By: Kevin L. Nichols
It is said that “Service is the rent that we pay here on Earth.” Many of my friends have decided to answer
this call by running for local political office. Although I have always supported candidates
behind the scene, this year, I have publically gotten involved with national
politics, with my avid support to re-elect President Barack Obama. Needless to say, I have also felt compelled
to assist our local politicians with getting their message out to their
constituents.
I asked many of my friends who are running for office to send me a blurb
about their platform with a link for voters to find more information about them
and to provide a link for supporters to show their financial support to their
mission. Please see below and support
those who you feel will serve our community the best at this pivotal point of
our country’s existence:
London Breed
San Francisco District 5 Supervisor
As a lifelong San Franciscan, a native of District 5 growing up in
public housing in the Western Addition, I was constantly inspired by the many
committed, caring and passionate people who were working to help their fellow
citizens.
They fought for the same things that I will fight for in City Hall as
the Supervisor for District 5:
* More and better jobs for San Francisco residents
* Quality, affordable housing across the entire City
* Education that positions students of all ages for success
* A safer City for ourselves and our children
* Re-connecting City Hall with the communities it represents
I have been blessed to serve in
City government on the Redevelopment Commission and Fire Commission, and to
partner with City government for the last ten years in my role as Executive
Director of the African-American Arts and Culture Complex. Now, I am hoping to
take the next step forward in making City Hall work for all San Franciscans.
District 5 needs a practical, progressive Supervisor with experience,
ability, and creativity, who puts people first every moment of every day.
I’m running to be a leader who connects the dots between our government
and our communities, so everyone in District 5 and the entire city has the
opportunity to make everything they want of their lives, and together those
lives will make San Francisco the city we’ve always dreamed of.
Lynette McElhaney
Oakland District 3 City Council
Lynette has more nearly twenty years of experience in housing and
community development. Since 2001, Lynette Gibson McElhaney has served as the
Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of the East Bay, which is a
housing counseling and community development corporation established in 1982.
In her current capacity, Lynette manages a $2 million rental real estate
portfolio and supports critical counseling services to more than 400 households
annually through its foreclosure mitigation and first-time homebuyer programs.
Under her leadership NHS has co-developed 82 units as part of Richmond's
largest redevelopment effort. Eastbay NHS has been at the forefront of Contra
Costa's foreclosure crisis, launching the first public awareness campaign that
included a press conference with Rep. George Miller.
Lynette is proud to have spent her career working hard to develop
housing and economic opportunity in low-income communities. She believes that
her experience as the Executive Director of NHS has trained her to balance a
large budget, make a payroll, and bridge the interests of the business
community with the needs of the neighborhood. Lynette envisions a healthy city
as one that balances a vibrant business sector with a commitment to economic
justice for all residents.
Lynette is the daughter of a union machinist and a telecommunications
worker. She has a Bachelors of Arts from University of California, Berkeley.
Lynette has lived in West Oakland since she was a student at Cal. Her and her
husband are members of True Vine Ministries and their son attends an Oakland
public high school.
Dr. Nyeisha DeWitt
Oakland District 3 City Council
Dr. Nyeisha DeWitt is a native Oaklander and a candidate for City Council in Oakland's Third District, which includes West Oakland, Downtown and Uptown Oakland, and Adam's Point, among other neighborhoods.
Nyeisha is an active member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, Oakland Unified School District’s Truancy Task Force, and Effective Teachers for Oakland Task Force. She works closely with the Mayor's Office to tackle the dropout crisis in the Oakland community and is the Program Director of Citywide Dropout Prevention at Oakland’s Promise Alliance. Nyeisha was recently featured on the California Forward website as a “Forward Thinker”. In 2010, she was recognized as a Hometown Hero in Oakland, by Comcast and ANG Newsgroup.
She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California-Berkeley in 1997, and her Master’s degree in Teaching from the University of San Francisco (USF) in 2003. Recently, Nyeisha earned her doctoral degree in education, from USF’s Organization and Leadership program.
Derrick H. Muhammad
Oakland District 3 City Council
I understand the root causes of violence which have to do with poverty, the lack of opportunity and the feeling of hopelessness that so many African American males experience. In April 2005 my younger brother was murdered in the streets of Oakland. As a result of that tragedy I decided to become more involved in mentoring young people, offering them conflict resolution and life management skills. With the hope that I would be able to help develop young persons and subsequently create a safer community. In the Fall of 2006, I enrolled in law school to learn and understand policy and to use my education for the benefit of Oakland.
I am the best candidate because my motive for serving the community is genuine. I currently serve the City of Oakland as a Commissioner on the Citizens Police Review Board where I have deliberated countless cases where the public has sought redress of their concerns. I have used my legal training to arrive at fair and impartial decisions. I also serve as the Public Affairs Liason for the Congress of California Seniors where I have been instrumental in producing workshops on elder abuse and financial literacy that teach seniors how to safe guard their assets. I am a natural bridge builder. As a longshoreman in the Port of Oakland for eight years, I have been a bridge builder between the Port and the ILWU to ensure that cargo continued to move. I will bring all of these experiences to bear on the Oakland City Council.
For more information and to donate, please visit
www.muhammadforoakland.org
Tyriene Amey
Peralta Community College District Trustee - Area 2
Hello Oakland. My name is Tyriene Amey and I am running for Peralta Community College District Trustee for area 2.
I am a small business owner, educator, coach, disabled veteran and West Point graduate. I am also a loyal husband and loving father of two.
I am running for trustee because of my love of education, my desire and ability to lead, and because I believe I possess the education and real world experience necessary to provide the qualified oversight over our tax dollars needed during these fiscally trying times.
My pledge is to not only work hard to find or expand revenue sources, but to also work to find ways to increase efficiency in our current system in order to decrease waste. I also pledge to keep the focus of Peralta community colleges on OUR community instead of outside or foreign interests.
My top three initiatives are as follows:
1. Solicit and form partnerships with local industries as a means of generating new revenues to the district while providing valuable intern and work experience to students.
2. Increase the number of on-line classes offered in order to provide more access to our community.
3. Honor all labor agreements currently in place while working with unions and administrations to find common ground on total compensation packages that work for all parties involved.
Respectfully,
Ty Amey
For more information and to donate, please visit
tyrieneameyperaltaccd.weebly.com
