Rodriguez To Seek Spot On Gubernatorial Ballot

A former gang member turned successful author and cultural center director asked Napa residents Tuesday night for their help in running for governor.

"We need to eliminate poverty in the state of California," Luis J. Rodriguez told about 60 people at Slack Collective in Napa. "That is the root of all the problems."

Rodriguez, a Los Angeles resident, said he will be seeking the Green Party nomination when the party convenes next month. But even if he doesn't get the nomination, he will try to gain a spot on the primary ballot in June, he said.

Rodriguez said he needs 10,000 valid signatures on petitions in order to qualify for the June ballot. The petition signature-gathering period will run from Dec. 27 to the end of February.

He said he realizes that Gov. Jerry Brown will likely get the top number of votes, but he said he still thinks he has a shot at the No. 2 spot in the state's "top two" primary voting protocol.

"We just have to beat out the next person (after Brown)," Rodriguez said. He said he expects Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom to run, among other Democrats. He had no word on potential Republican candidates.

Rodriguez said he will focus on gaining signatures from young people, ethnic groups, environmental change supporters and many others who are disaffected and disengaged from the current system.

He said he supports free higher education and healthcare for everyone. He also supports the elimination of fossil fuels in favor of solar, wind or water power.

"Education is not just a luxury, it's a need," he said. For healthcare, he would extend MediCal to every person who needs it.

He said that California "has some of the worst poverty rates in the U.S.," he said. "Estimates of poverty go from 16 to 25 percent.

"It's the 50th worst state when it comes to arts funding and the 48th worst state in educational funding," Rodriguez said.

"California has the world's second largest prison system (after the U.S. federal prison system) with up to 80 percent of prisoners consisting of Chicanos/Latinos and African Americans."

Carlos Hagedorn, board member for Napa Unified School District, said he supports Rodriguez.

"He's real," Hagedorn said of Rodriguez, who met with Napa students earlier in the day. "He's made a transformation and he's real -- and he's taking it one step further to social justice in the political arena."

A campaign website for Rodriguez for people to volunteer for signature-gathering or to make donations will launch soon at www.RodriguezforGovernor.org.

See:
http://napavalley.patch.com/groups/elections/p/gubernatorial-candidate-to-visit-napa-today for more info.