endorsement

United States Senator Dianne Feinstein Endorses Kamala Harris as California’s Next Attorney General

rsumner — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:07:36 -0700

(SAN FRANCISCO) – Today California’s Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein announced her endorsement of Kamala Harris as California’s next Attorney General.

“Over the past seven years as San Francisco’s District Attorney, Kamala Harris has demonstrated a proven track record of innovation and change,” said Senator Feinstein. “Kamala has increased conviction rates, created San Francisco’s first ever Environmental Justice Unit and Child Assault Unit, and launched an early intervention program that has been used as a national model. Kamala will bring her innovative approach to the California Attorney General’s Office and she is my choice for California’s top cop.”

“I am deeply honored by Senator Dianne Feinstein’s endorsement of my candidacy for Attorney General,” said District Attorney Harris. “Senator Feinstein is a hometown hero and has the resounding respect of California law enforcement. As the first woman from California to serve in the United States Senate, her endorsement of my candidacy to become California’s first female Attorney General makes me especially proud. As Attorney General, I look forward to building upon her pioneering work of reducing gun violence in our communities and protecting California’s environment.”

Senator Feinstein endorsed Kamala Harris in both of her races to serve as San Francisco District Attorney and officiated DA Harris’ swearing in ceremony upon her re-election in 2007.

Senator Feinstein joins a growing number of California leaders to endorse Kamala Harris, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Kamala Harris has also received the endorsement of every newspaper that has endorsed to date in the Attorney General’s race: the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee and Modesto Bee, San Francisco Bay Guardian, the Bay Area Reporter, and the Los Angeles Metropolitan News.

For a full list of endorsements of Kamala Harris, go to http://www.kamalaharris.org/endorsements.

Sacramento Bee Endorsement: State needs a strong attorney general

rsumner — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:42:27 -0700

California's attorney general is the state's top cop, or so the cliché goes. In fact, this state's attorney general ought to be the most important law enforcement officer this side of the occupant of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C.

The job requires passion for justice, deep knowledge of the law, administrative skill, and a willingness to set aside partisanship in pursuit of what is best for the state.

With a budget of $740 million, and 5,300 employees, the attorney general oversees a high-tech crime lab relied upon by police across the state, a bureau of law enforcement officers, lawyers who defend the state's interests in civil cases, and prosecutors who specialize in arcane criminal law and procedure and, importantly, press death penalty appeals.

At his or, perhaps, her best, the attorney general should use the law to defend Californians' interests against white-collar criminals, polluters and consumer rip-offs, and to guard the public against corrupt public officials.

HARRIS IS BEST OF SIX DEMOCRATS

Democratic voters face the daunting task of selecting one of the six serious candidates running for California attorney general.

But ultimately, the choice is clear. Only one candidate has overseen a major district attorney's office, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris. Experience counts.

Harris is a charismatic politician who has spent two decades as a prosecutor, having worked as an Alameda County deputy district attorney before moving across the Bay. She was elected San Francisco's top prosecutor in 2003 and re-elected in 2007.

As district attorney, she has focused on gun violence, gangs, perpetrators of domestic violence, and more. She has made a mark by advocating crime prevention and reducing recidivism, helping to establish a program aimed at dissuading young people from entering lives of crime.

She would bring that same focus to the state Department of Justice.

The San Francisco District Attorney's Office is modest in size, 128 attorneys and a budget of $39.5 million. On the far larger statewide stage, Harris could use her political skills to transform the Department of Justice into the innovative and aggressive agency it should be.

Her tenure as San Francisco district attorney has not been without controversy. Most notably, she infuriated San Francisco police by declining to seek the death penalty against a criminal who murdered a police officer. She stands by that decision, saying the jury convicted the killer of second-degree murder, a crime for which the death penalty does not apply. Harris opposes the death penalty but says she "would follow the law" as attorney general.

Like many people who seek the attorney general's office, Harris would be a natural to run for some higher office. There is nothing wrong with ambition. But first she must win a tough primary and what would be a bruising general election.

Her opponents include three assemblymen, former Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, and former Facebook counsel Chris Kelly, who is using his wealth to fund his campaign.

Kelly forthrightly addresses questions and takes stands that would resonate with most voters. His status as an outsider is appealing, and he is no neophyte in the world of politics. He would not be beholden to moneyed interests.

Assemblyman Ted Lieu of Torrance has a compelling personal story, a solid legislative record, and has prosecutorial experience, working as a military prosecutor. He has proved that he can buck his caucus, and carried ambitious legislation aimed at banks. If he falls short in this race, Lieu should not give up on politics.

Assemblyman Pedro Nava of Santa Barbara has experience as a deputy district attorney. Assemblyman Alberto Torrico of Fremont worked as a labor lawyer for unions before winning his assembly seat.

Delgadillo earned our endorsement when he ran for attorney general four years ago, back when his career was promising. But his tenure as Los Angeles city attorney ended ignominiously. The job of attorney general is too important to entrust to a politician seeking redemption.

In this crowded field, Kamala Harris deserves the nomination. Some of her stands would leave her open to attack. But she would be a worthy general election candidate, and bring experience, energy and an innovative spirit to the office of California attorney general.

SF Chronicle Endorsement: A focused vision for Attorney General

rsumner — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:39:17 -0700

California's attorney general has the widest portfolio of responsibilities of anyone outside the governor's office. Crime, environment, corporate fraud, consumer protection. This list goes on. Not surprisingly, the Democratic candidates for attorney general presented an array of contrasts in both their emphasis and their knowledge of the issues. San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris stands out in this field both in her grasp of the issues and the clarity of her priorities.

Harris said her No. 1 goal would be to reduce the recidivism rate of inmates leaving prison, which contributes to an overcrowding crisis, adds to the state deficit - and erodes public safety. As she noted, California releases 120,000 inmates a year. Seventy percent of them return to prison within three years.

"It's one of the biggest challenges that can be fixed in our state," Harris said.

In San Francisco, Harris' "Back on Track" program for first-time offenders between ages 18 and 24 has produced impressive reductions in recidivism through job training and other life skills. It also generated a touch of controversy when it was revealed that some of the participants were undocumented immigrants, and thus could not legally fill the jobs they were being trained to do.

Harris did not flinch at questions about the problems. The program screening was tightened, she said. Besides, she added, innovation in law enforcement necessarily involves an element of risk.

The worst risk of all to public safety is to accept a 70 percent recidivism rate.

Her opponents include Rocky Delgadillo, the former Los Angeles city attorney; Facebook executive Chris Kelly, who has poured $8 million into his campaign; and three termed-out Assembly members - Alberto Torrico, Ted Lieu and Pedro Nava. Delgadillo, who lost to Brown in the 2006 primary, comes closest to Harris in applicable experience - but does not have nearly as well developed a vision for the statewide office.

Harris has clearly raised the level of the San Francisco district attorney's office in the last six years. Its conviction rate has reached a 15-year high. The office has had some unsettling lapses, such as its inability or unwillingness to identify the problems with the lax treatment of young drug dealers under the Sanctuary City ordinance, or the colossal mess in the Police Department's crime lab. The best that could be said in each case is that she was not well served by some of her subordinates. But Harris has demonstrated her ability to confront and correct problems, and to learn from them. She is the Democrats' best choice for attorney general.

This article appeared on page E - 10 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Harris gets endorsement from Pelosi

rsumner — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:29:33 -0700

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who's gunning for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General, scooped up a big endorsement today: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"Kamala Harris has shown that she knows how to keep a community safe and has the vision on innovative approaches to prevent crime and save resources," Pelosi said in a written statement. "As a veteran prosecutor, she will bring her talent and experience to the California Attorney General's Office. Kamala will work every day to make sure that insurance companies follow the new health insurance reform law and that California's consumers get what they are paying for."

The endorsement will likely play well in the liberal Bay Area, but could have the potential to hurt Harris in more conservative areas of the state if she makes it through the primary. (Of course, being aligned with the Speaker may be the least of her worries against a Republican opponent.) Harris also secured Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's endorsement last weekend while she was on the home turf of opponent Rocky Delgadillo, the city's former City Attorney.

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Endorses Kamala Harris as Attorney General

rsumner — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:18:30 -0700

Mayor of California’s Largest City says Harris his Choice for California’s Top Cop

(LOS ANGELES) – Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced his endorsement of San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris in her candidacy for California Attorney General. The Mayor announced his support in a press conference with DA Harris on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall.

“Our state is in a very challenging time right now, and we need leaders in California who have a proven track record of getting things done and the ability to fix problems with new and innovative solutions,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “Kamala Harris is such a leader. Kamala has spent her entire professional life in the trenches as a courtroom prosecutor, and she has raised conviction rates in her community to the highest in 15 years. She has launched initiatives in her community that are helping to prevent crime, save money and serve as models for other District Attorney’s offices throughout the country. She has the proven ability to work with her colleagues throughout the state to pass innovative legislation that has helped to modernize our penal code. She will take on the mortgage companies and others who commit financial fraud, she will go after corporations who break labor laws, she will bring reforms to our criminal justice system so we don't spend tens of billions of dollars annually on a broken prison system.”

“I am honored to have the endorsement of Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa,” said DA Harris. “As Mayor of California’s largest city and a longtime respected leader in our state, Mayor Villaraigosa knows what we need to ensure California is on track for the future. Mayor Villaraigosa’s leadership serves as an example of bringing people together to tackle big problems – most notably in job creation, the environment and transportation -- and he is a national leader in decreasing the crime rate for his community.”

In 2005, Villaraigosa ran for Mayor of Los Angeles on a platform of bringing the City together to take on the big challenges. He was elected on May 17, 2005 and sworn in as Mayor on July 1, 2005.

During his first term, Mayor Villaraigosa built the police force to its largest size in history, oversaw the steepest reduction in crime since the 1950’s, and developed Los Angeles’ first comprehensive anti-gang strategy.

With the launching of GREEN LA, the Mayor set Los Angeles on the path to becoming one of the greenest big cities in the nation. The City has met the Kyoto targets for reducing greenhouse gases four years ahead of schedule and put into place the most aggressive green building program of any large city.

Teaming up with transportation leaders throughout Los Angeles County, Mayor Villaraigosa led the effort to pass a once-in-a-generation investment in the mass transit system of Los Angeles. With the passage of Measure R, LA County is poised to invest in $40 billion in new transit, rail and highways. On March 3, 2009, Mayor Villaraigosa was re-elected and took the oath for a second term on July 1, 2009.

“Today I join a growing number of Los Angeles leaders selecting Harris as our next Attorney General, including former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton, City Council President Eric Garcetti and Controller Wendy Greuel. Just this week, California SEIU and the California Nurses Association also endorsed Harris. All who support Kamala will be working the phones, pounding the pavement and doing whatever it takes to make sure she wins, because California needs her.”

As San Francisco’s District Attorney, Harris has used her nearly 20 years of prosecutorial experience to focus intensively on fighting violent crime. This work is paying off --- according to the California Department of Justice, the office’s overall felony conviction rate is at its highest point in nearly 15 years.

In addition, as she enters her seventh year as San Francisco's District Attorney, the "Smart on Crime" approach Kamala has pioneered continues to serve as a model for the nation to reform our criminal justice system. Kamala's Back on Track initiative, for example, has achieved nationwide recognition for its successes in reducing recidivism among a population of first-time, low-level, nonviolent drug offenders by giving them important life skills and re-entering them back into productive society. And in her fight against school truancy, San Francisco schools have showed a 23 percent drop in the number of elementary schoolchildren skipping classes.

SEIU California Endorses Kamala Harris

rsumner — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:46:43 -0700

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, a coalition of more than 700,000 working Californians, today announced its endorsement of Kamala Harris for Attorney General.

“I am deeply honored to earn the support of the men and women of SEIU California,” said Harris. “Through SEIU’s invaluable Walk-A-Day program, I met an incredible woman named Wendy Ko who has the emotionally and physically taxing job of providing round-the-clock care to her elderly mother. I have the greatest admiration for the work SEIU members do on a daily basis around our state, from home care workers like Wendy to the janitors, security officers, public employees and many others represented by SEIU. I look forward to working with SEIU members to fight the radical Republican attempts to roll back health care reform and standing side by side with SEIU on other issues of crucial importance to working people.”

“We looked for candidates who understand the importance of living up to our commitments to the elderly and people with disabilities. We need leaders who will fight to preserve the lifeline of quality home care for our parents, grandparents, and people with disabilities,” said Ana Duarte, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU United Long-Term Care Workers (ULTCW), which represents 180,000 home care workers in California.

SEIU California is a coalition of over 700,000 janitors, social workers, security officers, home care workers, school and university employees, healthcare workers, and city, county and state employees represented by SEIU local unions throughout California.

SEIU California joins labor leaders and organizations including United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, California Federation of Teachers and United Educators of San Francisco, Carpenters Local 22 and the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 in supporting Harris for Attorney General.

Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel Endorses Kamala Harris for Attorney General

rsumner — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:42:36 -0700

Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel today announced her endorsement of Kamala Harris for California Attorney General.

"Kamala Harris understands that law enforcement is a critical part of reviving our economy in California," said City Controller Greuel. "Kamala is a battle-tested prosecutor who is rated as one of California and America's top prosecutors. Her lifelong commitment to fighting violent crime will help keep our children, homes and neighborhoods safe, and I am proud to endorse her to be the next Attorney General of California."

"Wendy Greuel is a trailblazer in her city and has a proven record as a problem solver in Los Angeles,” said Harris. “I am proud to have the City Controller’s support for my candidacy, and I look forward to working with her to make our communities safer."

Wendy Greuel was sworn in as City Controller of Los Angeles on July 1, 2009, the second woman to be elected to a citywide office in the City’s history. Prior to her election as City Controller, Greuel served on the Los Angeles City Council for seven years, where was known for cutting wasteful government spending and creating jobs.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti Endorses Kamala Harris for Attorney General

rsumner — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:22:04 -0700

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti today announced his endorsement of Kamala Harris for California Attorney General.

"District Attorney Kamala Harris has a proven record of innovation and success, demonstrating that the best way to keep our communities safe is to be both tough and smart on crime," said Garcetti. "As California Attorney General, Kamala Harris will help make Los Angeles and cities across the state safer, cracking down on violent crime, protecting Californians from financial fraud and internet predators, and making our state a better place to live."

"Councilmember Garcetti has been an effective and passionate leader in Los Angeles,” said Harris. "I'm honored to have Eric Garcetti's support for my candidacy, and I look forward to working with him to make our communities safer."

As the third-term councilmember serving the 13th Council District in Los Angeles, Garcetti has shown that a commitment to the street-level health of the community is a necessary first step in creating positive change. His unique combination of pothole politics and vision has won measurable results in the 13th District, showing how local solutions can show the way to make Los Angeles safer, create transportation solutions, and ease the city’s housing crisis.

California Legislative Black Caucus Endorses Kamala Harris for Attorney General

rsumner — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:43:54 -0700

Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson (D-Alameda), Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), today announced that the CLBC has endorsed San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris’s candidacy to become California’s next Attorney General.

“The California Legislative Black Caucus is proud to announce its endorsement of District Attorney Kamala Harris. Ms. Harris is an innovator who has a record of success in protecting vulnerable populations from criminals who seek to prey upon them, including child populations that are currently being marginalized by the epidemic of human trafficking,” said Assemblymember Swanson. “As District Attorney, she has increased conviction rates dramatically in San Francisco, while at the same time launching creative reentry strategies to prevent re-offenders. We are truly fortunate to have District Attorney Kamala Harris offer her candidacy for service to the State of California.”

“I am honored to receive the support of the Legislative Black Caucus,” said Harris. “As Attorney General, I will be a champion for distressed homeowners, families whose neighborhoods are under siege, and for those seeking a cleaner environment. We will bring predatory lenders, polluters, and people who perpetrate financial frauds to justice. And we need to vigorously enforce California’s civil rights laws to ensure that all Californians have a meaningful opportunity to live, work and worship freely and without fear of discrimination. I look forward to working with the CLBC through the duration of this campaign and beyond to achieve our many common goals.”

In December 2003, Kamala Harris was elected as the first woman District Attorney in San Francisco's history, and as the first African American woman to hold the office in California. If elected Attorney General, Kamala Harris would become the first African American woman elected to statewide constitutional office in California history.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Endorses Kamala Harris for Attorney General

rsumner — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:04:45 -0800

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced his endorsement of Kamala Harris for California Attorney General.

"As District Attorney, Kamala Harris has been an effective and dedicated partner in San Francisco’s efforts to tackle school truancy, crack down on financial crimes, and combat human trafficking and child predators,” said Mayor Newsom. "Kamala Harris' innovative ‘smart on crime’ approach, with its record of success in our city, is exactly what California needs in our next Attorney General."

"Mayor Newsom has been an exceptional leader in San Francisco and many of his groundbreaking initiatives serve as a model for our state and nation," said Harris. "I’m honored to have Mayor Newsom's support for my candidacy, and I look forward to continuing our work together to make our city and state safer."

As San Francisco’s District Attorney, Harris has used her nearly 20 years of prosecutorial experience to focus intensively on fighting violent crime. She increased felony conviction rates, expanded services to victims of crime and their families, created new prosecution divisions focused on child assault, public integrity and environmental crimes, and launched innovative initiatives to prevent re-offending.

This work is paying off – the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has more than doubled its trial conviction rate for gun felonies to 90 percent. Under her leadership, the office has sent 70 percent more serious and violent offenders to State Prison. According to the State of California Department of Justice, the office’s overall felony conviction rate is at its highest point in nearly 15 years. Due to the success of her innovative crime-fighting initiatives, Harris recently participated in the White House Conference on Gang Violence Prevention and Crime Control.