2022 Primary Election in Alameda County: Who I'm Voting For

As has become my habit, here are my votes for the 2022 primary election, along with reasons and receipts. This will be a long post, so buckle up! (For the tl;dr version, please scroll to the bottom.)

For my general overview reference point, please see https://progressivevotersguide.com/california/2022/primary/county/alameda, https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2022/, and the official Voter Information Guide for Alameda County you may have received in the mail. I am also considering individual guides like those by the San Francisco League of Pissed Off Voters and Oakland Rising Action. More specific citations are provided in each area. The order of appearance below matches the order of appearance on my ballot.

Standard caveats: I have not received in fact or in promise any money from any candidate. I have not received in fact or in promise a vote for a specific interest that would benefit me financially or professionally. I have no financial interest, such as a business or investment, that would directly profit from any of the ballot propositions or measures. While the below represents my votes for the 2022 primary election, my support is not uncritical or unconditional. I reserve the right to modify and/or withdraw it at any time for any reasons with or without notice, based on any information or based on no information. Further, the reasons given below for my votes are not meant to be comprehensive and I do not guarantee their accuracy beyond that I believe they are true to the best of my knowledge at the time of this posting. Lastly, my opinion is solely my own and should not be misconstrued as the stance of my employer, nor should it be misconstrued as the stance of any group I am affiliated with, except to the extent that we share similar goals or values for our society.

For Governor of the State of California: Gavin Newsom

I understand disaffected voters across the spectrum are upset with Newsom about something, whether that’s his approach to homelessness, his change on single-payer healthcare, his death penalty moratorium, his pandemic response, and his spending priorities for California’s flush state budget. However, when I look at the field of candidates, I do not see a viable one among them — not even Luis Rodriguez — who has the broad-based support to win in a general election, let alone the experience to handle the governorship at this time. Also, Newsom has been a net-positive for the majority of Californians, from putting limits on police use of force and closing some of our unnecessary prisons, to expanding the state’s earned income tax credit and continuing to push for protections for people experiencing housing instability. See a useful report card dated during the recall last year. 

United States Senator: Alex Padilla

Due to now-Vice President Kamala Harris moving on up, Padilla was appointed to fill her seat. This results in a somewhat confusing issue where you have to vote who will finish the partial term and who will serve the full term. Padilla isn’t a starry-eyed leftist, but “[h]e is the first Latino to represent California in the Senate, he supports Medicare for All, he’s pro-choice and a LGBTQ+ ally, he has the backing of unions, and wants to overturn Citizens United, the SCOTUS decision which allows unlimited campaign contributions and the increase of dark money in campaigns.” I think he’s earned a chance to show us what he can do with a full term, so please mark him down for both!

United States Congress, 12th District: Barbara Lee

Do I even need to say why at this point? Lee’s a paragon of progressive values with an extensive record to back it up. This is an easy choice.

For Lieutenant Governor of the State of California: Mohammad Arif

I stand by my vote from 2018, but for 2022, I am willing to take a leap on Arif, an organizer in Kern County and member of the Left Unity Slate. Kounalakis is in a largely ceremonial position, but it does lend symbolic weight that I just haven’t seen her putting to enough progressive use. It’s doubtful Arif can win, but this is a primary vote without substantial risk and yet the promise of promoting a community advocate into a place where he can potentially take those skills statewide.

For Secretary of State of California: Shirley Weber

I cannot think of a single person better than Dr. Weber for SoS, where she has made a tremendous impact. Because of her, we have “permanent, universal vote-by-mail, more ballot drop-off locations, better early voting options, and stronger protections against attacks on election integrity.” Frankly, her record on almost every issue, from reparations to police violence, and even standing up to Newsom over his failure to file some paperwork during the recall, got sued, held her position, and then got the case thrown out. That’s what I call badassery!

For Controller of the State of California: Ron Galperin

This comes down to two things: experience and results. Malia Cohen has promise for becoming a high-level public official and is a friend to the Bay Area Jewish community, but she doesn’t have the background as a controller or auditor to do the kind of work we need in this position on ensuring money from the state to local government is spent for its intended purpose. This is, in fact, a huge issue for Alameda County, as state funds for homelessness, substance addiction, and mental illness, are not going where they need to. This gives Galperin the edge in my view.

For Treasurer of the State of California: Meghann Adams

I know, I know, Fiona Ma is basically a shoo-in to sleepwalk her way to reelection, but the news coming out about improper gifts, sexual harassment, and conflicts of interest from her office is troubling. I think a breath of fresh air is needed. Adams has a platform that stands for economic justice and I believe that’s something we sorely need.

For Attorney General of the State of California: Rob Bonta

I’m sure this is going to be difficult with my coalition comrades, but Rob Bonta is a known quantity with a solid left-of-center record on the criminal legal system. As AG, he’s been a staunch community justice leader, from gun violence to protecting trans children. Even more importantly, we’re going to need effective state AG’s to challenge federal regressive attempts to curtail abortion access, LGBTQ marriage equality, and other important civil rights.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Marco Amaral

Back in 2018, Tony Thurmond seemed like a bright hope for statewide education. And while he has made some great strides, fought the good fights, his toxic leadership style is an open secret in Sacramento, leading to massive turnover, along with the questionable hiring of one of his college buddies to a highly-paid specialist position. Conversely, Amaral holds many of the same positions, if not even more boldly progressive ones (e.g. ending standardized testing and expanding ethnic, queer, and women’s studies programs), and is also an experienced educator. I don’t know if he can unseat an entrenched incumbent like Thurmond, but I want to see him try.

For Insurance Commissioner of California: Nathalie Hirzi

This is one of those public offices that quietly wield enormous power, regulating healthcare and utility companies with a massive operating budget over an even more massive network of industries. Unfortunately, every incumbent has continued to succumb to pay-for-play politics and that includes the current incumbent, Ricardo Lara, and the next closest challenger, Marc Levine. While in previous elections we had viable Republican challengers to worry about, that’s not the case here. Lara is likely going to win with endorsements from top to bottom, but that shouldn’t deter you from voting for Hirzi, who supports single-payer and serves as a local activist as well as a union leader. 

Board of Equalization, District 2: Sally Lieber

Another quietly powerful office, the board is the only publicly-elected tax commission in the US, where they can hold corporations accountable by ensuring they pay their taxes! I can’t say it any better than the SF LoPoV, “In the running are… Michela Alioto-Pier, former D2 Supervisor, who was a moderate voice on the board, currently a Napa Valley winemaker and scion of the conservative old-money San Francisco political dynasty (Joe Alioto was Mayor from ‘68 to ‘76) …and Sally Lieber, a Mountain View City Councilmember and former State Assemblymember with a gleaming progressive record in Sacramento. She’s a corporate-free candidate with a lefty platform and endorsements from organized labor, the CA Democratic Party, the CA Renter’s Council, icons like Dolores Huerta, the list goes on. Plus, she met her husband at Burning Man in the 90s, ‘before it was cool’. Meaning, back when it was cool.”

State Assembly, 20th District: Jennifer Esteen

I admit, as the father of two Black and Jewish girl, with Esteen being a queer Blewish healthcare worker, mother, and community organizer who has worked on numerous boards, commissions, and committees, my interest was already piqued. I know Liz Ortega also has a solid record and would be a good choice too, but I give the edge to Esteen based on her unique combination of professional experience and advocacy work. I’m particularly drawn to her commitment to reject “contributions from corporations, the oil and gas industry, real estate developers, and police unions” as well as her understanding that “issues ranging from housing insecurity to food instability to healthcare access didn’t begin with the pandemic – but that they are direct results of a system that has served corporations and special interests for too long.” Notably, if elected, she would be the first openly gay Black assembly member to ever hold this position.

Alameda County District Attorney: Pamela Price

I have said this over and over again, and I will keep saying it: Pamela Price is the most qualified person for this job who actually believes in reimagining public safety sustainably that protects everyone. County DA’s hold one of the most powerful places in our criminal legal system, from choosing to prosecute police brutality to waiving cash bail for nonviolent low-income people, and even expanding the use of alternatives to the revolving doors of incarceration. Every other candidate has touted themselves as a slightly different flavor of the same old “law and order” that has failed our communities repeatedly, to our detriment and shame. It’s past time we vote for a real changemaker who cares about tackling the root causes of crime.

Alameda County Sheriff: JoAnn Walker 

Current Sheriff Ahern is a walking civil rights violation. If he had any semblance of justice, he would have already arrested himself by now. But Walker is the exact kind of progressive law enforcement we need (especially when paired with progressive prosecutors like Pamela Price!) with a wealth of experience in community relations, terrorism liaison, academy instruction, field training, peer support counseling, and problem-solving for team members. Notably, she developed training procedures and taught officers about hate crimes, tactical communication, crisis support, and suicide prevention. Walker actually has a viable plan to tackle the gross conditions in the Santa Rita prison and rejects the status quo of regressive policing. Read more here.

County Superintendent of Schools: Alysse Castro

I haven’t been pleased with the county’s approach to education during the pandemic and with regard to school closures. So many mistakes were made, costing people’s lives and children’s futures, and that responsibility lies with incumbent LK Monroe. I think it’s time for new leadership. Castro has committed her career to ending the privatization of public education while also reinvesting in schools as critical community centers. I understand Monroe had a tough job the past two years, but I don’t she’s done it well enough to earn another term. Whereas, Castro has shown she can galvanize the support of every local teacher’s association, as well as the Alameda County Teachers Association, Alameda Labor Council, and the California Teachers Association.

County Supervisor, 3rd District: Surlene Grant

The tragic loss of Wilma Chan left an impossible void to fill. She was an icon for our district and a tireless community advocate. That said, here we are just the same. While I know a lot of people support Rebecca Kaplan, I hope I can convince you why Surlene Grant is the right choice here. She made history as the first Black woman to sit on the San Leandro City Council, a place with a notorious history of systemic racism, where she served for 10 years. During that time she was Vice Mayor and led the way on the city’s first ordinance requiring the inclusion of affordable housing. She co-founded Unity in the Community, a widely respected local social justice organization, and the African American Business Council, which supports Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. She’s served as Chair of the Alameda County Housing Authority, the San Leandro Finance Committee, Associated Community Action Program (ACAP). She’s also served on the board of San Leandro Senior Housing, Inc. Having worked with Surlene, I have seen firsthand that she is the best possible choice available for this position.

Superior Court Judge, Office #1: Tamiza Hockenhull

There is no challenger. So, per the California Elections Code, they are automatically reelected. I don’t have anything substantive to add to voting yes or not. I prefer to vote yes because I tend to support incumbent judges unless there is a specific reason not to. But if you aren’t comfortable with that, you could leave this blank and we’ll still get the same result.

Superior Court Judge, Office #12: Pelayo A. Llamas

See above.

Superior Court Judge, Office #21: Michael Bishay

See above.

County Assessor: Phong La

Running unopposed and no strong reasons not to support the current incumbent.

Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder: Melissa Wilk

The incumbent here is running unopposed and has been doing a decent job by my account.

Treasurer/Tax Collector: Henry “Hank” Levy

Another incumbent running unopposed. Again, I don’t have any real reasons not to support them.

This concludes my voting guide for the 2022 Primary Election for this Alameda County voter. These are my 2¢. Spend ‘em how you will.

*Tl;Dr — Newsom, Padilla x 2, Lee, Arif, Weber, Galperin, Adams, Bonta, Amaral, Hirzi, Lieber, Esteen, Price, Walker, Castro, Grant, and the rest are incumbents unopposed.*