Like the statewide races, the Bay Area Reporter has already endorsed a number of LGBTQ candidates running for various offices in the region who won their primaries and are advancing to the November election. They are Rebecca Kaplan for Alameda County Board of Supervisors, District 3; Laura Parmer-Lohan, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 3; and Ken Carlson, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 4.
We also previously endorsed Omar Torres, San Jose City Council, District 3; and Amie Carter, Ph.D., for Sonoma County superintendent of schools. You can read our previous endorsements This text will be the linkhere>.
Other candidates
For the November 8 ballot, there are more LGBTQ candidates seeking election who we recommend.
In Alameda County, Alfred Twu, who is nonbinary, is running for the AC Transit board's at-large seat. Long active in transportation and housing issues, and currently a Berkeley planning commissioner, Twu would add a fresh voice to the agency that is still wooing back riders after the first years of the COVID pandemic.
In the Santa Cruz area, Adam Spickler is seeking reelection to the Cabrillo Community College Board, Area 2. He was initially appointed in 2018 when no one else ran for the seat, and took office in 2019. Spickler is a trans man who has done a great job on the college board and deserves reelection.
In Cupertino, J.R. Fruen, an attorney, is making a second bid for a City Council seat and would be its first out member. He is a third generation native of the Peninsula city and has good ideas on housing and other issues.
Marguerite Young, a lesbian, is seeking reelection to the East Bay Municipal Utility District, Ward 3. She has done a good job on the board and, as California is in the midst of a drought, her experience with water conservation and related issues is vital.
In El Cerrito, Gabriel Quinto is seeking reelection to the City Council and is currently serving as mayor for 2022. He is a gay HIV-positive Filipino American man who has done a significant job advocating for working families.
In Oakland, trans dad Nick Resnick is running for the school board in District 4. Should he win, he would be the first known LGBTQ person to serve on the body. He is running to add representation to the board, which is critical given the national anti-trans attacks on families like his. He would be a solid addition to the board.
In Redwood City, Chris Sturken, a gay man, is running for the District 1 seat. He serves on the city's planning commission and co-founded the county's LGBTQ Democratic club. He wants to make the city a more safe, livable, and affordable place to live. Sturken would be a good councilmember.
In Richmond, Cesar Zepeda is making another bid for City Council. This time, he has elected experience as president of the West County Wastewater District, serving San Pablo, parts of Pinole, and the northern areas of Richmond. If elected to the council, he would advocate for local hire policies, affordable housing, and a healthy environment. We recommend him in this race.
In District 4, Jamin Pursell is running for the City Council. They are queer and nonbinary and advocate for crime prevention strategies that relieve "burden of absolute responsibility from the police," their website stated. Pursell also supports addressing affordable housing and development.
Sarah Fields, who is queer and bisexual, is running for San Mateo City Council. Fields advocates housing near public transit and has experience working in state and local government. She would be a strong addition to the council.
Victor Aguilar, a gay man, is seeking reelection to the San Leandro City Council. He stated on his website that he's running to continue to be a progressive voice on the elected body. He is unopposed but will be on the ballot.
In Santa Clara, gay City Council member Anthony Becker is running for mayor. This race has been overshadowed by councilmembers' support (or lack thereof) for the San Francisco 49ers, which call the city home, and Becker supports the team. His website stated that he would work to end divisiveness among city officials and wants to make the local government transparent. The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury recently released a report critical of some city council members' support for the 49ers, including Becker, but Becker stated in media interviews that the grand jurors never spoke to him. We support Becker for mayor.
In Sunnyvale, Richard Mehlinger, who is queer and bisexual, is running for City Council in District 5. He has local government experience, chairing the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and believes that local government is where he could make the most impact. We recommend him in the race.
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