which is part of the reason county workers are mobilizing to change the majority on the Board of Supes.

Joan Buchanan, 15th Assembly DistrictAn 18-year member of the San Ramon school board, Joan is making her first run for state office in the 15th Assembly District (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Sacramento). She talks about her ideas for reforming the state budget process and making children and their schools and families a priority.

Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland City Council At-LargeWith years of experience as a public transportation planner and activist, Rebecca is running for one of the two City Council seats that represents all Oakland residents, not just those in one district. She talks about her plans for bettering the conditions of Oakland’s workers, families, schools, and communities.

Jerry McNerney, 11th Congressional DistrictSEIU walked precincts for Jerry in 2006 and now we’re back for his re-election campaign. He shares his observations on the nation’s financial crisis and what it’s been like in Washington these past few weeks.