Eduardo Martinez for Richmond City Council

Please come to the special Richmond City Council meeting to appoint a new city council member on Feb. 4 at 6:30 to support me and to demand that there is no special election.
I will be having a short rally at 6:00 to explain why there should be no special election and why I should be appointed.

We have run into people from out of town who are being paid to circulate petitions asking for a special election and we expect they they will pay people to come to the council meeting with this demand. Someone is also conducting a phone survey to see who the best opponent to challenge Martinez might be in a special election. It is obvious that "Big Money" will be spent in a special election if it comes to that.

As you probably know, I lost to Gary Bell by 516 votes despite Moving Forward (a Chevron PAC) spending $422,000 in support of Bell and $143,000 for negative ads in opposition to Martinez. Gary Bell's unfortunate serious medical problems has left a city council seat vacant. The Council has a meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, February 4th to consider appointing someone to fill this seat. The charter establishes that the council shall appoint a replacement and has done so every time in the past.

2. He almost won the election despite a well financed smear campaign by Chevron.

3. Eduardo would be an independent voice for the community to see that Chevron is a good and safe neighbor.

4. Eduardo would also help the Council to better reflect the diversity of the city.

1. It would take hundreds of thousands of dollars from the general funds resulting in less city services.

2. This will just be an opportunity for Chevron to continue its bitter campaign to divide the city.

3. An election every two years is enough and its time for the council to take care of business of the city.

1. That you come to the council meeting on Feb. 4.

2. That you email and call Councilmember Rogers to ask him to vote for Eduardo to fill the vacancy.

E-mail: elirapty@aol.com

If he gives you a convoluted answer about how a special election is a better strategy, please ask him whether he will endorse Eduardo and how much he (Rogers) will contribute to Eduardo's campaign as against the millions that Chevron will be spending to defeat him.

Critics of my appointment say that it is contrary to appoint someone with a position different from Gary Bell's. After looking at Gary Bell's website, I see that this argument is specious. Our positions are the same.

Under "A Better Environment For Richmond", Gary Bell's website states: "I will use my personal experience to protect and preserve our open spaces, both for today and generations to come. I believe our shoreline should always have public access for Richmond residents to enjoy. Although we have to partner with our industrial based economy, I will work hard to hold them accountable for maintaining safe operations that protect our air and water quality and prevents the types of accidents that have recently harmed our community."

His "Jobs For Richmond" platform is the same as mine with focus on "retention and expansion", putting forth a policy of working with existing businesses, incorporating visits with local business owners. I plan to go a step further by helping to create more business affiliations with similar concerns. Like Gary Bell, I want to attract new "business which are compatible with our current social and economic environment". I would add that I would look for businesses that are also compatible with our new city plan. I have concern for insuring that Richmond residents are properly trained for the current and future job market and that the job market provides living wages.

As a teacher, the youth of Richmond is one of my primary concerns. Creating avenues for them to generate healthy lives in Richmond also entails teaching them to become the future leaders of the community.

The conflict over the city council seat is not one of policy, but of power.

For some reason, Chevron poured $1.1 million into the last campaign to defeat me. They have shown that they are willing to do so again. Let is not waste the $100,000 to $200,000 it would cost the city to run a special election for a power play. Insist that the city council do its job and appoint the next council member as the city charter has instructed them to do.

6,500 Richmond voters supported my candidacy and platform in 2010. I'm very encouraged by them.

I support Mayor McLaughlin, and councilmembers Jovanka Beckles and Jeff Ritterman, who are leading the amazing transformation of Richmond. I believe that all councilmembers have contributions to make.

I said after the last election that I would continue to work within the community and with the Mayor, the City Council and others to build Richmond into a City for our Children. Take a moment to review what I have done since I made this promise - see My Recent Work >>

I am running against anyone favoring Chevron over Richmond or casinos over a sustainable future.

There is a new breath of fresh air in Richmond. A true renaissance taking place. A dignified way of interacting with industry and developers. A vision for the people and the future.

My campaign takes not a dime of corporate money. I'm a progressive democrat responsive to Richmond residents and small businesses. I stand for jobs for all, education, peace and solidarity, and for building together a great city for all our children.