Mariko Yamada, Democrat for State Assembly

What a Week! Thank You!

Dear Friends and Family:

First, my apologies for being late with this edition of Mariko's Missive. As of midnight on Tuesday, June 3, our campaign voice mailboxes were full and over the course of this past week, we've received email in the hundreds. I want to thank each and every caller and emailer - we have tried to acknowledge each one of your contacts personally and hope we've not missed a single one.

From Start To Finish-Election Day Is Here!

Dear Friends and Family:

Our journey to Election Day began fifteen months ago when a few of you braved a cloudy and bitter cold morning in Fairfield for a 9 a.m. press announcement in front of the Solano County Government Center. We thawed out in time for the second-half of our announcement in front of the Yolo County Superior Court in Woodland, under lunchtime skies that had cleared to make way for sunshine and a larger gallery of friends.

“Go For Broke” – GOTV Weekend Is Here!

Dear Friends:

This past Monday, I was privileged to share Memorial Day speaking honors with Mr. Jim Iso, representing members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Division, and MIS (Military Intelligence Service) who attended a special recognition service at the Davis Cemetery. In response to your requests, we’ve attached my remarks here.

Fasten Your Seatbelts - 10 Days To Go

Dear Friends and Family:

Hang onto your hats! We’re entering what I’ve always called “high-campaign time”, the final days of the campaign that increase in complexity and intensity. This is the time that can bring out the best – and unfortunately the worst – in a campaign.

And what can we expect to see these last ten days?

May is for Moms and Memorials

Dear Friends:

We’re now just two weeks out from the goal we set fifteen months ago – to run a strong, clean, grassroots campaign focused on the issues. We also committed to honesty, transparency, and inclusion in our efforts, and I can proudly say that I believe we have done everything that we said we would do on this journey to Election Day, June 3.

To The Beat of a Different Drummer

Dear Friends:

This past Sunday, friends and family gathered for a good, old-fashioned cook-out in Davis' Central Park. Together, we marked "one-month-to-go" in our campaign.

My older brother surprised me by flying-up from Los Angeles, along with his wife, Jean, and his daughter and son-in-law. I was deeply touched to see them when I arrived and learned that they'd helped with set-up for the day.

Dear Friends:

Public safety and education have always been among my top priorities. As a county supervisor, I’ve served as regional chair for our five-county emergency medical services agency, and know first-hand the work our fire, law enforcement, ambulance, and hospital services do 24 hours each day. As a parent, I was an active volunteer in the classroom as well as on district-level committees in support of public schools.

Dear Friends:

Needless to say—the Yamada campaign has had quite a week! After more than a year of trying to call attention to some of the issues we care about most--addressing homelessness, examining why West Sacramento has the highest elder poverty rate in the six-county SACOG region, and advocating for rent stabilization for mobile home park residents--it was the parking ticket story that got the media’s attention.

A Stand for Working Families

Dear Friends:

This Missive comes with a particular sense of accomplishment for our campaign--the same feeling that follows hard work and honest effort.

On Monday, April 7, we posted to our website news that we had earned the support of Davis Firefighters Local 3494 along with the Sacramento Central Labor Council and the Napa-Solano Counties Central Labor Council and its affiliated United Workers for Local Government. They join our first labor supporters--the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 39 and the California Nurses Association.

Looking at the California Budget - Closing the Gap
While out walking I get asked a lot about why I would want to get involved with the Assembly during these hard budget times. The answer? I've never shied away from tough problems.

There is no question that the Governor's proposed budget - built around "cuts alone" is destructive to our schools.

While I have long held the position that new taxes should be voter-approved, we face an emergency circumstance where that may simply not be possible.