By Phyllis DeBois
Special to the Herald

Lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Gayle McLaughlin speaks in the Dona Benicia Room of the Benicia Public Library. (Courtesy photo)

Gayle McLaughlin, former Richmond mayor and current California lieutenant governor candidate, told local Democrats on a recent Tuesday that corporate controlled office holders stand in the way of change.
To bring about the progressive changes communities and the state need, McLaughlin says, “We need candidates who are not tied to corporate needs but people’s needs.”
At the January meeting of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia, Gayle McLaughlin advocated for what she calls “bold solutions” rather than centrist approaches. She believes that people come together based on values and that most people have similar values – wanting social justice, equity, and fairness.
If elected, McLaughlin said she plans to play a strong and responsible role in shaping policy and she would use her position to mobilize communities around such issues as, developing a public bank, free tuition for community colleges and single payer Medicare for all.  McLaughlin sees her role as lieutenant governor as a way to shape policy and also a way to network with progressive parties, regardless of affiliation, to organize local political power to transform cities.
McLaughlin was a co-founder of the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA), which bases its alliance on being  year-round, progressive, inclusive and free of corporate influence.  RPA was formed to create a healthier and more just city.
Without corporate money, the RPA won control of the Richmond council and mayoral seat, defeating candidates who had taken contributions from Chevron. Once elected, the mayor and council went on to bring about major changes in the city. Such changes mentioned included setting a $15 minimum wage by the end of 2018, passing the first fair rent control law in California in 30 years, reducing homicides by 75 percent in eight years, and securing $114 million additional taxes in 15 years from Chevron.
The lieutenant governor sits on several statewide commissions: the State Lands, Coastal, Economic Development, Emergency Preparedness, UC Regents & Board of Trustees of CSU, and others. McLaughlin plans to use her experience as a member of RPA and as Richmond’s mayor and councilmember from 2005 to 2017 to unite voters and bring about the progressive changes that will create a healthier and more just California.
She finished her talk with this comment: “The present is a time of struggle, but the future is ours.”
The lieutenant governor position is currently occupied by Gavin Newsom, who is being termed out and is running for governor. Other candidates in the race include Democrats Jeff Bleich, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia; Cameron Gharabiklou, a San Diego attorney; West Covina State Sen. Ed Hernandez; Eleni Kounalakis, a former U.S. ambassador to Hungary; Asif Mahmood, a Los Angeles physician; and Matthew Rizzie, a social advocate from Pleasant Hill. Republicans in the race include Silicon Valley venture capitalist David Fennell and Public Television Industry Corporation Vice President David Hernandez. McLaughlin is gathering signatures to place her name on the ballot, in lieu of the filing fee. The California primary is June 5, after which the top two winners will go on to the November 6th election. More information about McLaughlin can be found on her website at https://gayleforcalifornia.org
The next meeting of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia is February 13th, in the Dona Benicia Room at the Benicia Public Library. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is running for attorney general 2018, will be the guest speaker.  Becerra was appointed when Kamala Harris was elected to the Senate.

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