BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
X-WR-CALNAME:www.indybay.org
PRODID:-//indybay/ical// v1.0//EN
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:Indybay-18762457
SEQUENCE:18878886
CREATED:20141006T035500Z
DESCRIPTION:Hear both Democratic candidates, Elizabeth Echols and Tony Thurmond, who 
 are competing to represent Berkeley and other East Bay communities along 
 the I-80 corridor from Hercules to North Oakland, will answer questions 
 from the public at the Election 2014 Forum, Oct 7, 7:30 pm in the Berkeley 
 City College auditorium.\n\nThe President of the California League of Women 
 Voters, Helen Hutchison, will moderate the discussion. The event is 
 sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville and 
 a broad group of co-sponsors, including the Berkeley NAACP; the Berkeley 
 Chamber of Commerce; BOCA, Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action; 
 the Berkeley PTA Council and the Berkeley AAUW, American Association of 
 University Women. The Civic Engagement Club and the Political Science 
 Department of Berkeley City College are also co-sponsoring the event. 
 Berkeleyside, the local on-line news source, has signed on to co-sponsor as 
 well.\n\nBoth candidates are Democrats; they have strong but rather 
 different backgrounds and experience.\n\nEchols, in her responses to League 
 queries on SmartVoter.org, describes her occupation as Presidential Jobs 
 Advisor. She served as President Obama’s Regional Administrator of the 
 Small Business Administration and Senior Advisor on Clean Tech and Energy 
 Efficiency and worked in the Clinton White House on internet policy and 
 closing the digital divide. As major accomplishments, she says that she 
 passed legislation to protect the environment and create jobs and trained 
 low-income youth for jobs in the tech industry with an 80% success 
 rate.\n\nThurmond describes his occupation as Youth Education Director in 
 his SmartVoter.org statement.   He is a former Richmond City Councilmember 
 and West Contra Costa School Board Member. As major accomplishments, he 
 points to leading a campaign that reduced school suspensions by 27% and 
 helping raise over $300,000 to create 300 jobs for young people. He served 
 on the California League of Cities Environmental Policy Committee.\n\nThe 
 candidate elected on November 7 could serve for as long as 12 years in the 
 Assembly, under the new term limits, passed as Proposition 28, in 2012, 
 which permit a combined total of 12 years in both the Assembly and Senate. 
 The November 4 election will be the first time in six years that voters can 
 choose a new representative, since, under the previous term limit rules, 
 Assembly Member Nancy Skinner has termed out after six years.\n\nThe 
 candidates point to similar goals as their top priorities if 
 elected—improving and expanding educational opportunities and schools and 
 creating good, well-paying jobs—as well as somewhat different ones. 
 Echols puts the environment in her list of top three goals; Thurmond points 
 to increasing public safety. In their responses to a specific League policy 
 question on dealing with the drought and water issues, Thurmond pointed to 
 “responsible water management, ” such as recycling gray water and 
 minimizing water waste.   Echols suggests “more environmentally sensitive 
 approaches, ” such as improved water efficiency, better use of recycled 
 water and storm water capture.\n\nQuestions posed by the public and the 
 League may sharpen the differences between the two candidates and help 
 voters decide which candidate they want to vote for.\n\nDoors open at 7:00 
 pm; the Forum will begin promptly at 7:30 pm. The Auditorium is on the 
 lowest floor of the Berkeley City College at 2050 Center St. Berkeley. The 
 Forum is free, open to the public, and accessible for wheelchairs via ramp 
 and elevator.\n\nFor more information, please visit the League’s website, 
 www. LWVBAE.org.\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/10/05/18762457.php
SUMMARY:Assembly Race: Echols and Thurmond to debate in Berkeley
LOCATION:Berkeley City College \nAuditorium (Downstairs)\n2050 Center St, Berkeley, 
 CA 94704
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/10/05/18762457.php
DTSTART:20141008T023000Z
DTEND:20141008T033000Z
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR