Politics

Younger Calif. Democrats Will Jockey to Replace Boxer

Published

11 years ago

January 9, 2015

In this July 13, 1995 file photo, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington to discuss President Clintons decision to approve the Defense base Closure and Realignment Commission base closure recommendations. Boxer, one of the chamber’s most tenacious liberals, announced Thursday she will not seek re-election in 2016 to a fifth term. (AP Photo/Joe Marquette, File)

KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Barbara Boxer’s decision not to seek re-election to a fifth term provides a rare opening for ambitious California Democrats who have been waiting patiently to move up the political ranks.

Boxer, 74, and her Senate colleague, Dianne Feinstein, 81, won election to the Senate in 1992 and have pretty much had a lock on their jobs for as long as they have wanted to keep them. Another venerable Democrat is Gov. Jerry Brown, 76, who was just sworn in for a record fourth term, including two in the 1970s and 1980s.

“The number of Democratic rock stars that have been sitting on the bench is becoming longer and longer,” said Michael Trujillo, a Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles. “Now, I think a lot of these folks are ready to bring their brand to a larger stage.”

Among the Democrats who might try to succeed Boxer: Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a former San Francisco mayor; state Attorney General Kamala Harris; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; and Tom Steyer, a retired San Francisco hedge fund billionaire who sought to make climate change an issue in the midterm elections.

While lauding Boxer in prepared statements, none of the potential candidates indicated a possible Senate run.

Democratic Reps. Loretta Sanchez and Adam Schiff are also considered names to watch.

Boxer made it clear she felt no pressure to make room for a new generation of Democrats.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say because you reached a certain age, it’s time to retire,” she said during a telephone call with reporters.

Still, she said she wanted to announce her decision early enough in the election cycle to give potential successors plenty of time to organize.

“I don’t know if one person will come forward or 15 will come forward,” Boxer said.

Boxer has been a staunch supporter of abortion rights, gun control and environmental protections. She has said she is most proud of the vote that she cast against the war in Iraq, but also told reporters Thursday that she wished she had done more to galvanize opposition.

“It just weighs on me,” she said.

Political observers say Boxer’s work to protect the environment is one of her legacies. Boxer authored legislation that has designated more than 1 million acres of land in California as wilderness, a classification that generally does not allow for motor vehicles, new roads and mining. She also led efforts to prevent oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

However, she has failed to help pass meaningful legislation to curb global warming, a longtime goal that became even more distant when Republicans won control of the Senate and Boxer lost her prized role as chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Boxer was elected to the House in 1982 and to the Senate one decade later. That was an election that marked a watershed year for women in politics, with four winning U.S. Senate seats.

Boxer would have been a prohibitive favorite to win re-election in a state where only 28 percent of the registered voters are Republicans. In California’s open primary system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party.

Republicans view the retirement as positive for the 2016 elections in part because it could mean that Democrats will have to spend money to retain the seat, which they probably would not have done if Boxer were in the race. Still, it would be a huge upset if a Republican were to win.

“A California Republican starts every statewide race 15 points behind and is competing against arguably the most effective state political party in the country,” said Republican strategist Aaron McLear.

Elections in California are hugely expensive and could require Republicans to side with a candidate able to fund his or her own campaign, such as Rep. Darrell Issa or business executive Carly Fiorina, who lost to Boxer in her last race and is weighing a run for president. An aide said Issa had no plans to run for the Senate.

One potential Republican candidate is Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, who ran a competitive race for state controller last year. Her spokesman, Tim Clark, said the mayor had preliminary discussions about the possibility of running for Boxer’s seat and will revisit the issue now that she has announced her retirement. Swearengin cannot run again for Fresno mayor in 2016 because of term limits.

____

Associated Press writers Erica Werner and Donna Cassata in Washington and Fenit Nirappil in Sacramento contributed to this report.

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Life Expectancy in Marin City, a Black Community, Is 15-17 Years Less than the Rest of Marin County

“Marin City residents have been fighting for years just to stay here. Residents live with the fear of being forced out, public housing torn down and rebuilt for the wealthy. Due to ongoing issues continually being ignored, residents feel they must be empowered to make their own decisions for the future survival and protection of their community,” said Terrie Green, a lifelong resident and executive director of Marin City Climate Resilience (MCCR).

Published

5 days ago

February 3, 2026

Oakland Post

Marin City community leaders (l.-r.): Terrie Green, executive director of Marin City Climate Resilience (MCCR); Wambua Musyoki, Stanford University; Khamil Callahan, Santa Rosa Junior College; Serenity Allen, Xavier University; and Chinaka Green, MCCR associate director.

By Ken Epstein

People may be aware of the existence of Marin City and know a little about its history as a center of U.S. resistance to fascism in the World War II. But fewer know of the community’s ongoing struggles to survive potential displacement while facing severe toxic health and environmental conditions on a daily basis.

These conditions cause chronic disease and premature death, dramatically shown in the sharp difference in life expectancy between Black and white people living in households only a few miles apart.

A historically African American enclave, Marin City, occupies a 0.5-square mile area between Mill Valley and Sausalito with its own freeway exit near the Golden Gate Bridge. In contrast, the rest of Marin County rates among the healthiest, wealthiest, and most environmentally friendly counties in the country. However, it is one of the least racially equitable counties in California, with Black residents being the most impacted, according to the Advancement Project, a civil rights organization,.

The community owes its continued existence to the World War II generation that came to the Bay Area from the South to work in the shipyards and to the resiliency of its residents. Despite often facing discriminatory practices, such as redlining and a segregated school district, Marin City residents have continually created a strong community rich in culture, spirituality, and community values.

The current statistics are brutal. At present, Marin City residents face more than a 17-year difference in life expectancy compared to neighboring cities and towns. Contributing to these conditions are a lack of investment in public housing and infrastructure: unsafe drinking water, air pollution caused by proximity to the U.S. 101 freeway, unsanitary stormwater drainage that produces mold and mildew, as well as old and broken lead pipes and sewage in homes.

As an unincorporated community, Marin City residents must rely primarily on the elected Marin County Board of Supervisors, Department of Public Works, Transportation Authority of Marin and Caltrans for the decisions and investments that impact their lives.

MCCR’s focus is on environmental justice. Its purpose is to empower and advocate for individuals to embrace sustainable living, envision a future free of environmental harm and collectively work towards a better Marin City. MCCR’s motto is “Forever Marin City.”

MCCR has created a unique team of Marin City Youth Environmentalists who have studied and researched environmental issues impacting the health of the community.

Serenity Allen is an MCCR Youth Coordinator/Young Environmentalist studying to be a medical social worker at Xavier University. She has been working in the community for six years. “I strongly believe that where you live should not determine how long you are able to live,” she said.

Allen referred to the work done by former Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis, who stated that Marin City has a 17-year life expectancy difference between residents of Marin City (77 years) and more affluent areas like Ross (94 years).

“The research shows this gap is heavily correlated with race and socioeconomic status. Sausalito, which is not even two miles outside of Marin City, has a life expectancy of 92 years,” Allen said.

“Many elements contribute to this gap,” she said. “A major factor may be the 12 acres of toxic flood waters that pour down off the highway into low-lying Marin City.

In addition, “We do not have a barrier wall protecting us along our highway; the rest of Marin County has 16 barrier walls to protect from noise and air pollution. Marin City has been fighting for a barrier wall since 2008,” she said.

Octavien Green, an MCCR high school environmentalist, spoke about the impact of the absence of recreational facilities on health and wellness, particularly for youth.

“Lack of investment in our recreational facilities means we have fewer spaces and opportunities for physical activity, which contribute to serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, weak bones and low energy, especially for kids. We are presently involved in an ongoing struggle just to rebuild a sports ball field for the community that’s been unusable for the last 15 years.”

“Marin City is the center of Black culture for all of Marin County,” said Green. “Historically, though, the county has not invested in the community, and you see it in the life expectancy, the highest chronic disease and disability rates and eight times the amount of asthma. In the last six weeks, we’ve had three young people in their 40s and 50s die from heart attacks. This is alarming and must be addressed.”

Looking toward next steps, she said, “The way forward is through incorporation,” which would mean that Marin City would have its own elected leadership to find solutions that determine the future of the community.

This is the first in a series of articles on Marin City, examining conditions in the community and interviewing both community members and public officials.