Up-and-Coming In California? (Demos for higher office)

[CreekDog]

Here's my two cents. Be interested to hear whom others think are good future candidates. Both mine are women from the Bay Area.

Jackie Speier (8th State Senate District-SF and San Mateo Counties)

A great candidate for Governor, Senate or other higher office would be Jackie Speier. Her strongest issues have been consumer privacy, safety and she consistently votes like a Democrat. She is strong, but not abrasive.

She also has an inspiring biography. She was shot by Jim Jones' thugs in Guyana while travelling as an aide to Leo Ryan (who was killed) who as a congressman was investigating Jonestown.

Finally, while a state assemblywoman, her husband was killed in an auto accident.

She has certainly seen her share of tragedy, but her performance as a leader has been second-to-none.

Incidentally, in the Republican year of 1994, she was nominated by both Democrats and Republicans for the 19th assembly district.

Ellen Tauscher (10th Congressional District-inland East Bay Area)

She won a congressional seat drawn as a "Republican seat" in the 1996 election. She ran an agressive campaign and has a mostly centrist voting record. However, on social issues and environmental issues, she's as strong as she can be.

[alexwcovington]

1. I hope there are enough Cali DUers...

...'Cuz this Nodak doesn't have a clue who you're talking about.

[Dagaz]

2. Kerry Mazzoni

Term limited after 3 term in the CA assembly she could have taken on lightweight Lynne Woolsey in the primary. The party didn't want a fight so she took one for the party and ended up as Secretary of Education under Davis. Obviously she'll be out of a job sooner than planned. Woolsey will be 67 on the next election so it may be time to get Mazzoni elected to Congress. This is Boxer's old seat and since it's extremely safe I'd expect more than I've seen from Woolsey.

[CreekDog]

3. Bay Area Districts Are Safe --They Should Be Leaders

Kerry Mazzoni has been a bright spot that's for sure. Lynn Woolsey was very effective and vocal when she was elected, but she's been quiet lately.

Seems like the Bay Area Congressional Delegation has a bunch of stars. Where they do well is when they choose an issue or area to be a leader or expert on and go with that. Nearly all vote very liberally nearly all the time, but it's interesting to see how they use their seat to make a difference beyond their 1 vote.

For Woolsey, although she votes the right way, she hasn't been prominent for some reason. Certainly not the way Boxer was. Could say the same for Barbara Lee in comparison with Ron Dellums (whom she replaced).

George Miller - Environment (esp. ag issues)
Nancy Pelosi - China Free Trade and Iraq Anti-War
Tom Lantos - Foreign Affairs
Anna Eshoo - High Tech issues
Pete Stark - Healthcare (and taking no sh*t from anybody!)

I'm going mostly by what I see on tv and read in the news, but I realize that doesn't cover all that some of our congresspeople do.