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LWV Candidate Forums

November 8, 2022 | General Election

The following virtual forums are for local candidates who will be on the ballot for Piedmont residents in the November 8, 2022 General Election. The forums are hosted by the League of Women Voters of Piedmont alone or in conjunction with the six Leagues of Women Voters representing Alameda County.

Click the forum link below or scroll down for additional details and to register for the live event or submit questions for the candidates.

Check Voter's Edge to find out who is on your ballot.

Sept. 19th	@ 6:00pm	Alameda County District Attorney
Sept. 21st	@ 6:30pm	EBMUD Director, Ward 3
Sept. 22nd	@ 7:30pm	Piedmont City Council
Sept. 28th	@ 6:00pm	Peralta Community College District Trustee, Area 5
Sept. 29th	@ 7:00pm	PUSD Board of Education
Sept. 30th	@ 11:00am	14th California State Assembly District
Oct. 1st	@ 10:00am	AC Transit District At-Large

Registration is required to attend the live virtual forums. After each forum, the recording will be available on this page and on our YouTube channel.

Each forum will be moderated by a League representative and will include questions from the public. You may submit a question by filling out one of the forms below at least one day prior to the forum. Questions will be screened by a team of League members to ensure a range of topics and issues.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization.
We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate.

Upcoming Candidate Forums

Recordings of Recent Forums

City of Piedmont Races

Piedmont City Council

Details:

September 22, 2022 @ 7pm

Register to receive a link to join the live Zoom webinar. This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and the recording will be available there for future viewing.

This forum allows the candidates to each provide a two-minute opening statement. They will then each have a minute and a half to answer each question posed by the moderator. At the end of the questioning period, the candidates will be able to present a one-minute closing statement. The moderator for this forum is Nancy Beninati, attorney and LWVP Vice President of Program.

About the City Council:
Members of the Piedmont City Council are elected volunteers who serve their community without compensation. Under the City Charter, a councilmember may be elected for no more than two consecutive four-year terms of office. However, after two full terms have elapsed (8 years), Councilmembers may again run for office.

The Piedmont City Charter establishes a City Council - City Administrator form of government. Under this form of government, the Piedmont City council is the legislative body responsible for setting City policy. The five Council members are elected at-large by the Piedmont electorate.

The City Administrator advises and makes recommendations to the City Council concerning any conditions or situations that require Council direction or policy determination and prepares the recommended budget for consideration and adoption by the City Council.

Candidates:

Betsy Smegal Andersen

Sunny Bostrom-Fleming

Jennifer Long

Bridget McInerney Harris

Tom Ramsey

Jeanne Solnordal

Submit Questions:

Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education

Details:

September 29, 2022 @ 7pm

Register to receive a link to join the live Zoom webinar. This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and the recording will be available there for future viewing.

About the Board of Education:
A five member Board of Education oversees the District. The members are elected at-large and serve for a maximum of two consecutive four year terms. Board Members are accessible to the community and integrate public input into their deliberations and decision-making. The Board acts in the best interests of all students, reviews and approves the budget, authorizes expenditures, employs all personnel (including the Superintendent), and develops local education vision, district goals, and policy within the limits of the State Education Code.

School Board Members serve as liaisons on several committees or boards of other support groups such as the City-District Liaison Committee, Piedmont Educational Foundations, each of the Parents’ Clubs, Curriculum Council, Athletic Boosters, and the Special Education District Advisory Committee.

Candidates:

Shirley Hooi

Ruchi Medhekar

Lindsay Thomasson

Submit Questions:

Alameda County & Special District Races

District Attorney

Details:

September 19, 2022 @ 6pm

Register to receive a link to join the live Zoom webinar. This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and the recording will be available there for future viewing.

About the District Attorney:
The District Attorney (DA) is the county official responsible for the prosecution of criminal violations of state law and county ordinances occurring within a county. While a district attorney’s duties are not limited to criminal prosecution, the District Attorney’s main duty is investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses on behalf of the People. The District Attorney’s other duties include presenting evidence to the grand jury, deciding which cases to prosecute, investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal cases involving fraud and unfair business practices as well as environmental protection like water pollution and hazardous waste issues.

Candidates:

Pamela Price

Terry Wiley

Learn more about these candidates on Voter's Edge.

Submit Questions:

The Mission Statement of the Alameda County District Attorney's Office:

Uphold Alameda County as a safe and livable community through the fair and effective administration of justice; compassionate and committed support of crime victims; innovative programs that provide opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration; and programs designed to enhance the lives of vulnerable populations, children and youth for a bright, healthy future.

Mandated Services:
The District Attorney is mandated by the California Constitution and the Government Code to review, charge and prosecute criminal violations of the laws of California. The District Attorney’s Office brings actions on behalf of the People of the State of California.

Learn More about the District Attorney's Office

AC Transit Board of Directors - District At-Large

Details:

October 1st, 2022 @ 10am

Register to receive a link to join the live Zoom webinar. This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and the recording will be available there for future viewing.

Register with the button above to attend both the AC Transit Board of Directors District At-Large and/or Ward 3 forums. Piedmont residents are represented by Ward 2, which is not on the ballot this election. Ward 3 covers Alameda, Eden Area, and Oakland.

This forum allows the candidates to each provide a two-minute opening statement. They will then each have a minute and a half to answer each question posed by the moderator. At the end of the questioning period, the candidates will be able to present a one-minute closing statement. The moderator for this forum is Jo Loss, President of the League of Women Voters of Eden Area.

About the AC Transit District Board of Directors:
The AC Transit District Board of Directors is a seven-member elected Board charged with the duty of setting policy and regulating District operations. The Public Utilities Code, Sections 24501 to 27509, commonly referred to as Transit District Law, spells out more specifically the duties of the Board and the District. In addition, the District also operates under the direction and guidance of numerous state and federal laws and regulations.

Five (5) members of the Board of Directors are elected from five specific geographic areas knows as “wards”. Candidates for these ward seats must live within the boundaries of the ward they seek to represent and are elected by voters within their ward. Two (2) members of the Board are at-large positions. Candidates for at-large positions must live within the overall District boundaries and are elected by voters District-wide.

Candidates:

Alfred Twu

Joel Young

Submit Questions:

Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees - Area 5

Details:

September 28, 2022 @ 6pm

Register to receive a link to join the live Zoom webinar. This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and the recording will be available there for future viewing.

About the Peralta Community College District Governing Board:
The Peralta Community College Board of Trustees is a seven-member elected-board. The Board of Trustees governs on behalf of the citizens of the Peralta Community College District in accordance with the authority granted and duties defined in Education Code Section 70902. The Board is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities to:

Represent the public interest
Establish policies that define the institutional mission and set prudent, ethical and legal standards for college operations
Assure fiscal health and stability
Monitor institutional performance and educational quality
Advocate and protect the district
Assure that the Board operates in an open, accessible, welcoming spirit, and maintains an anti-racist culture
Establish policies that ensure the District operates in an anti-racist manner
Delegate power and authority to the Chancellor to effectively lead the district
Hire the Chancellor, and evaluate the Chancellor at least annually
Respect the authority of the Chancellor by providing policy, direction, and guidance only to the Chancellor who is responsible for the management of the district and its employees
Delegate the authority to the Chancellor to issue regulations, and directives to the employees of the district

Candidates:

Saleem Gilmore

Cynthia Napoli-Abella Reiss

Submit Questions:

East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) Director, Ward 3

Details:

September 21, 2022 @ 6:30pm

Register to receive a link to join the live Zoom webinar. This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and the recording will be available there for future viewing.

About the EBMUD Board of Directors:
EBMUD has a seven-member Board of Directors publicly elected from wards within the EBMUD service area. The Board is committed to developing policy through an open, public process, guided by the EBMUD Mission Statement.

Under the direction of the Board and General Manager, EBMUD staff works 24/7. From Pardee Reservoir and through a web of pipes and facilities, EBMUD supplies mountain water to East Bay customers. Every day of the year, EBMUD treats wastewater before it is discharged to the bay. The District recycles water, produces energy from waste and works with residents and businesses to keep pollutants from reaching the bay.

Candidates:

Mark Seedall

Marguerite Young

Submit Questions:

State of California Races

California State Assembly
District 14

Thank you for your interest in the LWV candidate forum for Assembly District 14 candidates. We regret that we have canceled this candidate forum. The League requires that we have at least two candidates attending the forum and that all attending candidates sign our video release. We are unable to meet these requirements for this forum. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Details:

September 30, 2022 @ 11:00am

Register to receive a link to join the live Zoom webinar. This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and the recording will be available there for future viewing.

About the California State Assembly, District 14:
State assembly members introduce and vote on new laws, hold hearings, and draft the state budget. They are elected to two-year terms.

Candidates:

Rich Kinney

Buffy Wicks

Submit Questions:

LWV Candidate Forums

November 8, 2022 | General Election

City of Piedmont Races

Piedmont City Council

Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education

Alameda County & Special District Races

District Attorney

AC Transit Board of Directors - District At-Large

Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees - Area 5

East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) Director, Ward 3

State of California Races

California State Assembly District 14

California State Assembly
District 14