Jill Buck is the Republican candidate running for the 18th Assembly district which is currently held by Assemblyman Johan Klehs.  The common wisdom in this area is that the general election for this district is just a formality after the Democratic primary is over, given the area’s heavy Democratic registration (54% Democrat vs. 21% Republican).  But Buck doesn’t buy that common wisdom.

Buck doesn’t believe that the district is a guaranteed Democratic win.

 "The fact is when you look at voter turnout, we’re neck and neck," she said.

When Buck talked about wanting to run for the State Assembly, she said lots of people encouraged her to run…in another, more Republican district.  But she decided to throw her hat in the ring for the 18th distric at this past CRP convention in San Jose. She was moved by something that Governor Schwarzenegger said in his speech.

According to Buck, the governor related a conversation Maria Shriver had with their children after their kids saw some negative advertising leading up the special election.  The kids said, "Mom, Dad might lose this.  What happens if Daddy loses?"  Buck said Maria’s response struck her exactly right:  "Guys, there is no shame in losing–only shame in not trying."

It was that moment that Buck decided that she had to run as the Republican candidate in the 18th, saying, "I thought I can’t go into the voting booth one more time and see no Republican candidate, see no choice, see a Democrat that doesn’t represent the voice of this area and just give them a free ride.  That’s not democracy and that’s not my way."

Buck is the founder and president of the Go Green Initiative, a non-profit organization which helps schools implement a comprehensive environmental action program, including everything from recycling to eliminating unsafe pesticides from playgrounds.  A formal Naval officer, Buck is married and has three kids.  More information on her campaign and personal background can be found at www.jillbuck.com.

Buck says that public safety will be a major issue in her campaign, focusing particularly on preventing sexual abuse of children. 

"Let’s face it–they are not talking about recycling in Baghdad.  They don’t feel safe.  There is a whole litany of issues that you don’t have the luxury of addressing if people don’t feel safe," said Buck.

She also intends to focus on market-based ideas on the environment and empowering school districts to think more creatively about how they use their resources and how to improve the physical environment for the kids (such as eliminating mold and other allergens from classroom environments).

The 18th district includes Ashland, Cherryland, Dublin, Hayward, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, most of Castro Valley and Pleasanton, and part of Oakland.

Note:  Jill and I met yesterday for coffee in Montclair, a neighborhood of Oakland (where one doesn’t get hit by drive-by shootings).  When we left the shop, we heard her name called and John Whitney, principal of Pleasanton Middle School, greeted her.  Whitney is the principal of Pleasanton Middle School and give Jill a big high five when she told him that she was running for the 18th.  (FYI–Joe Justin, Whitney used to play bass for the Tower of Power and has a gold record in his office to prove it!) Jill and Whitney are pictured here with his two sons.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 12th, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.