Elections matter – and the outcome of every election in our jurisdiction has the potential to significantly impact IBEW 1245 members and their families. That’s why dozens of IBEW 1245 organizing stewards committed to help get out the vote in key races up and down the state of California during the March primary election season, helping to propel several candidates and ballot measures to victory!
“By getting involved in these political campaigns, our organizing stewards are building critical organizing skills and knowledge – or as we like to say, they’re ‘learning by doing,’” said IBEW 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell. “And that experience will undoubtedly prove invaluable down the line. When we’re in a big fight — be it political, legislative, or contract-related — we can trust in the fact that these stewards have the necessary experience, and can jump into action at a moment’s notice because they already know what to do, and how to do it.”
Below, the campaigners share some highlights from their 2020 primary campaign experiences.
SAN JOSE
Brenda Balcazar, David Ly, Griselda Fernandez
When the South Bay Labor Council reached out to IBEW 1245 for assistance in gathering signatures for the San Jose Fair Elections Initiative, the union dispatched a three-member team of organizing stewards to help with the campaign.
Brenda Balcazar knocks on a voter’s door in San Jose
“This measure will move the mayoral election to coincide with the presidential election because studies have shown that the voter turnout in California cities is higher where the mayoral and presidential elections coincide,” explained Lead Organizing Steward Brenda Balcazar. “This promotes a more fair election, because more voices are being heard.”
In addition to moving the mayoral election schedule, the Fair Elections Initiative would also do away with “pay to play” politics in San Jose by banning city officials from receiving campaign contributions from big developers, landlords, corporations that want city contracts, and their lobbyists – so they will no longer have a disproportionate influence on elections.
Balcazar, along with co-lead David Ly and new organizing steward Griselda Fernandez, joined up with dozens of other union members and supporters to canvass voters throughout San Jose.
Griselda Fernandez and David Ly check their lists before embarking on a day of voter outreach
“This was my first time canvassing as an organizing steward and representing IBEW 1245 at the South Bay Labor Council,” reported new Organizing Steward Griselda Fernandez. “At the beginning, I was very nervous and intimidated to collect signatures. I was having a hard time getting my verbiage to flow. But after listening to Brenda and David’s delivery, I felt more confident. I enjoyed being part of something that affects my city and being able to represent my Union.”
The broad coalition, which included numerous labor groups as well as community allies, succeeded in gathering more than 100,000 signatures, surpassing the number needed to qualify the initiative for the November general election ballot.
FRESNO/MERCED
Fresno: Ashley Finley, Jerico Jimenez, Nikki Neal, Que Thompson, Melissa Echeverria, Miguel Pagan, Felicia Lynch, Charlene Peele, Ozzie Rodriguez
Merced: Mark Goodwin, Kurene Turner, Joseph Hoang, Ashley Precissi, Brittney Santana, Brandon Fosselman, Rodrigo Flores, Julie Gonzalez, Aileen Zuehlke
Congressman Jim Costa has proven time and time again to be a true ally of IBEW 1245 in Washington, standing with us on issues ranging from federal forest management and disaster recovery funding related to wildfires, to federal water policy that directly impacts our members that work at irrigation districts in the Central Valley. So when Costa, who represents Congressional District 16 in the Central Valley, found himself up against three challengers in the March Primary election, Local 1245 released four teams of organizing stewards – two in Fresno, and two in Merced – to help get out the vote for Costa.
Rep. Jim Costa with IBEW 1245 members
“It was interesting and a great experience … It just felt good to engage with people and find what interests them, how they feel [about the candidate], and what their concerns are – because they do matter,” said new Organizing Steward Nikki Neal, who was part of the first Fresno team. “It was amazing to see all the work that is put into these campaigns and to really get to know the person we are representing.”
On Feb. 22, Local 1245 hosted an “all hands on deck” canvass in Fresno and Merced, which drew a total of 28 volunteers. On Feb. 29 and March 1, the union recruited additional volunteers in the Bakersfield area to support Emilio Huerta’s bid for Kern County Supervisor.
Charlene Peele making calls to voters in Costa’s district
“The hard work and dedication each volunteer and candidate has is phenomenal,” new Organizing Steward Charlene Peele reported from Fresno. “I was able to experience phone banking, canvassing neighborhoods and delivering campaign signs for the first time ever!”
“My favorite thing about the campaign was probably getting to talk to all different types of people from different economic classes and different backgrounds that all seemed to share the same concerns and wants — and to know that they believed Jim Costa was the person to get it done,” said Ashley Precissi, who was part of the first Merced team.
Brandon Fosselman drops off a lawn sign to Costa supporter
“On average, our team of four hit about 260 doors per day. There were a lot of good conversations at the doors, and we came across a lot of PG&E retirees,” Brittney Santana reported from Merced. “On the weekends we were able to recruit volunteers who came out from Fresno and Stockton to help us knock doors – and we even had a visit from Jim Costa!”
Once all the votes were tallied, Costa received the most votes out of the four candidates on the primary ballot. He will face off against the second-highest vote-getter, Kevin Cookingham, in November. The congressman has been effusive in his praise of the 1245 members that supported his campaign, and has thanked Local 1245 directly for the effort.
“The hundreds of calls, the thousands of steps from going door to door, and the Saturdays and Sundays of volunteering my time — it was all well worth it!” remarked Ozzie Rodriguez from Fresno.
SACRAMENTO
Alvin Dayoan, Kim Camatti, Alicia Cordero, Alex Abrego, Serena Moss, Charlotte Stevens, Jasmine Williams, Lhondin Tyra, Ricardo Hernandez
As a Board member at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Gregg Fishman has demonstrated his unwavering support for the 1245 members at SMUD. So when it came time to support Fishman in his bid for Sacramento Board of Supervisors, Local 1245 organizing stewards were more than happy to return the favor – as evidenced by the 36 Organizing Stewards from Sacramento, Stockton and Richmond who attended Fishman’s campaign kick off on Feb. 1 in Sacramento.
Local 1245 made a big splash at Gregg Fishman’s campaign kickoff
Our two teams of organizing stewards partnered with the Sacramento Labor Council to support Fishman as well as two labor-friendly candidates running for Sacramento City Council, incumbent Steve Hansen in District 4, and Mai Vang in District 8. As a former Board member at Sacramento Regional Transit, Hansen supported a transportation bond that directly benefits the Local 1245 members who work at Sac RT. Vang, a school board member who is running to replace longtime 1245 supporter Larry Carr on the City Council, has also vowed to stand with 1245 and the broader labor community if elected.
“Gregg Fishman had a tough battle at the start against Rich Desmond who raised more than three times as much as Fishman. We knew that it’ll take patience and perseverance to educate and swing the votes for our labor endorsed candidate,” Lead Organizing Steward Alvin Dayoan reported from the campaign. “One of the biggest highlights for me was the team’s willingness to work as they continue to push themselves throughout the day. During our first two weeks on the campaign, we made over 3,623 calls and knocked on 1,745 homes.”
Ozzy Guzman volunteered to help get out the vote in Sacramento
“This was the first campaign that I ever worked on, and I was nervous at first, but after a couple hours of work, I became more and more comfortable with the process,” said Organizing Steward Alex Abrego. “I enjoyed going out into the community I work in everyday to make a difference for our SMUD board member Gregg Fishman. Overall, the experience was wonderful and it was fun.”
“I know our daily role of canvassing and phone banking helped in the success of the campaign,” reported Lead Organizing Steward Charlotte Stevens. “I am proud of our team — they worked extremely hard to hit the daily goals, and everyone’s attitude and dedication remained professional throughout the campaign. The constant compliment we receive is that we already know what to do, and we do it well.”
Local 1245 Organizing Stewards with Sacramento City Council member-elect Mai Vang
On election night, Fishman succeeded in nabbing one of the top two spots, and will go up again Rich Desmond in November. As of this writing, with some votes still left to be counted, Vang has the lead in District 4, but unfortunately Hansen lost to challenger Katie Valenzuela in District 8, who received enough votes to secure the seat without a runoff.
LOMPOC
Leo Ramirez, Andrew Hernandez, Candace Koff, Theresa Hernandez
In 2019, the IBEW 1245 members at the City of Lompoc learned that the city’s precarious financial situation meant that it would be unable to continue funding our members’ retirement and the vital public services they perform each and every day, including emergency services, street improvements, and vandalism prevention. Measure I2020, a temporary sales tax measure, would give the city the revenue it needs to pay off its CalPERS obligation and maintain its public services – and the IBEW 1245 organizing stewards in Lompoc wasted no time getting involved in this important campaign.
Local 1245 getting out the vote for Measure I in Lompoc
“As someone who has worked for the City of Lompoc for only three years, I’ve seen in that short time the decline of our parks and police department staffing, and the increase of CalPERS debt. I knew how dire it was for this 1% measure to be placed on the ballot and actually pass,” said new Organizing Steward Candace Koff.
“The highlight of this campaign was interacting with the public and discussing all the benefits the 1% tax increase would bring to the City of Lompoc. I was surprised at how much misinformation about the tax increase people had gotten in the past,” said Organizing Steward Leo Ramirez.
On Feb. 8, the Lompoc organizing stewards mobilized their fellow members from the City to kick of the I2020 campaign, and several organizing stewards from other employers, as well as Local 1245 Executive Board Member Willy Garris, came down to Lompoc to help get out the vote for I2020 over the following four weeks. The team took advantage of the canvassing app PDI to improve the quality of their outreach. After an intensive canvassing effort spearheaded by Local 1245 organizing stewards, the measure received an overwhelming 68% of the vote – far more than the 50% +1 that it needed to pass.
a photo of Local 1245 members was featured in the Lompoc Record alongside the election results. Photo via Lompoc Record website
“I was ecstatic and very proud of all the work we put in … I know that we helped Measure I pass and when I returned to work the next day, people congratulated me (and the team) knowing that it was because of our efforts,” said Koff. “Most of the union workers for the City helped pass this measure as well — by talking to others, going to the union meetings and understanding the necessity of this measure, and simply spreading the word. Lompoc IBEW 1245 members stood together for this, and we should be proud of all the work we did.”
“I definitely feel our efforts made a difference! this was not the first time a tax increase was on the Lompoc residents’ mind, but it was the first time that IBEW 1245 Organizing Stewards campaigned for it — and our hard work paid off,” said Ramirez.
“I want to thank [the 1245 Executive Board] for helping with the necessary tools to get the victory on the 1% tax in Lompoc,” said Local 1245 Business Rep Jaime Tinoco, reporting from Lompoc. “I know that the new revenues will make our negotiations easier to address.”
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All told, 1245’s candidates and ballot measures did extraordinarily well, but of course this is only the beginning of the 2020 election cycle. The general election in November is sure to be hotly contested, and our organizing stewards are ready and willing to take on the challenge.
“Doing our part to ensure that the House and Senate and the White House are in the hands of labor-friendly politicians in the fall will be like winning the Superbowl,” said Lead Organizing Steward Brandon Fosselman. “So when the game starts, don’t leave me on the sidelines, I’m ready to do my part. Put me in the game and let me have an impact!”
–Rebecca Band, IBEW 1245 Communications Director