I got involved in the campaign for Paul Butterfield for the 35th CA-Senate district about 2 months ago because it made sense.
Paul is for Single Payer his Democratic opponent is one of the 6 Democratic Senators who did not vote for SB 810 on January 31st derailing the Single Payer legislation in California. Only 2 votes were needed to get it on Jerry Brown's desk. Rod Wright is the only one of the six up for re-election in 2012.
Once I got involved I found out 2 things;
1) Paul Butterfield is a great man. Teacher, very active in his union, family man, progressive, honest and hard working.
2) Rod Wright is awful.
He got fined $120,000 for sexual harassment of his African American staff women.
He took $24,000 from charter schoolers in 2012.
He took $422,790 from the Alliance for California's Tomorrow. An obscure PAC funded by redevelopment abusers and casino interests among others.
After being charged with 3 counts of felony election fraud, Wright pleaded no contest to misdemeanor election fraud, was convicted, fined $2,500, and
placed on probation for 3 years.
Wright wouldn’t cut his pay at all, when 38 of 40 Senators cut their own pay 5% to share the pain of a 9.2% compensation cut for state workers.
He took $132,000 from insurance and drug companies.
Wright still “faces 8 felony counts, including voter fraud and perjury, for allegedly lying when he said he lived in his Senate district while running for his seat.
He got a "Defender of Freedom" awards by the NRA in part because of his support for "stand your ground" legislation.
So why is it that Paul Butterfield is fighting the odds?
Because Rod Wright is an incumbent and incumbents get automatically endorsed by a very dysfunctional, if you ask me, California Democratic party.
Because the insurance companies, drug manufacturers, casinos, development abusers, gun lobbies and other greedy groups of people support his opponent.
Because the local media is absent.
Because he is new to the California political system.
Because of all the wrong reasons.
In the 35th CA-Senate district there are only 3 candidates. Paul, Rod Wight and the Republican Charlotte Svolos.
The 35th district is solid blue. Svolos doesn't stand a chance. But don't tell Chevron, they just gave her $50,000. My paranoia leades me to believe that Chevron is in cahoots with the insurance companies. Paul needs to beat Svolos and come in 2nd to make it to November.
So if you don't want to stand idle while these guys buy the election to fight Single Payer and overall decency in California;
If you want to send a message to these blue dogs;
Do something for this man and vote for him, canvass, contribute and help him beat the odds;
On Sunday I'll be in the 35th district passing out these fliers;
Come and join us.