Silicon Valley Young Democrats Early Endorsements: SVYD Endorses in two races and two issues

PDF Version can be found here: SVYD Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Angel Martinez
March 22, 2018
Email: Angel@svyd.org

Silicon Valley Young Democrats Early Endorsements

SVYD Endorses in two races and two issues

SAN JOSE, California — The Silicon Valley Young Democrats are proud to endorse two young democrats as well as two issues important to all bay area youth. On March 19th, the Silicon Valley Young Democrats voted to endorse Mason Fong for Sunnyvale City Council and Lucas Ramirez for Mountain View City Council. That night, they also voted to support the NO on Evergreen Senior Homes Initiative as well as the Recall Judge Aaron Persky campaign.

“As a democratic club for young dems, we look to endorse candidates and issues important to our demographic” says SVYD Political Director Angel Martinez. “Our goal is to encourage young people to take part in government affairs, increase the efficiency of popular government, and contribute to the growth and influence of youth in the political arena.”

Mason Fong is running to be the City’s youngest elected City Councilmember at the age of 27 and currently serves as an appointed Library Board Trustee for the City of Sunnyvale. He has an extensive career in public service as a current Housing & Transportation specialist to San Jose Councilman Chappie Jones, is a former Senior Congressional Aide to Congressman Ro Khanna, and a former Congressional Aide to Congressman Mike Honda.

Lucas Ramirez currently serves as a commissioner on the Environmental Planning Commission is a former two-term Chair of the Human Relations Commission, and a former appointee to the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) 2000 Measure A Citizens Watchdog Committee/Citizens Advisory Committee.

Other SVYD endorsement include Raul Peralez for District 3 Councilmember, Kalen Gallagher for District 9 Councilmember, Patrick Ahrens for Foothill-De Anza Community College Board, Tara Sreekrishnan for Cupertino City Council, and Richard Nguyen for Campbell Union School District.

For more information on the Silicon Valley Young Democrats endorsement process, or information on how to get involved with the SVYD, please contact SVYD Political Director via email at Angel@svyd.org

About SVYD: As a group of students and young professionals dedicated to spreading Democratic ideals, the Silicon Valley Young Democrats seek to embody the spirit of forward thinking that has made the region renowned. Their motto, “Innovation in Politics”, reflects their deeply held convictions that an idea holds immense power. They also believe in the Silicon Valley spirit of possibility and the democratic ideals of civil and just society.

2018 Endorsements

Endorsed Candidates & Measures

Last Updated: October 1, 2018

Young Democrats

  • Patrick Ahrens for Foothill-De Anza Community College District
  • Kristiina Arrasmith for Campbell Union High School District
  • Mason Fong for Sunnyvale City Council
  • Kallen Gallagher for San José City Council (District 9)
  • Bruce Huynh for Alum Rock School Board
  • Ellen Kamei for Mountain View City Council
  • Jose Magaña for San Jose Unified School District (Area 2)
  • Chris Miler for Campbell Union School District
  • Jorge Pacheco, Jr. for Oak Grove School District
  • Lucas Ramirez for Mountain View City Council
  • Basil Saleh for Campbell Union High School District
  • Tara Sreekrishnan for Cupertino City Council

 

Democrats Young at Heart

  • Peter Allen for San Jose Unified School District (Area 2)
  • Lorena Angelica Chavez for East Side Union School District
  • Shounak Dharap for Palo Alto Unified School District
  • Karina Dominguez for Milpitas City Council
  • Susan Ellenberg for Santa Clara County Supervisor (District 4)
  • Maya Esparza for San Jose City Council (District 7)
  • John Hirokawa for Santa Clara County Sheriff
  • Anjali Kausar for Saratoga City Council
  • Courtney Monk for Los Gatos Unified School District
  • Raymond Muller for Alum Rock School District
  • Raul Peralez for San Jose City Council (District 3)
  • Pat Showalter for Mountain View City Council
  • Brian Wheatley for San Jose Unified School District (Area 4)
  • Cory Wolback for Palo Alto City Council
  • Brenda Zendejas for Alum Rock School District

 

Issues (June 2018 Primary)

  • No on Measure A
  • No on Measure B
  • Yes on Recall Aaron Persky

Agenda – March 19, 2018

Agenda:

Call into order by President Emily Ramos

Approval of the minutes from last month’s meeting

Welcomes, introductions

Endorsements:

Young Dem Candidates:
Mason Fong for Sunnyvale City Council
Lucas Ramirez for Mountain View City Council

Issues:
Evergreen Senior Homes
Santa Clara alternative voting measure
Recall Persky Campaign

Reimbursement of funds from convention for Andrew Crockett, Jesus Salazar, Emily Ramos.

Officer reports
President Emily Ramos
Membership Director Jesus Salazar
Secretary Kathy Tran
Political Director Angel Martinez
Treasurer Alex Petrosky
– Bylaws discussion
– Future fundraising events

Announcements

Adjournment

Endorsements 2017

2017 endorsements:

SB 16, SB 298 State Senator Bob Wieckowski

ACA 10, State Assemblymember Evan Low

CDP Regional Director Region 5: Rocky Fernandez

CYD National Committeewoman: Carrie McFadden

Santa Clara Democratic Party Central Committee: Michael Vargas (AD-25), Andrae Wara-Macapinlac (AD-28)

Early endorsement May 2017:

San Jose City Council, District 9, Early Endorsement Kalen Gallagher

Early endorsements in October 2017: 

San Jose City Council, District 3: Raul Peralez

Foothill-De Anza Community College Board: Patrick Ahrens

Cupertino City Council: Tara Sreekrishnan

Campbell Union School District: Richard Nguyen

Minutes – February 19, 2018

Minutes – 2/19/18

President Emily Ramos calls the meeting to order at 7:21 pm.

Welcomes and Introductions

Political Director Elections:

Angel Martinez

Antonia Zavala

 

Motion to elect Angel Martinez by Kathy Tran, seconded by Ryan Globus.

Discussion

Call to question: Andrae Wara-Macapinlac

Motion passes with 11 votes  

Congratulations to Angel Martinez! You are our new political director!

 

Officer Reports:

  • President Emily Ramos
    • Sign up for endorsement committee
  • Membership Director Jesus Salazar
  • Treasurer Alex Petrosky
  • Secretary Kathy Tran
    • SCCDP Central Committee Update
  • Political Director
    • Welcome!

Old business

  • Convention
    • CYD passes – buy them if you haven’t already!
    • Sign up for hotel room: https://goo.gl/forms/2YtnuP0iRlVWi2pC3
    • Transportation

New business

  • Candidate and Issues Meet and Greet
    • Fair Vote Project
    • Susan Ellenberg for District 4 Supervisor
    • Recall Persky Campaign
    • Evergreen Senior Homes Initiative
    • Representative from the Dominic Caserta for District 4 Supervisor Campaign
    • Representative from the Don Rocha for District 4 Supervisor Campaign
    • John Cordus from Sunnyvale advocating for SB100, the Protect Coyote Valley campaign, and also announced he is running for Sunnyvale City Council  
    • Anti-recall Persky Campaign
    • Against the Evergreen Senior Homes Initiative Campaign (Committee for Green Hills)

Announcements

  • Emy Thurber: 2 slots for proxies for AD27
  • Antonia Zavala: Listening to Trump’s America Event – Saturday, February 24, 2018 12-1 pm at Convention
  • Andrae Wara-Macapinlac: update on SB16 and SB298
  • Emily Ramos: proxies to convention, next meeting  
  • Kathy Tran: Assemblymember Evan Low – Hospitality suite with Kaskade on February 24, 2018  
  • Angelica Ramos: National Women’s Political Caucus – come up with app We Said Enough.Com  
  • Jesus Salazar: SEIU National Day of Action – Right to Work Day February 26, 2018. For more information, please contact

Adjournment

Motion by Emily Ramos to adjourn at 8:11 pm. Seconded by Andrae Wara-Macapinlac.

 

Meet our New Political Director, Angel Martinez

The Silicon Valley Young Democrats voted to elect Angel Martinez as their new Political Director on February 19, 2018. He joins the executive board after outgoing political director, Matt Savage, announced his resignation at our annual holiday party in December.

 Born and raised in San José, Angel Martinez has always been an individual who puts community first. After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School, Angel left San José to attend the University of California Davis where he earning a bachelors in Community and Regional Development with an emphasis in Public Policy. His previous experiences include working for the Public Interest Research Group as a Community Outreach Director in Sacramento, Senior Campaign Coordinator on the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument campaign, a Community Organizer for Innovate Public Schools and most recent, as a Community Relations Aide in the office of San José Councilmember Raul Peralez. Angel is fluent in both English and Spanish, and brings more than 7 years of experience working with local communities. Let’s welcome Angel as he steps into his new role as Political Director for the SVYD!