Barack Obama-Organization, California
February 5, 2008 primary
revised March 24, 2009
 
 
 

OBAMA FOR AMERICA 
(Sept. 15, 2007 grab)
Headquarters: 3333 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 950, Los Angeles, CA 90010  213.383.2008
                      436 14th St., Suite 305, Oakland, CA 94612  510.268.1008   ...opened Sept. 30, 2007
 
State Director Mitchell Schwartz
(announced August 16, 2007)  President and founder (1999) of the Bomaye Company, a public affairs firm in Los Angeles.  Has served on the campaigns of Senator Boxer, Governor Davis and Mayor Villaraigosa.  Served in the Office of Public Affairs for the Department of State under President Clinton, 1993-95.  Gov. Bill Clinton's New Hampshire State Director in 1992.  Worked on the Dukakis campaign in 1988 and the Mondale campaign in 1984.
 
 
Deputy State Director and Political Director Vincent Harris
On leave from his position as chief of staff to state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles).  Served as a deputy chief of staff to Gov. Gray Davis.  Senior policy advisor to the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald.  Harris was a regional coordinator on the 1998 and 1990 Democratic Coordinated Campaigns.
 
 
Deputy Political Director and Director of Asian/Pacific Islander Outreach Van Tamom
Consultant at Bomaye Company, the Los Angeles-based public relations firm.  Democratic nominee for the 60th California Assembly District in 2006.  Event advance assistant on Gov. Gray Davis' 2003 campaign.  Graduate of Cal State University Northridge with a degree in political science.  Resident of Chino Hills.
 
 
Deputy Political Director and Director of African American Outreach Robert Cole
Chief of staff to Assemblyman Curren D. Price (CA-51).  Deputy to then Assemblywoman Debra Bowen (CA-53).  Field director for U.S. Rep. John Lewis in his Atlanta and DC offices.  B.A. in criminal justice from Morehouse College; J.D. from American College of Law.  Native of Los Angeles.
 
 
Director of Latino Outreach Edith Ramirez
On leave from position as a litigation partner in the law firm of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP.  Associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, 1993-96.  J.D. from Harvard Law School, 1992.  A.B. from Harvard-Radcliffe College, 1989.


Director of Labor Outreach
 Jason Kruger
Principal at the Dewey Square Group for over three years and ran the Los Angeles office of the Boston and DC based consulting firm. Executive director of the Governor Gray Davis Political Action Committee after serving as the director of labor union outreach and fundraising for Davis' successful 2002 re-election campaign. Special Assistant to the Director of Industrial Relations in the Davis Administration.  Senior strategist and consultant for TheStrategyGroup in Chicago during the 1994, 1996 and 1998 election cycles.  A special assistant on the 1997 Presidential Inaugural Committee.  Worked at the Grassroots and Political Relations Unit at Edelman Public Relations Worldwide.  B.A. in marketing and public relations from Columbia College in Chicago.  Chicago native.


Youth Outreach Director
 Menno Goedman
Graduate of UC San Diego, 2007.
Students for Barack Obama Coordinator Natalie Rojas
UC Santa Cruz student.

 
 
Field Director Buffy Wicks
Wicks previously served as the campaign's Western region field director in Chicago.  Political director for Wake Up Wal-Mart.  Organizer in the 'Anti-War in Iraq' campaign in San Francisco, CA.  Co-founded Hoi-Polloi, "a people’s organization created by a small group of conscientious thinkers striving for world peace."  Campaign manager on Jay Fetcher's 2004 state Senate campaign in Colorado.  Des Moines organizer on Howard Dean's Iowa caucus campaign.  Graduate of the University of Washington, 1998.
 
Regional Organization

 
Communications Director Debbie Mesloh
On leave from her position as communications director for San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris.  Public relations manager at Telocity, provider of residential broadband services, starting in late 2000.  California press assistant and Northern California field representative for Senator Feinstein.  Worked for Solem & Associates, a San Francisco public relations agency.  Media relations manager for the Atlanta City Council.  Public Information Officer for Mayor Bob Knight in Wichita, Kansas.
 

Gannet Tseggai
Started as deputy press secretary on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign.  Deputy press secretary for Sen. Ted Kennedy in Washington, DC.  During the 2004 campaign, she worked as a press assistant on Missouri Gov. Bob Holden's re-election campaign, then as a press assistant on Missouri Victory 2004, the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, and finally was dispatched to Ohio.  Graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia; double majored in political science and communications.
 
Northern California Press Secretary
 Erin Callahan
Western regional director for Amnesty International.  Graduate of UC Berkeley.
 
 
New Media
 Anshul Amar

New Media
 Greg Hauenstein
Studied film and video production at Pittsburgh Filmmakers from Sept. 2004-Aug. 2007, when he drove to Iowa to help out on the campaign.
 
 
 
Data Manager/Precinct Captain Program Director Patrick DeTemple
Geographic Information Systems Manager for the City of Berkeley, CA starting in 1996.  In 2004 he co-founded Map the Vote.  Experience in community, labor and political organizing, negotiations, and campaigns.  National field director for Earth Day in 1990.  B.A. in political science from Brown University, J.D. from Northeastern University, and M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
 
Precinct Captain Program Manager Lisa Dyson
 
 
Director of Special Projects/Senior Advisor
 		Dr. David Washington


Surrogate Scheduler
 		Amanda Moose
Experience in Hollywood including vice president of production at Alphaville Prods, development executive at Caravan Pictures, work at 20th Century Fox, and as an administrative assistant to Robert Redford, 1989-91.  Graduate of Wesleyan University.
Operations Director Sarah Peterson

Training/Education: Jeff Coleman
  

 

The Big Seven:
Steve Westly - Founder and managing partner of The Westly Group, a venture capital firm located in Menlo Park.  Sought the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2006, but lost in the primary to Treasurer Phil Angelides.  Elected Controller of California in Nov. 2002.  A founding executive (vice president) and then senior vice president of marketing, business development and international at eBay, 1997-2000,  Adjunct professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, 1991-96.  Vice President of WhoWhere?  Director of Netcom, 1994.  Deputy Director of the City of San Jose's Office of Economic Development, 1991.  President of Codd & Date, starting 1988.  Investment banker at Bridgemere Capital, starting 1986.  New business manager at Sprint Telecommunications, starting 1983.  Assistant to the President of the California Public Utilities Commission, 1980.  Worked for the U.S. Department of Energy under President Carter.  Worked for Congressman Leo Ryan, 1978.  M.B.A (1983) and A.B. in history (1978) from Stanford University.

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris - Elected San Francisco District Attorney in 2003.  Chief of the Community and Neighborhood Division, Office of the San Francisco City Attorney, 2000-03.  Managing Attorney in the Career Criminal Unit, Office of San Francisco District Attorney, 1998-2000.  Deputy District Attorney in Office of Alameda County District Attorney, 1990-98.  Law degree from Hastings College of the Law, 1989.  B.A. from Howard University, 1986.

State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero - Elected to the State Senate in a special election in March 2001; represents the 24th district, which includes East Los Angeles and much of the San Gabriel Valley.  First elected to the State Assembly in 1998.  Professor including at California State University, Los Angeles.  Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Riverside.

State Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass - Has represented Los Angeles’ 47th District since 2005.  Faculty member at USC School of Medicine - Physician Assistant Program for more than a decade.  Worked as a Physician Assistant in Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center.  Graduated from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine – Physician Assistant Program.  Raised in the Venice/Fairfax neighborhood.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti - Elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001; unanimously elected as Council President in December 2005 and unanimously re-elected in July 2007.  Prior to his election, Garcetti taught public policy, diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College and the University of Southern California.  Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and the London School of Economics.  Garcetti studied urban planning and political science at Columbia University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. in international relations.
 
Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick - Elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2005; the first and only woman elected to citywide office in the history of Los Angeles.  Los Angeles City Councilmember for the Third District, in the west San Fernando Valley, from 1993-2001.  Manager of a family owned business and social worker.  Bachelor's degree in history from UCLA and a Master's in social work from USC.

Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas - Represents Senate District 26; elected to the State Senate in Nov. 2006, after serving two terms in the State Assembly.  Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus since Jan. 2008.  Served on the Los Angeles City Council for nearly a dozen years.  Executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles.  Five years as a high school teacher.  Bachelor's degree in social relations and a master's degree in religious studies from Immaculate Heart College.  Doctorate  in social ethics and policy analysis from the University of Southern California.

Endorsements include:
Congressmen
Congressman George Miller (CD 7 – East Bay of San Francisco)  (announced Jan. 18, 2008)

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CD 9 – most of Alameda County)  (announced Dec. 10, 2007)

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CD 14 - portions of San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties)  (announced Jan. 30, 2008; previously backed Sen. Chris Dodd)

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CD 18 – San Jose)  (announced Jan. 14, 2008)

Congressman Adam Schiff (CD 29 – Pasadena)  (announced Jan. 9, 2008)

Congressman Xavier Becerra (CD 31 – Los Angeles)  (announced Jan. 27, 2008; previously backed Sen. Chris Dodd)

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CD 39 – SE Los Angeles County)  (announced Jan. 18, 2008)
 

State Legislators (as of Jan. 28, 2008)
Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (SD24)
Senator Elaine Alquist (SD13)
Senator Gilbert Cedillo (SD22)
Senator Dean Florez (SD16)
Senator Alan Lowenthal (SD27)
Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas (SD26), chair of the Black Caucus
Senator Jack Scott (SD21)
Senator Darrell Steinberg (SD6)

Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass (AD47)
Assemblymember Joe Coto (AD23), chair of the Latino Caucus
Assemblymember Mike Davis (AD48)
Assemblymember Jared Huffman (AD6)
Assemblymember Ted Lieu (AD53), chair of Asian Pacific Islander Caucus.
Assemblymember Gene Mullin (AD19)
Assemblymember Nicole Parra (AD30)
Assemblymember Curren Price (AD51)
 

Los Angeles City Councilmen (as of Feb. 4, 2008)
City Council President Eric Garcetti
Councilman Richard Alarcon
Councilman Bernard C. Parks
Councilman Ed Reyes
Councilman Herb Wesson
 

More Endorsements
Edwards supporters including four co-chairs of his California campaign (Feb. 4, 2008)
 

First Lady Maria Shriver, wife of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Feb. 3, 2008 at UCLA rally with Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy)
 

SEIU California State Council (Feb. 1, 2008, two days after Sen. John Edwards announced the end of his campaign)
Represents more than 650,000 members in California, including healthcare workers, nurses, janitors, librarians, homecare workers, security officers, technicians, social workers and others. Annelle Grajeda, president.
 

Maria Elena Durazo, LA Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer  (announced Jan. 16, 2008; on leave of absence)
 

(Latino leaders announced Jan. 13, 2008)
State Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D – Los Angeles)  (formerly backed Gov. Bill Richardson)
Former State Senator Martha Escutia (formerly backed Gov. Bill Richardson)
State Senator Dean Florez (D – parts of Fresno, Kings, Kern and Tulare Counties)
Pomona Mayor Norma Torres
 

(announced Jan. 9, 2008 at Los Angeles City Hall)
Congressman Adam Schiff
former Congressman Mel Levine
Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-El Segundo)
Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks
West Hollywood Mayor John Duran
Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke
 

California Legislative Black Caucus (announced Sept. 13, 2007)
Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles)
Sen. Edward Vincent (D-Inglewood)
Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass (D- Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Baldwin Hills)
Assemblywoman Wilmer Carter (D-Rialto)
Assemblyman Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles)
Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton)
Assemblyman Curren Price (D-Inglewood)
except
Assemblyman Sandré Swanson who endorsed Sen. Clinton on July 24, 2007
Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally who endorsed Sen. Clinton on Sept. 18, 2007
 

late April 2007 at the California Democratic Party State Convention:
State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero
State Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass
San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris.
 

Women for Obama Co-Chairs: Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick and San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris (Sept. 7, 2007)
 

Latino Steering Committee members (Jan. 30, 2008)
 Yolie Flores Aguilar, LA Unified School District Board Member
Congressman Xavier Becerra
Santa Ana Councilmember David Benavides
State Senator Gilbert Cedillo, Vice Chair of Latino Legislative Caucus
Assemblyman Joe Coto, Chair of Latino Legislative Caucus
West Hollywood Mayor John J. Duran
Maria Elena Durazo, Obama Campaign National Co-Chair
Former State Senator Martha Escutia
State Senator Dean Florez
LA City Council President Eric Garcetti
Santa Ana Councilmember Michele Martinez
Former State Senator Deborah Ortiz
Assemblymember Nicole Parra
Manuel Perez, Coachella Valley Unified School District Board Member
State Senator Gloria Romero
Assemblymember Lori Saldaña
Pomona Mayor Norma Torres
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
 

And Newspapers
Dailies
Fresno Bee   (01/30/08)
La Opinión   (02/02/08)
Los Angeles Daily News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin [Ontario]   (01/27/08)
Los Angeles Times   (02/03/08)
Marin Independent Journal   (01/29/08)
Modesto Bee   (01//25/08)
Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times   (02/01/08)
Palm Springs Desert Sun   (01/23/08)
Riverside Press-Enterprise   (01/05/08)
Sacramento Bee   (01/19/08)
San Francisco Chronicle   (01/27/08)
San Jose Mercury News   (01/25/08)
Santa Cruz Sentinel   (01/24/08)
Stockton Record   (01/27/08)
Tracy Press   (02/03/08)

Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News   (01/  / 08)

Weeklies
Chico News & Review   (01/24/08)
Los Angeles CityBeat  (01//08)
Marin Pacific Sun   (01/24/08)
North Bay Bohemian   (01/23/08)
San Diego CityBeat   (01/22/08)
San Francisco Bay Guardian   (01/16/08)
Santa Barbara Independent   (01/17/08)

Specialty
Black Voice News   (01/11/08)
Los Angeles Sentinel
San Francisco Bay View
Precinct Reporter Group (Precinct Reporter, Tri-County Bulletin and Long Beach Leader)
Asian Week   (02/01/08)
San Francisco Bay Times   (01/31/08)
 
 
 

Old Info
Northern California Rep.: Chris Young
Southern Caiifornia Rep.: Julie Fitzgerald
 
 
 
 

Examples of Independent Activity (May 15, 2007)
www.obamaoc.com www.obamala.com www.sacramentoforobama.com www.sonomacountyforobama.com

Vote Hope
 

See also:  Mayhill Fowler.  "Battle Plan: An Exclusive Look Inside Barack Obama's Push to Win California"  Nov. 2, 2007.  Found on the "Burning Cane" blog.


post-primary
Congresswoman Lois Capps (CD-23 - Santa Barbara, San Louis Obispo, Ventura Counties)  (announced April 30, 2008)
Superdelegate Crystal Strait (announced May 11, 2008)
Congressman Henry Waxman (CD-30 - Santa Monica, Hollywood, Woodland Hills) and Congressman Howard Berman (CD-28 - Northern San Fernando Valley)  (announced May 15, 2008)
Congressman Pete Stark (CD-13 - the East Bay)  (announced May 16, 2008)
Congressman Jim Costa (CD-20 - San Joaquin Valley) and Congressman Dennis Cardoza (CD-18 - Southern Stockton to Northern Fresno)  (announced May 23, 2008; note Cardoza had backed Clinton, announced his support on Dec. 8, 2007) 
 
Copyright © 2007, 2008, 2009  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action