Is Josh Becker the Democratic Party's version of Steve Poizner, Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina? None of these candidates bothered to run (plus two didn't bother to vote) and serve their local communities where voters could have learned more about them, their policies and their ability forge compromises for the public benefit. All are wealthy Silicon Valley types who think they're too sophisticated for the issues that affect the daily lives of people who work and live in Peninsula communities.

Yoriko Kishimoto and Rich Gordon did it the right way, the hard way. We know who they are and what they stand for. California needs to reject these multi millionaires and go with candidates who have been previously vetted by the voters. They each have voting records and support from people we trust.

Supporting a fellow who has never had to deal with tough issues relating to transit, housing densities, employee pension regulations, neighborhood crime, safe routes to school, general fund deficits, preservation of open space and blight in redevelopment zones is dangerous. These thorny issues don't always have easy answers but usually have people passionate about the different aspects in each.

The 21st Assembly seat is not for sale to the new rich kid on the block.

Please tell me who besides Whitman didn't vote. Even as a Rebublican, won't vote for someone who hasn't voted in the past, even if she is McCain's preferred peerson, certainly would have considered her IF as a citizen she had voted.

Lord help us if Gordon gets in. He talks, but doesn't follow through and doesn't return phone calls (although others in his same capacity have!).

Whitman and Fiorina have very poor voting records. This information is all over the internet.

Another case were the media keep judging who will win by ho has raised the most money. Together with the foul judgment by the Supreme Court relating to money in politics, we will see more and more newly rich start to buy political office. That spells the conversion of Democracy into Plutocracy and should be rejected by all voters, regardless of party, on a matter of principle.
While usually inactive in politics, I will do what I can for Rich Gordon, who has been a very good Supervisor.

Just because they have money, does not recommend any of these millionaires for political office. Huffington thought he could buy the republican primary some years ago, but an even worse candidate won it with better propaganda, but thankfully lost.

If money raising is now the criterion for getting an elected office,
woe be us.

Ironically, Yoriko is only candidate who is funding her own campaign.

"venture capitalist from Menlo Park" = A Richie-Rich with nothing better to do (see John Boyle, MP City Council).

Thanks, but no thanks, Josh.

In times like these - with California ranking 46th in the US on secondary school funding among other issues - we need people that can think out of the box and have political experience generally. We have plenty of career politicians working for us in Sacremento already, why not open up the field to those with a broader base of experience?

Amazing! Anyone that has worked around Candidate Becker certainly would not find him to be the idle rich! He is a whirlwind, multi-tasking to meet his job needs as well as contributing to community funds and nonprofits. His energy is boundless, the kind of thing that we need to move us through these difficult times in California. The fact that he has accountably worked to fund his campaign should not be held against him.

Really? Josh Becker a "richie-rich with nothing better to do". If you read the article or looked into Becker's background you would see that all of his support came from people that he's worked with in his many ventures, including a majority of which were non-profit. For most of his life he has been hyper-active in the community, starting and working with organizations that find solutions to the many problems that our current legislature is completely inept to even address. If he didn't follow the path of others in the race through everyday politics than that's even better! He is a super intelligent, fresh face, that understands how the system works through his extensive policy work. He's the only one I trust to finally bring change to our broken state.

I am very interested in Josh Becker's candidacy. He has been a real positive contributor politically through Clean Tech and Green Business Leaders for Obama, and Full Circle Fund, which have inspired and empowerd many thousands of others to take action for positive new solutions.

To fix Sacramento (which is a complete and utter mess), seems to me we need some bold innovation and fresh new leadership in the Assembly.

Rich Gordon is too much of a politician. Yoriko is intriguing, but Josh Becker is not only super bright and but his connections to the innovation sector as well as to key folks in the Obama administration, could be a game changer in Sacramento. He is definitely not like Whitman -- he has voted and been actively involved all his life. Seems to me that's the kind of combination we need.

Plus he has young kids in the public schools and would e motivated to prioritize education improvements as well.

I'll be watching as the race unfolds. Should be fascinating!

An Assembly member with no government experience? Running a company and being a good guy isn't enough. First off, running your own company is the worst experience for working with nearly 100 other Assembly members. Governing is hard and takes a whole lot of accommodation and time.

Let Becker apply for a commission seat, run for School Board or city council. Voters need to have a chance to see him in action. Can he play fair and get something (anything) accomplished in the grinding world of government. Voters want to see his voting record and I don't mean how he would have voted had he been on a commission, a school board or a city council.

In response to Mr. Steinberg, Been There, Seen That, and a few others, there seems to be a faulty assumption that by virtue of his past job as a venture capitalist Mr. Becker is a frivolous millionaire and that he has bought his candidacy. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that Mr. Becker has managed to raise the money he has thanks to people - voters, just like you and I - who over the years, and through his track record, have come to trust him and believe in him and his capacity to change the horrible mess in Sacramento. Mr. Becker is one of the most socially conscious persons I have ever met, deeply devoted to improving his community. Look up what he has done, you will be surprised by what he has accomplished.

I went on the California State web site to see who has given Becker money. It was educational. These may be people in the venture capital world but where are the names of people who have been involved in Menlo Park or San Mateo County? Becker's web site has no endorsement list. Where are the environmentalists who he claims to have gathered up for his Environmentalists for Obama organization? Who were these people?

Were any of these people involved when the Stanford's Trail issue landed at the Board of Supervisor's Chamber? DId Becker even know this was an issue and that Rich Gordon delivered the vote from the Board to force Stanford to withdraw their cheesy plan?

This is just one issue and there have been many where Becker never showed his face.

I don't care that Becker is wealthy. Hats off to him but he needs to find his humility and start his political career at the local level, just as Kishimoto and Gordon have. Don't jump the line! It's just too arrogant.

Don't jump the line! It's just too arrogant.

Why does the name Schwartenegger come into my head

Has anyone ever heard of Josh Becker? Was he a participant in the downtown/El Camino Real Study? Did he speak out when the Derry Project was hijacked by the council's private negotiating team? Was Becker involved in the Cadillac site project discussion? Is he a proponent of High Speed Rail? What does Josh think of the pension problem in cities on the Peninsula? Does he support the Redwood City development of the salt pond?

Who is this fellow and why does he want to represent us in Sacramento? He's got a whole lot of explaining to do and fast.

Hope his advisors have the time to tutor this guy.