Extra

Tony Thurmond's campaign for State Assembly announced today the endorsements of Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, former Berkeley Mayor Gus Newport, former Berkeley City Councilmember Ying Lee, Berkeley School Boardmember Beatriz Levya-Cutler, former Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Michele Lawrence, former Berkeley School Board Member and Alameda County Board of Education Trustee Joaquin Rivera and environmental activist Van Jones. 

Tony Thurmond has coalesced a broad, diverse coalition uniting behind his campaign for Assembly, District 15. Worthington, Newport and other Berkeley leaders join leading Democrats like Congressman George Miller, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, State Senators Mark DeSaulnier, Mark De Leon and Norma Torres, Assemblymembers Phil Ting, Lorena Gonzalez and Cheryl Brown, activist Dolores Huerta and California's teachers, nurses, firefighters and organized labor, including the Alameda Labor Council and the Contra Costa Labor Council, Clean Water Action, the East Bay Express and many others.  

Thurmond said, "I am thankful for the support from former Mayor Newport, Councilmember Worthington and other Berkeley leaders who have united behind my campaign for State Assembly. In addition to Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom and California's teachers and nurses, they know that I will be the progressive advocate our district needs in Sacramento." 

"As a former city council member and school board member, I will fight every day to ensure that our children get the best education, our families have access to health and mental health care and our streets are safer. I will work to ensure that every child has a greater opportunity to succeed." 

Thurmond continued, “I helped preserve 23 miles of coastline in Richmond, blocked additional heavy crude production and created job training programs and hundreds of green-collar jobs. I know that we can simultaneously grow our economy while also promoting our environment.”  

Thurmond continued, “I have two young daughters, and my own family is plagued by environmentally-caused diseases like asthma and cancer. It’s my personal mission to make sure all of our kids can grow up in healthy environments.” 

Tony Thurmond is running in Assembly District 15, which includes Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Hercules, Kensington, North Oakland, Piedmont, Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo. Current Assemblymember Nancy Skinner has held this seat since 2008 and will be termed out in November. 

Thurmond is a former elected member of the Richmond City Council and School Trustee for the West Contra Costa Unified School District. He has the most elected experience of any of the candidates in the 2014 Assembly primary for the 15th District, which includes all the areas Thurmond has represented. 

See the growing Democratic momentum for Tony Thurmond’s campaign and learn more about his effort to make children and families a priority in California at: www.TonyThurmond.com