In-person candidate forum with Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Joseph Rubay who are running for the California 16th Assembly District. Following short introductory statements, the candidates will answer questions from the audience. This event is open to all. More information contact: programs@aauw-lpd.net

California State Assembly - District 16
District 16 — California State Assembly
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the District 16 — California State Assembly
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
About this office
News and links
Events
Candidates
- Ensuring our children get a top-level education from...
- Protecting the environment and battling climate change
- Defending reproductive rights and abortion access
- Help the homeless to get mental health and addiction...
- Help to reduce crime especially violent crime.
- Help our children recover from the pandemic and provide...
My Top 3 Priorities
- Ensuring our children get a top-level education from pre-k through college - and keeping them safe from gun violence
- Protecting the environment and battling climate change
- Defending reproductive rights and abortion access
Experience
Experience
Education
Biography
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan was elected to the State Assembly in 2018 to represent the 16th Assembly District. She immediately made her mark on the legislature and has made a major impact for Californians, putting people above special interests. She currently serves as Water, Parks, and Wildlife, and Chair of the Select Committee on Women's Reproductive Health – the first committee of its kind in the nation.
In the Assembly, Rebecca has focused on issues that reflect our community's values and delivering resources that our region desperately needs. She has passed major pieces of legislation, most of which received bipartisan support, including bills to strengthen gun safety, promote mental health, defend reproductive rights, protect victims of sexual exploitation, provide better access to health care, streamline government services, protect communites from wildfires, improve the environment and more. She also secured millions for local projects.
Before serving her community in the Assembly, Rebecca was an accomplished attorney, environmental advocate, community volunteer, law professor and mother. As an attorney, Rebecca specialized in ensuring major corporations complied with environmental laws and regulations by leading internal investigations to improve their environmental practices, while maintaining profitability. She also oversaw and grew her office’s pro bono program to include civil rights, immigration, homelessness and domestic violence.
Rebecca is the granddaughter of refugees, who came to the United States to escape the Holocaust. They were able to secure a sponsor, a stranger who made a great sacrifice to allow them to survive – and thrive. Their experience has shaped Rebecca's perspective, inspiring her to help others in her own community. That included coordinating the legal services effort at SFO on behalf of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) to assist refugees and immigrants impacted by the Trump Administration’s travel ban.
Rebecca is a proud Bay Area native and a product of public schools. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University Law Center. She and her husband, Darren, live in Orinda with their three young children.
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
Who gave money to this candidate?
Contributions
Top contributors that gave money to support the candidate, by organization:
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Help the homeless to get mental health and addiction treatment they need.
- Help to reduce crime especially violent crime.
- Help our children recover from the pandemic and provide then a safe place to learn and grow.
Experience
Experience
Education
Biography
I have been a Partner in a small real estate appraising business for over the last 30 years. I am a graduate of Cal State East Bay with a degree in Business Adminastration with emphases in Accounting and Management of Information Systems. I started my career with a large international accounting firm called Ernst and Young where I earned my CPA certificate. I have been a community leader for over 28 years. I have served on the Contra Costa Fair Board, Alamo Improvement Association and the Alamo Police Services Adivosory Committee.
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
Organizations (2)
Questions & Answers
Questions from League of Women Voters of California (4)
Reduce the cost of permitting and building new housing. I would propose a complete review of the laws and regulations that add unnecessary cost to the production of housing for middle to low income.
I will support Govenor Newsom's plan to delay the closing of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
I propse the study of building new state of the art nuclear power plants at the site location of old nuclear power plants and old oil refinery locations.
I support school choice to meet the educational needs of young, low-income Californians. When a mix of public and private schools compete for students, everyone benifits.
I would support a proposal that would increase the size of Los Vaqueros Reservoir . I would support proposals that would put to use the funds provided by Prop 1 (2014) and build new reservoirs to meet the growing demand of Californians.
Who gave money to this candidate?
Contributions
Top contributors that gave money to support the candidate, by organization:
More information about contributions
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Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
I believe that the politcal spectrum is a circle with most peolpe in the middle and at the top of the circle and the two opposing extremes come together at the bottom. If elected I will try to represent the highest number of people placing myself near the very top of the circle. I believe it is virtually impossisble to alway be in the exact middle therefore when the exact middle is hard to find I see myself as being on the conservative side of the equation.