Afterward, we invite all campaign volunteers (whether you walked precincts or not) and families to the Holmes-Huitema household for a Cassidy Campaign Cookout! But don’t leave out your friends! Bring new volunteers and they can join in the walking and the celebration.

Labor Day, September 6th Day’s Agenda :

• 10:30 AM – Meet at Zocalo, 645 Bancroft Avenue near Dutton, enjoy your favorite coffee drink on the house, recieve your walking packets, and set off
• 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Gather at Tim & Mitch’s house, 659 Broadmoor Blvd for a post-walking BBQ for Volunteers.

We’ll have hot dogs, chicken, watermelon, drinks, all the usual buns and condiments. If you have a salad, dessert, or something specific you’d like to throw on the BBQ, bring it along!

Please RSVP to support@cassidyforsanleandro.com or by calling Campaign Volunteer Coordinator Mia Ousely at 510-384-5457.

Let’s get together to celebrate what a political insider recently called a “tidal wave of support” for Stephen. It couldn’t happen without the hard work from all of you.

San Leandro High School Fred T. Korematsu Campus

When Stephen ran for the School Board in 2004, he pledged to solve one of the most serious problems facing school district: the overcrowding at San Leandro High School. Not only were students deprived of the educational facilities they needed to maximize their learning, but the overcrowded conditions led to serious discipline problems. Stephen’s solution was a 9th grade campus. He advocated that the campus be built, and the school board agreed by a unanimous vote. Stephen then worked closely with parents, community leaders, and educators to pass Measure B, which provided the funds to construct the campus.

This week the state-of-the-art 9th grade Fred Korematsu campus opened on time and under budget. The overcrowding at San Leandro High School has been eliminated. The Class of 2014 is excited and eager to learn. Comments in the local papers have referred to the school as “A Campus for the 21st Century,” “money well spent,” and “it’s a dream.”

Stephen also championed building an Arts Education Center with a 550-seat performing arts theater at the high school. Construction is on budget and ahead of schedule. The theater will open in January 2011.

Because of Stephen’s work on behalf of our students and commitment to improving our public schools, the list of educators endorsing Stephen is lengthy and includes:

• Jon Sherr, President, San Leandro Teachers Association
• Carol Alvarez, President, CSEA Local 94
• Mary Beth Barloga, principal of Roosevelt & Bancroft schools (former)
• Roxanne Ansolabehere, head librarian at San Leandro High School
• David D’Antonio, teacher, San Leandro School District and Alameda County Teacher of the Year
• Michael Katz- Lacabe, President, San Leandro School Board
• Hermy Almonte, Clerk, San Leandro School Board
• Morgan Mack-Rose, Trustee, San Leandro School Board
• Bill Santora, Trustee, San Lorenzo School Board (former)

You are welcome (and encouraged!) to take a sign, as well as distribute additional signs to your neighbors and friends. We have plenty of signs. Please send an email message with your name and address to support@cassidyforsanleandro.com and we will deliver the sign to you. Thanks!

From day one, Stephen has been a strong advocate of keeping SL Hospital open, arguing that Sutter, on paper a nonprofit, is seeking to advance its narrow economic interests at the expense of the community.

I’m running for Mayor because I care deeply for San Leandro.  I bring new leadership, a willingness to listen, and solutions to our challenges.  Our gem of a city is threatened by record deficits, crime, and cuts to vital services.  As Mayor, I will restore fiscal discipline to City Hall.  I will lead by example, refusing a salary until the budget is balanced.  Instead of last resort tax hikes, we must reform pensions by asking employees to contribute their share, enact structural changes, and eliminate excessive overtime.  I’ll use my experience as a business owner and attorney to attract businesses, grocery stores, and restaurants.  This will create jobs and fund our police, senior center, libraries, and pools.  Imagine San Leandro a prosperous, thriving community.  Our hospital is critical to San Leandro’s well-being; I’ll fight to keep it.  My wife is a former public school teacher.  We are raising and educating our daughters here.  As School Board trustee, I proposed the Ninth Grade campus, championed the Performing Arts Theater, and will collaborate with our schools, supporting student programs from a balanced budget.  Elected officials, commissioners, school board trustees, community leaders across San Leandro support me.  Working together, let’s make San Leandro a safe, vibrant, sustainable city.

Cassidy in Lead for Mayor

– Leading in both fundraising and local support, Stephen Cassidy is the frontrunner in San Leandro’s race for Mayor

San Leandro, CA, August 3, 2010 – Demonstrating strong momentum as the campaign enters its last 100 days, campaign manager Tim Holmes, announced today the Cassidy for Mayor campaign has received over $30,000 in contributions for 2010, exceeding opponents Santos and Starociak by over $7,000 and $20,000 respectively

“Residents across San Leandro have responded to Stephen’s ideas and vision of a safe, vibrant, sustainable city and have shown that support with their sweat and hard work.” Holmes stated.  “We’ve also received substantial non-monetary contributions, from website work and graphics design to space and food from local entrepreneurs, all donations from a wide variety of talented and dedicated San Leandrans.”

Campaign finance reports show Mayor Santos and Councilmember Starosciak have spent over $60,000 combined, spending nearly $40,000 on political consultants outside San Leandro.

“How a candidate runs for office tells you a lot about the choices they’ll make in office,” said Stephen Cassidy.  “I’m proud my campaign consists entirely of San Leandrans volunteering their time, and of running a grassroots, fiscally disciplined campaign. Rather than spend a penny on high-priced, out of town political consultants, every dollar raised goes directly to communicating with the voters.”

Nearly 80%, 4 out of every five, donors to the Cassidy for Mayor campaign are local San Leandro residents and our volunteers have hosted over 15 house coffees, several fundraisers in San Leandro, and distributed our literature to parents across San Leandro at every elementary school, supporting funding for our school crossing guards.

“We believe it’s clear who the people of San Leandro support and who they can depend upon to support them. The focus of the campaign is on families struggling to make ends meet, seniors on fixed incomes, businesses striving to succeed. We want to see San Leandro grow and thrive,” added Holmes.

“We welcome input from all San Leandrans.” commented Holmes. “Visit www.cassidyforsanleandro.com to let us know what your most important issues are. You can also learn about our campaign and how Stephen will make a difference to our city.”

Key Data From Campaign Finance Statements

Total Contributions Received for Jan. 1 – Jun 30, 2010

Cassidy:  $30,005

Santos:  $22,788

Starosciak:  $10,533

Mestas:  $5,648

Cash on Hand

As of 6/30/10,   change From 12/31/09 cash on hand

Cassidy:  $20,348,  +$15,293

Santos:  $23,943*,  -$685

Starosciak:  $6,314,  -$7,361

Mestas:  $263,   n/a

* Santos’ amount is actually $4,081 less due to debt owed to political consultant for work performed that has not yet been paid.

Total Campaign Expenditures as of 6/30/10

Cassidy:  $7,235

Starosciak:  $34,890

Santos:  $28,248

Mestas:  $5,723

Total Spent on Professional Consultants as of 6/30/10

Cassidy:  $0

Starosciak:  $20,217

Santos:  $19,627*

Mestas:  $0

* Doesn’t include $4,081 debt to political consultant for work performed for Santos not yet paid.

Stephen was the first school board member to propose building a 9th grade campus, which will open later this month, on time and under budget, and solve the overcrowding at the high school. He championed building the arts education center with a 550-seat performing arts theater, along with the renovation of restrooms and classrooms across the district.

The list of educators endorsing Stephen includes:

Michael Katz- Lacabe, President, San Leandro School Board

Hermy Almonte, Clerk, San Leandro School Board

Morgan Mack-Rose, Trustee, San Leandro School Board

Bill Santora, Trustee, San Lorenzo School Board (former)

Jon Sherr, President, San Leandro Teachers Association

Mary Beth Barloga, Former principal of Roosevelt Elementary and Bancroft Middle Schools

Roxanne Ansolabehere, head librarian at San Leandro High School

David D’Antonio, teacher at Bancroft Middle School and Alameda County Teacher of the Year

Nancy Bauer, former teacher at Monroe Elementary School

Jeni Engler, teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School

Tony Farley, teacher at San Leandro High School

Rich Fishbaugh, teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School

Keith Foster, former head of maintenance for the San Leandro Unified School District

Phyllis Gee, former teacher

Fay Gipson, staff person at Bancroft Middle School

Lance Gunnerson, former head of career and technical education at San Leandro High School

Terrilynn Haggins-Bassett, teacher at Monroe Elementary School

Lance James, teacher in the Hayward school district and candidate for the San Leandro school board

Dan Martin, teacher at San Leandro High School

Starla Mason, teacher at Bancroft Middle School

Sabrina Ramirez, teacher and former President of the San Leandro Teachers Association

Saul Schultheis Gerry, teacher at a private school

Rick Staynor, teacher at San Leandro High School

Jill Synnott, teacher at San Leandro High School

Anna Urish, retired San Leandro teacher

Anne Walters, teacher at Washington Elementary School

Sarah Wood, teacher at Monroe Elementary School

Are you an educator and would you like to also endorse Stephen?  Please contact the campaign at support@cassidyforsanleandro.com

National Night Out Walk, Tuesday, August 3rd

Come to the San Leandro main library at 5:30 p.m. this Tuesday night to join the San Leandro Police Department, Citizens for a Safer San Leandro, Neighborhood Watch Groups, and members of the Business Community, for a walk from the library to the front of the Police Department.

The walk helps kick-off National Night Out, promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie.  Learn more at http://www.safersanleandro.org/

Family Swim Night, Thursday, August 5th

From 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. this Thursday, join your neighbors at the last family swim night at Farrelly Pool this summer. Bring a picnic or food for the BBQ grill and enjoy the pool.  Admission is $5.

Farrelly Pool is located on the grounds of Roosevelt Elementary School at 864 Dutton Avenue in San Leandro.

Drake’s Brewery Fundraiser for SLED, Friday, August 6th

Drake’s Brewery is hosting a tasting which will benefit the San Leandro Education Foundation (SLED) from 4 to 8 p.m.   The requested donation is $5 at the gate.  For an additional $15, you receive a Drake’s tasting glass and 3 tokens for 3 full pours.  Additional tokens can be purchased separately ($3.50 each, with net proceeds going to SLED).  Food is available for purchase.

Drake’s is located at West Gate Center on Davis Street, next and to the rear of Walmart.  21 and over please, except children with their parents.  Learn more about SLED at http://www.sledfund.org/

Curtain Call Performing Arts Pasta Feed Fundraiser, Sunday, August 8th

“Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!”  Join the Cat in the Hat and other members of the cast of SEUSSICAL from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Castro Valley Moose Lodge, 20835 Rutledge Road, Castro Valley, for a pasta feed and musical performances in support of San Leandro-based Curtain Call Performing Arts.  Learn more at http://www.curtaincallperformingarts.net/

San Leandro Sports Foundation Spaghetti Feed, Tuesday, August 12th

The pasta express does not slow down.  From 5 to 8 p.m., enjoy a wonderful spaghetti dinner and ice cream social at Ryan O’Connell Hall across from St. Leander’s Church in San Leandro.  The dinner is to support the San Leandro Sports Foundation (SLSF).

Learn more about the SLSF’s efforts to transform Burrell Field and the swimming pool at San Leandro High School into clean, modern facilities at http://www.slsfi.org/

I’m the first candidate for San Leandro mayor to have completed the necessary paperwork to run for office in the November elections.  Thank you for your support.  Together, let’s create a safe, vibrant and sustainable San Leandro!

Offering pensions helps attract and retain quality workers. Our city employees deserve good pensions. But in this economy and with city reserves nearly exhausted, the city can no longer afford to pay 100% of the employee pensions costs. To avoid a fiscal meltdown, city employees should start contributing to the cost of their pensions. This would substantially solve the city’s fiscal crisis, and not negatively impact the pensions employees would receive when they retire.

The San Leandro City Manager earlier this year called for the same reform in a position paper on public employee pensions issued by city managers in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

I am the only candidate for mayor to advocate for pension reform. Mayor Santos and Council member Starosciak continue to support the city’s payment of $10 million each year to CalPERS, constituting almost 15% of the general fund, with no contribution by employees to the cost of their pensions.

If city employees had contributed to the cost of their pensions over the four years Tony Santos has been mayor, instead of $24 million in deficit spending, a police force cut by 10%, nearly exhausted reserves and a 10% San Leandro sales tax on the November ballot, San Leandro would possess over $10 million in reserves, have a fully staffed police force, and could be offering incentives to attract businesses to San Leandro.