About Wendy Aragon, Campaign + Core Values

AD-19 Deserves a Strong Progressive Voice, a Community Leader, and a Bridge Builder

I believe that true leadership should be rooted in our communities, not in placating downtown interests. I'm committed serving to our communities because I want better for them.

That's why I am running for one of the 10 seats on the San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee allocated to Assembly District 19.

When we strengthen our communities, we strengthen our Party.

Community Leader

I'm a proud resident of the Richmond District (District 1). It's not just where I live, it's my community.   As a long time community organizer and a neighborhood leader, who has the experience when it comes to bringing people together and advocating for diverse communities, I plan to bring that experience to the DCCC so that I can help make what it does better known within our communities. I want San Francisco Democrats to be able to feel connected to our Party, not perpetuate the misconception that those who serve on the DCCC are just a bunch of political insiders who don't care about their needs or opinions. Instead I want to work with people to show that the DCCC actually plays a valuable role in the decisions that affect our day to day lives on a local, state and national level. I not only makes our party stronger, it makes our communities stronger. It comes full circle.

If elected, I will have the ability and responsibility to vote on resolutions, and to endorse local, state, and national candidates as well as propositions and bonds that aim to help San Franciscans. Those endorsements are what go out to voters before election day to help people better navigate the ballot. The DCCC also is responsible for registering more Democrats which gives voters a feeling of investment in the political process. The DCCC is also in charge of overseeing our City's many chartered Democratic clubs which encourages more active grassroots participation in democracy.

My priorities will be:

1. Strengthening the Democratic Party through day-to-day community organizing and providing hands-on support to our neighborhood Democratic Clubs to increase voter registration and participation.
2. Empowering and recruiting  youth, people of color, women, and working people to feel connected to Democratic values and become our future Party leaders.
3. Advocating for what’s best for our neighborhoods by endorsing candidates and ballot measures, which fight for everyday San Franciscans and display transparency in government.

That's not just a campaign promise, it's something that I've already proven by currently serving on the following organizations:

• The Richmond District Democratic Club: (August 2010 to Present), Board Member at Large (April 2011 to April 2012), Vice President (April 2012 to Present)

• Girl Scouts of Northern California, San Francisco Service Unit Administrative Board: Recording Secretary (November 2011 to Present), Currently developing a program that will connect older Girl Scouts with their elected officials and women in political leadership through volunteering and mentoring.

Over the years, I've also been a volunteer and paid organizer on several local, state, and national campaigns and organizations including:

• Howard Dean for America: Seattle Neighborhood Precinct Captain, Washington State Caucus Organizer

• The Courage Campaign: Founded San Francisco West Side Equality Team,  United San Francisco Equality Team Leader, City and County of San Francisco Deputy Field Organizer 

• Organizing for America: CA Congressional District 8 Community Organizer, Vote 2010 San Francisco Field Organizer 

• John Avalos for Mayor: Volunteer Precinct Captain Trainer, Fundraising Volunteer

A Strong Progressive Voice

I grew up in a small walkable neighborhood in San Jose, CA where supporting the community members, facilities and small businesses was part of our everyday existence. As San Francisco opens it's doors to large tech companies, new development, and major events such as The America's Cup, I feel as if our outer-lying neighborhoods are seeing those same doors close when it comes to funding for neighborhood improvements and services. As a result, those residents begin to feel defeated and underserved. There is no reason that communities should falter as our City grows.

This City belongs to all of it's residents and therefore we should all benefit from what it has to offer.

Building Bridges and Coalitions, Not Alliances

Politically, I identify as a Progressive; but to me, serving on the DCCC is not about Moderates or Progressives. It's about serving AD-19 by bringing balanced representation to meet the needs of the cultural, economic, and political diversity of the West Side and not being afraid to push an agenda that puts our AD-19 communities first.

We are facing too much opposition around the country for the different factions of our own party to be squabbling over our ideological differences. Conservatives in this country have declared an all out war on working people, the middle class, the impoverished, women, people of color, and our party leaders who defend the rights of these groups. Even worse, they are pushing agendas like corporate personhood, which is insulting to our political process. And they aren't stopping. There is an old saying: "Put ten Democrats in a room and they'll debate ten different ideas. Put ten Republicans in a room and one will take charge while the rest fall into line." I want to see more unity here in San Francisco so that we ensure that President Obama is re-elected and that we take back the House and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

My values won't change, but I do look forward to co-sponsoring resolutions across the board to show that we can work together. The role of the DCCC is to build our party up on a local level, but it's up to all of us to put aside our differences and start working together to make this happen. If we can show that leadership at the Party level, it has the potential to equally change the dialogue among San Francisco residents.

Roots and Wings

I was raised in a blue-collar Mexican-American family. My father is a retired auto worker with a 10th grade education and my mother is a retired phone company employee with less than a year of community college. My grandparents worked in construction, in the canneries, and on the railroad lines and none of them had secondary education. It's their sacrifice and hard work that made it possible for my sisters and I to pursue higher education and do great things. Honoring them is what motivates me to stand up for the rights of labor, women, people of color and different sexual orientations, immigrants, and advocate for equity in housing, education, and socio-economics.

I've lived in San Francisco for almost two decades. I've been a student, a renter, and a business owner. And during my time here, I've seen a lot of changes politically and economically. I've been involved with grassroots organizing for many years and have witnessed some pretty amazing things come out of these small movements. As a community organizer, I feel that one of the most powerful things that I can do is to teach others how to take measurable actions and organize in their communities.

I've stayed behind the scenes for a long time. Now I'm ready to do more to advance Democrats in our community and I hope you'll join me.