Public Comment

California is in crisis. We need courageous and effective leadership to fight for a California that: 

• Educates, not incarcerates 

• Stops cuts to those least able 

• Achieves affordable, accessible health care.  

With professional experience on the local, state and national levels, a track record of effective public service, and demonstrated ability to build coalitions, I am ready to be that leader.  

I take inspiration from Deborah Bowen, Sheila Kuehl, Fran Pavely, and my own mentor Loni Hancock. As women and progressives, they stood strong and produced results. 

• On the budget, I will work to restore needed revenues, making corporations pay their fair share.  

• On health care I will reintroduce single-payer. 

• On campaign finance reform, I will continue to champion ‘Clean Money’ public financing. 

• On growing the green economy, I will ensure that implementing AB 32 provides economic incentives to grow in-state green jobs. 

• On education, I will uphold our state constitutional mandate giving public schools first right to our state dollars. 

I’ve demonstrated the ability to take on such challenges. Before global warming was a household word I launched Cities for Climate Protection getting mayors of every stripe to work to stop global warming. I organized Fortune 500 CEOs to meet with the Governor to ensure the passage of California’s global warming act, AB 32. As a city official and on the park board I’ve balanced budgets, kept health benefits from being cut and protected public services. As your Assemblymember I will continue AD 14’s strong and progressive tradition. 

An Impressive Record 

With California facing its worst budget crisis in decades, we need proven effective leadership in the state Assembly. 

I am proud to be recognized as a nationally known environmental leader, a long time community leader and an East Bay elected official with an impressive record of service and accomplishment. Currently serving on the East Bay Regional Parks Board, I represent Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Kensington, Emeryville, El Sobrante, Albany, Berkeley, parts of Oakland and Pinole. A Berkeley city councilmember from 1984 to 1992, I served on Alameda County’s Job Training and Employment Board and the Source Reduction & Recycling Board and currently serve on the State Climate Change Advisory Committee. 

National Leader in the Fight Against Global Warming 

In 1993, well before many of us knew what global warming was, I launched Cities for Climate Protection, the US movement of mayors and cities working to stop global warming leading a group of local officials to the convention that established the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Most recently I worked with Fortune 500 companies and clean tech industries to pass A.B. 32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, organizing the July 2006 Climate and Energy Roundtable that brought together Governor Schwarzenegger, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Assembly Speaker Nunez & 15 CEOs. I know what it takes to create 21st Century jobs in clean energy, like the advanced solar company I helped bring to the old Ford plant in Richmond.  

Commitment to Public Education and Our Schools 

With a Masters in Education from UC Berkeley, my longstanding commitment to education and our schools includes eight years as Executive Director of the Graduate Assembly, UC Berkeley’s independent graduate student government. Mother to a graduate of Berkeley’s public schools, I was active in the PTA from kindergarten through Berkeley High. To counteract state funding cuts, I was actively involved in the campaign to pass BSEP, the parcel tax that lowered class sizes and funded school enrichment programs.  

Community Leader and Champion for Women’s Rights 

A lifelong Democrat, I have worked as a precinct captain or GOTV organizer for local United Democratic Campaigns for over 20 years. On the eExecutive board of the Alameda chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus I am a longtime champion of women’s issues and actively help elect pro-choice women candidates. I am also a member of the California State Democratic Party Women’s Caucus and the National Organization of Women (NOW).  

Legacy of Environmental Achievements 

I have been responsible for groundbreaking environmental policies, such as Berkeley’s energy efficiency retrofit ordinances and waterfront protections that led to the establishment of Eastshore State Park, and was a founder of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, an organization dedicated to helping cities become environmental leaders. An early green economy advocate I initiated ‘green jobs’ training at Berkeley’s Youth Employment Services and established the Community Energy Services Corporation that provides energy services to small businesses and homes. At the Park District, I protect open space, adding acres to our beloved parks and expanding District environmental education and recreational programs for young people and schools. 

Outstanding Endorsements 

I am honored to be endorsed by current Assemblymember Loni Hancock, both former A.D. 14 Assemblymembers Dion Aroner and Tom Bates, Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Sally Lieber, former Assembly member Fran Pavely, Alameda County School Superintendent Sheila Jordan, BART President Gail Murray, all of my colleagues on the East Bay Regional Park District Board, the Contra Costa Central Labor Council, AFSCME 2428 and a host of elected officials and community leaders throughout the District. 

www.NancySkinnerforAssembly.com.