League of Women Voters - Informal Mixer with Assembly Candidates at Angela’s Bistro

The League of Women Voters of Alameda (LWVA) invites you to meet and greet the candidates running for State Assembly District 18 at an informal “mixer with the candidates” from 5:30–7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at Angela’s Bistro and Bar.

All of the candidates running for the State Assembly in District 18 on June 5 (Robert “Rob” Bonta, Abel J. Guillen, Joel B. Young, and Rhonda Weber) have been invited to join the public and LWVA members at Angela’s Friday Night Flights. Angela’s is at 2301 Central Avenue (at Oak) in Alameda. Admission is free at this public event and no purchase is required.

By purchasing a glass of the featured “flight” wines for $5.00, attendees can support the LWVA’s nonpartisan voter education and voter service programs.

“This is a great opportunity for residents to discuss issues directly with the candidate who may be representing them in Sacramento. What’s up with the state budget? Who will support funding for our schools? Voters can talk to all of the candidates and compare their responses,” said LWVA President Jeff Cambra. 

Abel J. Guillen represents Area 7 on the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, Joel B. Young is an At-Large Director on the board of the AC Transit District, and Rob Bonta serves as Vice-mayor of the City of Alameda. Rhonda Weber owns a small business.

At this first-ever LWVA election mixer, voters can enjoy face-to-face conversations with candidates, interacting more than at traditional LWVA candidate forums with their more structured candidate statements and responses to questions from the LWVA and the public.

California’s primary election is Tuesday, June 5, 2012, and May 21 is the last day to register or re-register to vote in it. Voter Guides were mailed out on April 26. Beginning on May 7, early voting ballots may be mailed in. Additional voter information is available from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters’ Smart Voter web site, the California Secretary of State, and the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

Angela’s, featuring Chef Saboor Zafari, has drawn a large following since opening in 2002, and has its own organic garden located at the Rock Wall Wine Company at Alameda Point. The restaurant’s flavorful seasonal menu supports local farmers and the community. Thanks to generous support from Angela’s, Alamedans can drink wine from the flight and support the LWVA’s nonpartisan voter education and voter service programs at the same time.

This first-time “mix with the candidates” event is one of many free and public League of Women Voters of Alameda Voter Services and activities that the LWVA will offer during the 2012 election cycle. The LWVA devotes about $2,000 each year and hundreds of volunteer hours to voter education and voter service efforts in Alameda.

The League of Women Voters, a 501(c) (3) nonpartisan and nonprofit public policy educational organization, offers voter service and citizen education activities to increase citizen participation in our democracy, study community issues, and support positive public policy solutions. Membership in the League of Women Voters is open to all men and women over the age of 18. For more information on joining the LWVA please call 510-869-4969.

For more information on this May 11 social mixer with the candidates for Assembly District 18, please contact LWVA President Jeff Cambra (510-865-7369: jeffcambra@earthlink.net) or visit the LWVA events page: http://alameda.ca.lwvnet.org/Public_Events.html.