San Leandro’s historic Bal Theatre featured a forum for California’s Assembly District 18 this last Wednesday.

The debate hosted Peralta Community College Trustee Abel Guillen, Alameda Vice Mayor Rob Bonta and campaign manager Mark Goodwin speaking on behalf of Joel Young. Rhonda Weber, whose son was receiving an award the same night, was absent at the discussion.

The forum had the candidates answering the audience’s questions reflecting local community concerns, giving the candidates a chance to speak directly on issues ranging from California’s budget deficit to seismic safety and preparation.

Seismic safety is an issue for California residents that is not always acknowledged. Bonta spoke on his work in public safety and his endorsements from fire and police stations, stating it isn’t a matter of whether an earthquake will happen but when.

“I would propose a state-wide school facilities bond that would rebuild our deteriorating school infrastructure and make them all seismically upgradeable and seismically sound,” said Bonta. “It is important to reinvest in education, our schools and public safety all in one.”

Guillen, when questioned about how to keep the San Leandro Hospital from closing, spoke out against insurance companies supporting a single-payer health care system.

“I believe that hospitals need to be held accountable, and we really need to take the insurance companies out of the health care delivery system,” said Guillen. “I’m a big proponent of single payer health care, and I think that’s the only way we are really going to deliver real health care to our communities and keep hospitals like San Leandro Hospital open.”

Guillen also showed his distaste for the current cuts in social services and how big corporations such as Intel are not paying any state taxes. Guillen wants to serve on the Taxation and Revenue Committee to close loopholes and hold corporations accountable.

“All of us have to pay taxes, and I think it’s only right that big corporations pay their fair share,” said Guillen. “We’re the only state in the nation that doesn’t have an oil severance tax.”
Goodwin spoke on Young’s plan to make it easier for local government to raise money to fund services of value.

“The state is broken; it’s crippled and unable to make decisions. There is no real way for the state to make revenue with the two-thirds rule in place,” said Goodwin. “Mr. Young came out in support of in the fall was making it easier for local districts to pass tax measures, the two-thirds majority is not democratic and makes it very hard to fund things like San Leandro Hospital that the community really values.”

The forum was civil and showed mutual respect among all the candidates, sometimes making it difficult to differentiate the rhetoric between all three candidates present.

Patricia Minnis, an observer of the debate, stated Bonta stood out to her the most, but recognized all candidates did well in speaking.

“I think all three candidates hold a lot, they are all very intelligent and [it’s] almost difficult to pick,” said Minnis. “They hold the same values, which are good values.”

The turnout in the Bal Theatre of roughly 20 local citizens and public officials was disappointing and wasn’t what it could have been, said Dr. Jennifer Ong, a former San Leandro resident running for State Assembly in District 20.

“I think we should have had more presence from the community; that apathy is really what’s getting us,” said Dr. Ong. “We want to make changes, but when nobody really cares to participate, learn the issues and learn the people whom may or may not represent their issues. How does this make change?”

Closing statements summed up the candidates’ ideas and plans for the next year, as well as gave them all a chance to mention their endorsements and to quickly touch on topics which weren’t questioned during the forum.

“What this district needs is somebody who is going to stand up and fight tooth and nail for working people, middle class folks, and making sure that we have educational opportunities,” said Guillen in closing. “If you want somebody who’s going to get up every single day and fight for our communities, I’m your guy.”