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2008 Racial Justice Campaign Elected Candidates
Corey Woods
Elected to Tempe City Council - At Large (Challenger)
In 2008, Corey Woods was elected to the non-partisan Tempe City Council. Corey ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2005, but afterward he became more involved in the community by serving on the City of Tempe's Transportation Commission, the Boards of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs, Communities in Schools, Kiwanis Club of Tempe, and Tempe Community Action Agency. Corey is the first African-American to serve on the City Council of Tempe.
Joe Neguse
Elected to University of Colorado Board of Regent - District 2 (Open Seat)
Joe Neguse was a first-time candidate running for the University of Colorado Board of Regents to represent Congressional District 2. Joe is a young, African American law student at the University of Colorado. He was appointed by the Boulder City Council as a Commissioner on the Boulder Housing Authority, and is a co-founder and former Board Chair of New Era, Colorado, an organization that engages young people around voter registration and mobilization. Congressional District 2 encompasses Boulder, the northern Denver suburbs and about four counties on the western slope. Joe's election will bring a more progressive, diverse voice to the board. He was endorsed by numerous elected officials at all levels of government, labor groups and prominent community members.
Marquisha Griffin
Elected to Maricopa City Council - At Large (Challenger)
Marquisha Griffin is a 32-year-old member of the Maricopa City Council. She is the only female and the only person of color on the city council. Marquisha is also in her third term on the City of Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission. She volunteers at local charity events and city-sponsored activities and is currently employed by the City of Mesa as a City Council assistant.
Liz Meza
Elected to Phoenix Elementary School Governing Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Liz Meza was a candidate in the non-partisan race for an open seat on the Phoenix Elementary School Governing Board and won. Three seats were up, all elected at-large. Liz, the sister of Robert Meza, a progressive member of the Arizona House of Representatives, is a prominent member of the community making her first run for public office. She ran on a platform of improving conditions in Phoenix's inner city schools, effectively confronting the issues of reduced enrollment due to enhanced immigration enforcement and charter schools, and improving communication between school administration and the community. Liz's perspective as a member of the Latino community is desperately needed - this school district has an enrollment of 85 percent Latino students and 5 percent Caucasian students, yet all five board members are Caucasian.
Sherri Connell
Elected to Tempe Elementary School Governing Board - At Large (Challenger)
Sherri Connell, 36, was a first-time candidate running for a position on the Tempe Elementary School Governing Board. A graduate of Emerge Arizona, Sherri is a young candidate with a bright political future. A mother of two, Sherri understands the issues facing the Tempe Elementary District from the perspective of a parent whose children attend the schools. She wants to improve communication between school administration and parents, reduce class sizes and work to retain quality teachers. Sherri was a challenger running for one of three seats up for election in this non-partisan race.
Mark Ridley-Thomas
Elected to Los Angeles County Supervisor - District 2 (Open Seat)
California State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 2nd District, in the highest priority race for progressives in Los Angeles County in 2008. Mark ran against a formidable candidate, former chief of police and current Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks. Although elected by a majority African American district, Parks has a conservative voting record when it comes to investing in communities. If Parks had won, Los Angeles County would have been controlled by a conservative majority at a time when county hospitals and emergency services in communities of color are facing closure. Mark has been a staunch supporter of progressive issues such as the establishment of school health centers, consumer protection, community reinvestment, jobs and workforce development.
Olga Diaz
Elected to Escondido City Council (Challenger)
Olga Diaz is a business owner, homeowner, mother of four, wife of an Escondido police lieutenant and an active member of the Escondido community. In 2002, she opened Blue Mug Coffee and Tea, a local progressive political hangout. Olga became incensed at the behavior of Escondido's government. In 2006, she challenged for a city council seat, but lost in the primary. Escondido has a 3-2 Republican edge in registration which makes this race difficult. Olga was endorsed by the San Diego Democratic Party and LCV. Progressive Majority began working with Olga in 2007; she received message development and a campaign plan from us. This race was difficult to win and it helped build a base in Escondido.
Alejandra Solis
Elected to National City City Council (Challenger)
Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, 28, serves as the director of the Community Law Project at UC San Diego. She prepares undergraduate students for law school and careers in public policy. She is also the former district director for State Rep. Lori Saldana (AD79), who represents National City. In 2006, Solis ran for mayor of National City. She placed fourth, but emerged as a future leader. She brings a high level of energy to the often stagnant political debate in National City. Well versed on local issues, she has taken her previous election as a learning experience. Progressive Majority recruited her as she was deciding to run for council.
Richard Barrera
Elected to San Diego Board of Education - Subdistrict D (Challenger)
Richard Barrera was elected to the San Diego School District in Nominating Subdistrict D. Richard is Latino and a union organizer with SEIU Local 399. Richard faced a difficult race in the general election against conservative incumbent Luis Acle, a former Reagan administration official who has openly expressed interest in higher office, but Acle failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. This coup left Barrera unopposed for the general election. Barrera's victory created both a working progressive majority and a Democratic supermajority.
Dennis Apuan
Elected to State Representative - District 17 (Open Seat)
Western El Paso County
Dennis Apuan was a first-time candidate running for House District 17 in Western El Paso County. A member of the Asian-Pacific Islander community, he has a strong background in community organizing and brings a base of grass-roots support. His top issues are economic justice, development of renewable energy sources and affordable healthcare. District 17 is a unique district in that it encompasses a large military base. Dennis is a strong progressive and will be another voice for progressive issues in the Statehouse.
Monisha Merchant
Elected to University of Colorado Board of Regent - District 7 (Challenger)
Monisha Merchant is a 31 year-old runningwho was elected to the University of Colorado Board of Regents in Congressional District 7. She is a director of product management for Level 3 Communications and has a long history of political involvement, most recently in the Democratic presidential campaign. Monisha is a late addition to the ballot, replacing the original candidate who dropped out of the race. Her opponent is a Republican and current Chairperson of the Board of Regents. Monisha is dedicated to providing quality higher education to CU students, improving economic justice and opportunities within the university system and promoting the University of Colorado as a world-class research and development institution.
Jay Goyal
Elected to State Representative - District 73 (Incumbent)
Richland County
Rep. Jay Goyal was re-elected to the 73rd Ohio House District, an area that includes rural/exurban Richland County. Jay is a 27 year old freshman legislator, engineer and vice president of a manufacturing company. Jay was elected in 2006 by knocking on more than 12,000 doors and was the first Asian-American to serve in the Ohio General Assembly.The 73rd is a must-hold if Democrats are to take control of the Ohio House. He was endorsed by Ohio Education Association, Ohio Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, IBEW, the Steelworkers and the Carpenters. Jay is a highly-regarded legislator, tireless campaigner and a candidate with pipeline potential. The example that he provides as a committed progressive legislator of color who wins in a Republican district made him the ideal endorsement for Progressive Majority.
Barbara McIlvaine Smith
Elected to State Representative - District 156 (Incumbent)
West Chester, East and West Goshen and two southern precincts in East Bradford
Barbara McIlvaine Smith was re-elected to the 156th Legislative District, Chester County. Barbara is a lifelong resident of Chester County whose family roots date back to 1683. Barbara is an enrolled member of the federally recognized Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma. In 2001, she was elected to the West Chester Borough Council and served as the vice president from 2004-2006. Barbara is a member of American Association of University Women; Sierra Club; League of Women Voters; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; National Organization for Women; and The National Women's Political Caucus. Barbara is the first Democrat in 30 years to hold the 156th legislative seat, and we helped her build on her historic 2006 win.
Tony Payton Jr.
Elected to State Representative - District 179 (Incumbent)
Philadelphia neighborhoods of Frankford, Hunting Park; Parts of Olney, Feltonville and Oxford Circle
Tony Payton Jr. won reelection in the 179th Legislative District, representing Philadelphia County. The 179th District is one of the poorest in the state, and African Americans and Latinos make up a majority population. Since his election to the General Assembly in 2006, Tony has been at the forefront of education reform in Pennsylvania. He introduced legislation to create the Pennsylvania Youth Commission and authored the REACH scholarship initiative. The REACH Scholarship would provide free tuition and fees to students in the State University System who maintain a 3.0 grade point average and a 90 percent attendance record. In 2007, Tony received the Philadelphia Tribune Leadership Award as one of the city's most influential African-Americans.
Pedro Colon
Elected to State Assembly - District 8 (Incumbent)
South Milwaukee
State Representative Pedro Colon is one of only two Assembly Democrats serving on the powerful Joint Finance Committee and he has represented Milwaukee's south side in Assembly District 8 since 1998. A native of Puerto Rico, Pedro is the first and only Latino state legislator in Wisconsin. This September he defeated two Democratic opponents in a primary election. Pedro has been a progressive champion in the Assembly, particularly in the areas of economic justice and civil rights.
Celestine Jeffreys
Elected to Green Bay City Council - District 7 (Incumbent)
Celestine is currently one of Wisconsin's rising political stars. She was elected to the Green Bay City Council and is currently the only woman and only person of color on the council. Progressive Majority recruited her in 2006, when she successfully won her first election. In her first term as Councilwoman, Celestine stood for the separation of church and state against a controversial ordinance that allowed a nativity scene to be placed a top City Hall. We need more progressive champions like Celestine in Green Bay and all across Wisconsin.
Anthony Kennedy
Elected to Kenosha City Council - District 10 (Open Seat)
We first met Anthony Kennedy in January 2007, and convinced him to run for local office. As a community member, Anthony has been involved with the NAACP, the local Democratic Party, and is a former AFSCME member and campaign manager for other local candidates. In 2008, Anthony successfully won a seat on the Kenosha City Council.
Melvin Hargrove
Elected to Racine School Board - At Large (Incumbent)
Melvin Hargrove was first appointed to serve on the Racine School Board in December 2007, and won his first election to the post in 2008. A lifelong resident of Racine and founding pastor of Zoe Outreach Ministries, Melvin sees first-hand how education is critical to the Racine community. Melvin plans to improve area schools by working with state legislators to address Wisconsin's school funding crisis. Melvin is the only African American serving on the Racine School Board.