It is my strong belief that unless we build up the Democratic Party from the base up, with strong leaders in power at every level of government, who have the vision and will to influence policy all the way up through every level of government AND at the same time have the clarity and ability to educate the public about those positions, we will not be able to achieve the kind of agenda for the common good for which John Edwards pleaded throughout his campaign.
That is why, after John Edwards suspended his race, I became involved in the campaign of Richard Hobbs for Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. I consider Richard Hobbs to be the prototype for a local candidate that can help us grow the progressive grass and net roots in America, to build a reformed, thriving Democratic Party that enables programmatic and procedural policy for open and fair government that serves us all.
We have to start with candidates like Richard Hobbs who have a truly populist vision and willingness to stand up for the public interest and common good and stand down the special interests that are choking every level of government, and truly preventing progress. Richard Hobbs represents the rare chance to elect someone at a local level, who gets the whole, big picture and will work tirelessly to get it realized.
Therefore, taking a very welcome break from the scene of national politics, I am working feverishly to get Richard Hobbs elected County Supervisor, knowing that in the long run, that is how we will win the big prize of One America as John Edwards articulated it.
The Citizen Effort, is absolutely essential in this process, and while the candidate is important to be sure, our citizen vigilance, perseverance and determination make the difference in the long run if they win or lose.
So, getting my trusty pen out, I wrote this Letter to the Editor, when the local paper chose a well healed lobbyist to support rather than our Populist, Richard Hobbs. The battle is never easy.
This is what I wrote:
Letters to the Editor
San Jose Mercury News, 5/27/2008
Hobbs has shown integrity, respect
In my long years of service in Santa Clara County, as a professional social worker in public service and private practice, and as a volunteer, I have had many opportunities to interact with and observe Richard Hobbs, now candidate for Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He has always shown the utmost integrity and respect in his relationships with colleagues, professionals and the community. He has always been courteous, thoughtful, considerate, principled, helpful and fair.
One could always count on him to see issues objectively, but with the utmost and deepest concern for the common good.
Hobbs does have a passionate conviction that those who are disadvantaged in our society deserve the care and resources and opportunity that can help them overcome obstacles to achieving a life of quality here in this valley.
Indeed, reducing poverty, enabling opportunity and giving people access to essential resources they need, have been central to the way Richard has lived his whole life, and toward such lofty goals, he is resolute and a stalwart advocate. I would want nothing less in a public servant, and that would make a most worthy county supervisor for Santa Clara County.
Karita M. Hummer
San Jose
To learn more about Richard Hobbs and what a different kind of local candidate he is, go to:
(Richard is the man in the center, in dark blue shirt!) As you can see, by protesting torture, he gets the big picture. We need local candidates like Richard Hobbs to truly take back America, so that we can PROGRESS again, from a strong base.
Down ticket all the way down, building the Progressive Movement (and the Democratic Party) from the ground up!!
Today, is a quite lovely day in San Jose, CA, and I am preparing a fundraiser for one of the best down ticket candidates one could find, for Santa Clara County Supervisor, Richard Hobbs..
Now, Santa Clara County is known world-wide for the Silicon Chip and all that has gone with it. (Sadly, forgotten are the old orchards that made it the Garden of Heart's Delight some years ago.) What is not known maybe as widely is that we have lots of poverty here, too, many, many in the working poor (right alongside and in the shadow of the Silicon Valley giants) as well as discrimination, high rates of incarceration, pollution, and too much civic disengagement as well, because of how busy people are here running around in this valley industry, where the working poor hold two jobs (to the detriment of their children) and the working affluent work 60 - 70 hours + (to the detriment of their children.)
Now, here comes Richard Hobbs, running because of his strong advocacy for the working poor, for human rights and justice in all matters, the celebration and protection of diversity, for clean campaign money and transparency, for cleaning up our environment and for being a voice for peace in the world, from a County pulpit. In other words, Richard is for the common good. (Sound familiar, Edwards Democrats?)
It is imperative to get Richard Hobbs elected as County Supervisor in Santa Clara County, and all the other Richard Hobbs running for local offices, and on up the ticket. That is the way to build our progressive movement and to take our government back for the common good. Therefore, I encourage all Edwards Democrats, to look around at what (true) progressives might be running for City Council or County Supervisor or even County Party Councils and give them a boost by helping their campaigns. Thus, will we begin to take back our Party, and our Country. Think globally, act locally, and eventually, I believe we will prevail.
(Richard is the man in the center, in dark blue shirt!) As you can see, by protesting torture, he gets the big picture. We need local candidates like Richard Hobbs to truly take back America, so that we can PROGRESS again, from a strong base.
