Betty YEE:
Candidate for State Controller

As California’s chief fiscal officer, Controller Yee is responsible for the accounting, disbursement, and auditing of the state’s financial resources. She serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), which have a combined portfolio of over $500 billion.  Controller Yee currently chairs the State Lands Commission and the Franchise Tax Board, and serves on 70 policy and financial oversight boards.

Elected in 2014, Controller Yee is the tenth woman elected to a statewide office in California’s history.  Her significant accomplishments to date include:

• Managing the State's cash, avoiding any external borrowing to pay the bills for California.
• Uncovering close to $4 billion in public funds directed towards unallowed uses during audits of state and local agencies.
• Issuing the annual financial statements for the State of California that have earned national awards for their accuracy and integrity.
• Protecting retirement security for our educators and public sector workers.
• Decommissioning the last nuclear power plant in California as well as the last state oil platform in the Santa Barbara Channel.

Currently the only woman holding statewide constitutional office, Controller Yee advocates for the rights of countless numbers of women in the service industries who face, witness, or fear harassment every day in the workplace.  She is the sponsor of legislation to expand required sexual harassment training and to authorize restitution for victims of human trafficking.

With 35 years of experience in state and local finance and tax policy, Controller Yee knows California's economic health will be sustained by ensuring a working economy:  one that embraces new economic opportunities and work for all, one in which women may fully and equally participate, and one that supports and protects workers.

Deneen newman guss: Candidate for monterey county superintendent of schools

For 30 years I have worked passionately for children, because I believe that an excellent education provides confidence, equity and opportunity for all students. Education has the power to transform lives. I started my career as a teacher in a bilingual program , and taught for ten years. I have served as a school and district administrator, as well as Superintendent of the Soledad Unified School District, where my children attended school. I am a collaborative and action-oriented leader, with a proven track record of working for student success.

I earned a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, and have served as the Deputy Superintendent for the Monterey County Office of Education for the last four years. I am extremely proud to be supported by every member of the Monterey County Board of Education, as well as a diverse group of educators, community leaders, business leaders, and local citizens. They share my commitment to safe, healthy, and high-achieving public schools throughout Monterey County. 

Each day, I work hard to make a difference by helping our children become better thinkers, communicators, and problem solvers. With your vote, we can continue to help expand quality educational opportunities to empower all Monterey County students to achieve their college or career goals.  Thank you. 

Regina Gage: Candidate for monterey country board of supervisors, district 2

I am running for this office for the same reasons I’ve spent the past twenty years of my career in the non-profit world trying to make a positive impact on the lives of people who’ve been forgotten, disenfranchised, and neglected.  In other words, to have a positive impact on the residents in District 2, and Monterey County as a whole. As the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, I have been an advocate for some of the most vulnerable and invisible people in our community. Prior to this, I was the Chief Financial Officer of a non-profit agency helping neglected and abused children. I’ve also been a Legal Advocate for women victims of domestic violence.
I graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Jose State University and hold a JD from the Monterey College of Law. I have spent time volunteering in our community to assist our most vulnerable as a Salinas Public Library adult literacy volunteer and advocate for women and families who cannot afford legal representation to navigate our complex legal system.

My work experience is wide and deep and makes me eminently qualified to serve on the Board of Supervisors. I will bring an energetic, accountable and proactive approach to the position. My top priorities include addressing the housing/homeless problem, infrastructure, crime, a safe and sound solution to our water issue, and being accountable and accessible to the constituents.  

I want the DWMC endorsement because we share similar core beliefs. It is 2018 and yet women are still not adequately represented in elected office. Let’s change that on June 5, 2018 in Monterey County! 

Jon Wizard: Candidate for seaside city council

As a member of the Seaside Environmental Committee and the Monterey County Planning Commission, I have worked to protect our environment and maintain our high quality of life by voting to deny new oil exploration wells and to safeguard our fragile and finite water supply.

As an advocate for affordable housing, I have worked with the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership to host a community forum at the Oldemeyer Center, bringing together Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker, Seaside Councilmember Kayla Jones, MPUSD Trustee Wendy Root Askew, and city staff to discuss Seaside’s near-term and long-term affordable housing opportunities and challenges. As a member of Seaside’s Blue Ribbon Task Force for the Prevention of Youth Violence and as a member of the Monterey County Branch of the NAACP executive committee, I have supported local restorative justice and racial equity programs, benefiting local people of color, the working poor, and our youth.

Additionally, my master’s thesis, The Militarization of Police Across the United States as a Result of the Events Occurring During the 1990s in Los Angeles – a mouthful, I know – has been advanced to my university’s graduate studies office for final review. I was also recently accepted to a Master’s of Public Administration program that begins July 2018.

I believe my experience on these boards and commissions, paired with my academic training and my professional experience as a firefighter, 9-1-1 dispatcher, and police officer, has prepared me to continue serving my community as a member of Seaside’s city council. I hope to add your endorsement to those of the above-mentioned elected officials, as well as MPUSD Trustees Debra Gramespacher and Alana Myles, MPWMD Director Brenda Lewis, and Kristi Markey. Thank you and Win with Wiz!

DWMC is proud to not only endorse candidates, but also to contribute to their campaigns. 

Running for a political position is expensive. For some potential candidates, it is even cost prohibitive.  Help us support the candidates—especially women—who uphold our values.
Donate to DWMC. 
Let’s do this!  #TimeForChange #GoWomenGo