Brian and Barbara were elected to the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board in 2012. Brian served on the Contra Costa Democratic Central Committee for six years and has two children who attend Mt. Diablo schools. Barbara taught students with special needs and was a high school vice principal. Her children attended Mt. Diablo schools.

The DVDC meets from 7-9 p.m. at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Please park on Deerpark Drive, the first right after the library, unless you have difficulty walking. For more information, call 925-946-0469 or visit the club's web site.

Governor Jerry Brown proposed a 2013-2014 Budget in January. After input from the Assembly and Senate and revised numbers, the “May Rewrite” has now been released. Assemblymember Joan Buchanan will discuss the main topics and the implications of the California Budget. With her breadth of knowledge and her ability to make complex concepts simple, Joan will give us a good understanding and the next steps we need to take.

Assemblymember Buchanan will also discuss a proposed financial path forward the  Assembly Democrats have created the "Blueprint for a Responsible Budget," a set of guidelines for lawmakers as we craft the state budget in time for the June 15 deadline.

The local speaker at this meeting will be John Mills, Future Candidate for the San Ramon City Council. 

John is a local Democrat who is planning to run in this fall’s election. He’s spent his career as staff to elected officials at the city, county, and state levels of government since 2000, most recently as the Chief of Staff since 2006 to Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager. His public service extends beyond his work life, including as a member of the First 5 Contra Costa Children and Families Commission since 2008 and the Chair for Legislative Advocacy of the Country Club Elementary School PTA Board since 2011. John also has been involved with the City of San Ramon since 2006, serving on the City’s Economic Development and Housing Advisory Committees, and most recently as a member of the Parks and Community Services Commission.

The meeting will take place at the Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, in Danville. Social time at 6:15 p.m., dinner at 6:45 p.m., with the program at 7:15 p.m. Members and invited guests can enjoy the dinner and program for $25, non-members $30, presentation only is $5 (requested donation). Even if you opt to attend just the meeting, please join us at 6:15 pm to talk to socialize and have fun.

Please RSVP by Monday, May 20 to Jim Donnelly. Mail checks, made out to Jim Donnelly, to 373 Century Circle, Danville, CA 94526. For more information, visit the club's web site.

The Tri-Valley Democrats meet at the IBEW Hall, 6250 Village Parkway, in Dublin at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit the club's web site.

President: Katie Ricklefs
Vice President: John Hall
Secretary: Marie McDonald
Treasurer: Carol Nacon

Congratulations to our officers! Please contact any member of the Board of Directors if you would like to volunteer to help our club and its programs in the coming year.

The club's meeting will be held at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, in Lafayette. The club's social hour will begin at 7:00 p.m., with a business meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. There is a $5 charge at the door to help the club cover meeting expenses. As part of the club business meeting prior to Kish Rajan's presentation, the club will hold its annual officer elections for the 2013-14 year.

Kish has a 20-year track record of success in both government and the private sector. During his talk, Kish will discuss his work with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). It was created by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as California’s single point of contact for economic development and job creation efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. 

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Kish began his public sector career on Capitol Hill as an aide first to United States Senator Barbara Boxer and then later to Phil Angelides who went on to become California State Treasurer. 

Kish left to build a 14 year career in the private sector as a business development executive in the mobile technology arena, managing vital business partnerships that created hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars of shareholder value.

While building this successful business career, Kish earned a JD, started a family, and settled back in his hometown of Walnut Creek.  In 2008, Kish re-entered public service when was elected to the Walnut Creek City Council.  Drawing on his political and business experience Kish became a regional leader who advocated for transportation improvement, education and economic development.

In 2012, Governor Brown appointed Kish Rajan as the GO-Biz director to lead the executive team. His directive from Governor Brown is to enhance California’s job creation effort by streamlining business regulations, promoting statewide economic development, and fostering greater international trade opportunities.

Do you have an idea or need help with a state agency? Do you want to give your opinion about legislation impacting your community? Then here's an opportunity for a personal meeting with Senator DeSaulnier. No appointment is necessary.

Click here to see a flyer about this event.

Editors Ellis Goldberg and Marie McDonald have compiled a newsletter of information about the austerity hoax, DISCLOSE Act, Truth Bites, Did You Know items, and releases from our elected officials. 

Click here to read this issue!

Jim will present the history of scientific evidence of climate change and current research with up-to-date charts and data substantiating its huge effects. He will also discuss the expected Climate Change impacts for the US and globally.

Jim is an Environmental, Health & Safety consultant with more the 40 years of experience. He has presented many papers and written book chapters on air pollution control and waste management. He has also been a peer reviewer of EPA’s Combustion research program. Jim provided testimony before the U.S. Senate on air pollution controls for the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. He is a Qualified Environmental Professional, Past President of the Institute for Professional Environmental Practice and currently serves as the Golden West Section Chair of the Air & Waste Management Association. He teaches environmental review courses for professionals pursuing an environmental professional certification with one section of the course covering Global Climate Change. He is also a MSHA instructor for surface miners. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry and a M.A. in Leadership.

The meeting will take place at the Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, in Danville. Social time at 6:15 p.m., dinner at 6:45 p.m., with the program at 7:15 p.m. Members and invited guests can enjoy the dinner and program for $25, non-members $30, presentation only is $5 (requested donation). Even if you opt to attend just the meeting, please join us at 6:15 pm to talk to socialize and have fun.

Please RSVP by Monday, April 22, to Jim Donnelly. Mail checks, made out to Jim Donnelly, to 373 Century Circle, Danville, CA 94526. For more information, visit the club's web site.

$$$ Out! People In!, A Northern California coalition dedicated to getting big money out of politics, will present the award-winning documentary Pricele$$, at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center's Community Room on Sunday, April 7, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Admission is free. 

Pricele$$ has been described by Harvard University Professor Alex Keyssar as, "an excellent and vivid introduction to one of the central challenges facing American democracy: the role of money in politics…things have to change and soon."

The program will also feature a live Q&A Skype session with Harvard Professor Lawrence Lessig, founder of Rootstrikers, discussing how big money rules the USA. 

RSVPs are appreciated, but not required, to moneyoutpeoplein@yahoo.com.

The Tri-Valley Democrats meet at the IBEW Hall, 6250 Village Parkway, in Dublin at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit the club's web site.