Endorsements

President and

Vice President:

John Kerry and John Edwards

Based on the last four years, we can safely say that we hope we do not have to endure "four more years" of President Bush. John Kerry's stance on the war in Iraq, his tax plans to benefit the middle-class, his environmental agenda and his international outlook make him the better candidate for the U.S. presidency.

State Senator:

No Endorsement

None of the four candidates seem to have viable plans for improving their constituents' district or a record of stellar performance in the state Senate.

State Assembly: Loni Hancock

Hancock was a proponent for students in her last term, fighting for equal access to education and against UC, CSU and community college fee hikes.

She has proven willing and able to go to bat for her constituents-she is a champion for K-12 and higher education, clean air and water, universal health care in California and recycling.

BART Director: Bob Franklin

Franklin has innovative ideas that will benefit students, including running late-night BART service on Friday and Saturday nights and cheaper fares.

He prioritizes BART seismic retrofits, but believes the system should not expand until the current stations and tunnels are properly retrofitted.

U.S. Senator:

Barbara Boxer

While Republican candidate Bill Jones has some innovative ideas about alternative fuel sources, he cannot match Democratic Boxer in terms of qualification and proven success. In her 12 years in the Senate, Boxer has fought for the public school system, after-school programs, a woman's right to choose and community and gun safety. Boxer is a strong voice for Californians in the Senate.

U.S. Representative: Barbara Lee

Lee, the "lone warrior," truly listens to the concerns of her constituents and votes with her conscience.

Improving the U.S. health care system has been a top priority for Lee in her last six years in Congress, and she supports tax relief for middle- and low-income families. She too will continue to be a strong Californian voice in Congress if re-elected.

AC Transit Director: Christian Peeples

Peeples hopes to reduce AC Transit's negative impact on the environment while still providing high-quality transit service. He has served this position since 1997, overseeing the entire AC Transit system. He wants to explain cuts and service reductions to transit riders.

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