More than 80 members of Berkeley Citizens Action and Berkeley Progressive Alliance met today the North Berkeley Senior Center Sunday afternoon to hear from candidates for City Auditor and City Council hopefuls for District 1, 4 and 8. Several candidates were not well known so it was a great opportunity to hear their statements and ask questions about their positions.

A big thank you to all who came out to hear the candidates and who volunteered to make the event happen: planners, candidates, supporters, MCs, ballot counters, photographer, the timekeeper and candidate greeter, and the crew who helped set up and take down the event. This event could not happen without you!

Endorsement results are listed below. Our organizations require 60% to endorse a candidate. Look for ideas in the coming weeks on how to support these candidates. Click on the links to see the candidates answers to our questionnaires.

City Auditor:
Candidates were Steve Levine and Jennifer Li Wong.
Ballot Results: No endorsement. Both Candidates had strong support, so no neither candidate could achieve the 60% threshold for endorsement.

City Council District 1: 
Candidates were Mary Behm-Steinberg, Rashi Kesarwani, Margo Schueler and Igor Tregub.
Ballot Results: Igor Tregub Endorsed.

City Council District 4: 
Kate Harrison was the only candidate who requested our endorsement.
Ballot Results: Kate Harrison Endorsed.

City Council District 7:
No candidates requested endorsement at this time. Rigel Robinson, Cassandra King and Kriss Worthington decided to wait until the fall to ask for our endorsement. We expect to hold a meeting after Labor Day to discuss measures, propositions and unresolved candidate races.

City Council District 8: 
Candidates were Mary Kay Lacey, Alfred Twu and Russ Tilleman
Ballot Results: Mary Kay Lacey Endorsed.

Photos above by Christine Schwartz

Date and Time: Sunday April 29, 2-5 pm (Registration begins at 1:30 pm)

Location: North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue

Help us choose our slate of progressive candidates for 2018. Candidates who have submitted their questionnaires and will be on the ballot are listed below. Click on their link to read their questionnaire.

City Auditor: Pamela Boyle, Steve Levine, Jennifer Wong

City Council District 1: Rashi Kesarwani, Margo Schueler, Igor Tregub & Mary Behm-Steinberg

City Council District 4: Kate Harrison

City Council District 7: Cassandra King

City Council District 8: Mary Kay Lacey, Alfred Twu, Russ Tilleman

This event is open to all. Members of BCA or BPA will be able to vote for endorsements. Past members may pay current dues (by check or cash) in advance or at the door. Please renew membership in advance to avoid lines during registration. No one turned away for lack of funds.

BCA: Membership is $35 yearly, $10 low income. To renew membership online: http://berkeleycitizensaction.org/?page_id=2.

BPA: Membership is $25 a year, or $10 for low income and students, $50 for sustainers. To renew membership online: https://berkeleyprogressivealliance.org/joinrenew/

Questions? E-mail: BPA2016@aol.com or berkeleycitizensaction@gmail.com

What: Join BCA and BPA members to meet and endorse city candidates for council and auditor

When: Sunday, April 29, 2 to 5:30 p.m., Registration begins at 1:30 p.m.

Where: North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst St (at Martin Luther King Jr. Way)

The following candidates have accepted our invitation to seek our endorsement:

City Auditor: Pamela Boyle, Steve Levine

City Council District 1: Cecily Brewster, Rashi Kersawani, Margo Schueler, Igor Tregub

City Council District 4: Kate Harrison

City Council District 7: Rigel Robinson

City Council District 8: Mary Kay Lacey, Alfred Twu

Candidates who return our questionnaires by April 19 will be listed on our endorsement ballots. Questionnaires will be posted on the BCA and BPA Web sites shortly after April 19.

Who can vote: You must be a member in good standing of either BCA or BPA to receive a ballot and vote at the April 29^th meeting. If you have ever been a member of BPA, you may renew your membership before or at the April 29^th meeting and will be able to vote. Annual dues are $25; $10 for low income and students. You can renew your membership online: https://berkeleyprogressivealliance.org/joinrenew/. We encourage members to renew before the meeting if possible to speed up the registration process on April 29^th.

 E-mail: bpa@aol.com, Web site: https://berkeleyprogressivealliance.org