Ira Ruskin is the Democrat running for the State Assembly in the 21st Assembly District, which covers much of the Peninsula. This is the seat currently held by Joe Simitian, who is moving on to the State Senate this year. Ira Ruskin is a city councilman and former mayor of Redwood City, the largest city in the district. He has worked aggressively and effectively to improve public education and services for families, protect the environment, create affordable housing, promote economic prosperity and defend women’s rights.

Ira's opponent in this race is a billionaire Republican who is prepared to spend unprecedented amounts of money to distort Ira's record and buy the seat. The Santa Clara County Democratic Party will be working hard to help elect Ira Ruskin to the California Assembly.

There is one California State Senate race in Santa Clara County that will be very close. Senate District 15 is a sprawling district that covers parts or all of 5 coastal counties, including Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara. The district includes Cayote, Lexington Hill, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, San Martin, Saratoga, and parts of San Jose.

Peg Pinard grew up in San Jose, went to local schools, and graduated with honors from Santa Clara University. She worked her way through college as a bookkeeper, Postal Service employee and waitress. Peg was the first one in her family to go to college. She served on the San Luis Obispo City Council and as Mayor of San Luis Obispo, before being elected to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors in 1996.

The 11th Congressional District, spanning Stockton to Morgan Hill, is represented by out of touch right wing Republican Richard Pombo. Rep. Pombo is one of the most environmentally regressive members of Congress and has power as the chair of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Jerry McNerney has a PhD in Mathematics and became involved in wind energy, spending several years as a contractor to Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque with their wind energy and national security programs. He has stepped forward to try to fill the leadership vacuum that currently exists in the 11th CD.

Nancy Pyle is running to join the San Jose City Council from District 10, currently represented by Vice Mayor Pat Dando, who is termed out. Nancy is currently a trustee on the San Jose-Evergreen Community College Board.

Nancy will provide her district and all of San Jose with a strong voice for issues such as business development, job recovery , efficient, user-friendly city services, traffic congestion relief and optimal usage of our public facilities and land.

Nancy walks the district everyday, and she has just added a 6th night of phone banking. Please call 408-997-7444 or email volunteer@nancypyle.net to help.