Derek Cressman
Derek Cressman
Former Candidate for California Secretary of State &
19 Years with Comon Cause!
Money and Politics: The Dilemma and What To Do About It With Prop 49 and Other Steps!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
6:15 Networking
6:45 Dinner (Optional)
7:15 Program
Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville, CA
Derek will detail the problem of big money in politics and how the Roberts Court has made things worse by striking down many necessary reforms. He’ll discuss the options for overturning the Supreme Court’s misguided rulings in Citizens United and other cases, including some historical examples of how Americans have passed previous amendments to our Constitution. Proposition 49, on this November’s ballot, is part of that historical tide and Cressman will describe what Prop 49 does and how it was placed on the ballot. Learn about Proposition 49!
For the past 19 years, Derek Cressman has been a national leader in the fight for fair elections, expanded democracy, and more transparent government. Until June of 2013, Derek Cressman served as Vice President of State Operations for Common Cause, a non-partisan government watchdog organization. He previously held the positions of Western States Regional Director and Assistant Director for Election Reform.
Cressman has worked professionally as a good government advocate since 1995 when he directed the Democracy Program for the Public Interest Research Groups. He has worked to pass and implement California’s Independent Redistricting Commission, enact California’s on-line voter registration system, and filed a successful complaint at the Fair Political Practices Commission that led to an investigation of $11 million that was secretly spent on our elections in 2012. Two organizations linked to the Koch Brothers network received a record fine as a result of Derek’s work.
He has testified before the U.S. Senate, California Assembly and Senate, served as an expert in federal litigation, and authored numerous reports as well as the book, The Recall’s Broken Promise—How Big Money Still Runs California Politics.
In 2001, he served as an international observer for elections in northern Somalia. In 2008, he observed elections in Miami, Florida with the Election Protection network.
Cressman began his career as a community organizer working with students at UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley around environmental issues. He graduated with honors from Williams College with a degree in political science in 1990.
Rachel Hurd, Board Member SRVUSD
LOCAL SPEAKERS
Rachel Hurd
Rachel Hurd was elected to the Board of Education in 2006. After years of school volunteerism, serving on the Board of Education was a natural extension of Rachel’s involvement and commitment to education in our community. She currently is a board liaison to the Facilities Oversight and Advisory Committee, the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs, the PTA Legislative Committee, and the Special Education Community Advisory Committee and is on the Finance Subcommittee, the District Negotiations Team, the Response to Intervention Task Force, the Math Acceleration Task Force, and the Parcel Tax Exploratory Committee.
Rachel graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1987. She worked for McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company in Huntington Beach , initially doing engineering analysis, then strategic technology planning and management.
Jerome Pandell
Jerome Pandell
Danville resident Jerome C. Pandell is a proud product of the San Ramon Valley’s outstanding public schools. graduating with high honors from San Ramon Valley High School in 2001. Jerome went on to graduate from Northwestern University in 2005 with honors in political science before returning to California. After graduating from U.C. Hastings College of the Law in 2008, Jerome began practicing construction law at Pandell Law Firm, Inc., in Walnut Creek.
Time: 6:15 Networking
6:45 Dinner (Optional)
7:15 Program
Where: Crow Canon Country Club
711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville, CA
Even if you opt to attend just the meeting, please join us at 6:15 pm to talk about the latest political news or to just socialize and have fun.
Members & Invited Guests: $25
Non-members: $30 ($25 for dinner and $5 requested donation to help offset program costs)
Presentation only: Free ($5 requested donation)
Please email Jim Donnelly that you are coming by Monday, August 25 (we need a ‘head count’ for the dinner). Thank you for your help.
RSVP: To make certain you have a dinner, please RSVP.
Please make checks payable to Jim Donnelly, to 373 Century Circle, Danville, CA 94526
Or call him at (925) 570-9289
Derek Cressman
6:45 Dinner (Optional)
7:15 Program
Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville, CA
Derek will detail the problem of big money in politics and how the Roberts Court has made things worse by striking down many necessary reforms. He’ll discuss the options for overturning the Supreme Court’s misguided rulings in Citizens United and other cases, including some historical examples of how Americans have passed previous amendments to our Constitution. Proposition 49, on this November’s ballot, is part of that historical tide and Cressman will describe what Prop 49 does and how it was placed on the ballot. Learn about Proposition 49!
Cressman has worked professionally as a good government advocate since 1995 when he directed the Democracy Program for the Public Interest Research Groups. He has worked to pass and implement California’s Independent Redistricting Commission, enact California’s on-line voter registration system, and filed a successful complaint at the Fair Political Practices Commission that led to an investigation of $11 million that was secretly spent on our elections in 2012. Two organizations linked to the Koch Brothers network received a record fine as a result of Derek’s work.
Rachel Hurd, Board Member SRVUSD
Rachel Hurd
Rachel Hurd was elected to the Board of Education in 2006. After years of school volunteerism, serving on the Board of Education was a natural extension of Rachel’s involvement and commitment to education in our community. She currently is a board liaison to the Facilities Oversight and Advisory Committee, the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs, the PTA Legislative Committee, and the Special Education Community Advisory Committee and is on the Finance Subcommittee, the District Negotiations Team, the Response to Intervention Task Force, the Math Acceleration Task Force, and the Parcel Tax Exploratory Committee.
Jerome Pandell
Jerome Pandell
Danville resident Jerome C. Pandell is a proud product of the San Ramon Valley’s outstanding public schools. graduating with high honors from San Ramon Valley High School in 2001. Jerome went on to graduate from Northwestern University in 2005 with honors in political science before returning to California. After graduating from U.C. Hastings College of the Law in 2008, Jerome began practicing construction law at Pandell Law Firm, Inc., in Walnut Creek.
6:45 Dinner (Optional)
7:15 Program
Where: Crow Canon Country Club
711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville, CA
Even if you opt to attend just the meeting, please join us at 6:15 pm to talk about the latest political news or to just socialize and have fun.
Non-members: $30 ($25 for dinner and $5 requested donation to help offset program costs)
Presentation only: Free ($5 requested donation)
Please make checks payable to Jim Donnelly, to 373 Century Circle, Danville, CA 94526
Or call him at (925) 570-9289