Mariko Yamada, Democrat for State Assembly

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.

All of the work we’ve done together has been recognized and strengthened by the incredible support of everyday people, working families, and the many organizations who represent them – nurses, teachers, firefighters, social workers, homecare workers, and deputy sheriffs to name just a few. I am so deeply honored to have earned their support!

I recently sent a personal letter to voters in the 8th A.D., asking for their support [see Letter at link here]. I’ve received positive feedback from those who’ve grown weary of the steady stream of glossy mailers sent by my opponent’s independent expenditure committee. I acknowledge from phone calls and web site inquiries that I, too, have friends who have and will be sending materials out on my behalf. But I hope that the voters will be able to tell the difference between the two Democrats in this race - because there are REAL differences.

Last weekend, many of us celebrated Mother’s Day. My own two daughters – Meilee in Washington, D.C. and Midori in San Diego – are not at home anymore, and my own mother, Kimiko, passed away in 2004 at the age of 90. We cared for her for 23 years.

Not too long ago, I cared for children as well as my elderly mother while juggling my career and volunteer service to the community. I remember those days very well, the long hours, the stress, the struggle to keep all in balance when there were few resources available for a middle-class working parent like me. I also remember my sister, Irene, and her long hours of caring for her mother-in-law in Los Angeles. That’s why I will make adult day health centers, caregiver resources, and senior and elder care a priority should I be privileged to serve as your representative in the Legislature.

Speaking of my sister Irene – she and her husband, Nobuyuki, paid us a visit over Mother’s Day weekend when they brought their beautiful Keeshond, “O-keanos” to the Camellia Capital Kennel Club dog show in Woodland. He won “Best of Breed”!

And finally, as we draw near to Memorial Day, I want to restate one of my earliest promises in this campaign – my commitment to veterans. When I announced my candidacy last year, I spoke of the need to address services to current and returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. I do not support the war, but I do support the warriors.

I will have the privilege of being the keynote speaker on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m., at the Davis Cemetery (820 Poleline Road, Davis, 95616) when we will honor over 20 members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Division, the all Japanese-American units who served in the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II. They remain the most highly decorated units in U.S. military history – serving honorably as Americans while their parents and siblings were interned behind barbed wire in ten Japanese American internment camps scattered across the most desolate areas of the country.

That we can rise above discrimination, bigotry, and intolerance to the highest levels of service and sacrifice is a theme that carries through today as strongly as it did over sixty years ago.

Thank you for your continuing support!

Memorial Day Weekend Volunteers Needed

On Saturday, May 24, we will be staging a MAJOR WALK for Mariko Yamada in Solano County. We will staging from our Vacaville office, 187 Butcher Road, Suite C, at 9:00 AM, and reaching out to our targeted voters in the Vacaville/Fairfield area. Please RSVP your participation right away to Don Lowrie at Don@marikoyamada.net

It is important that we make a major statement about the importance of grass-roots, volunteer-based politics, and send a message to the big-money interests who seek to buy this election for their own purposes. Stand up and make a difference!

Phone Banking Continues

We are phone banking at the office Monday-Thursday evenings, 5:00 PM-8:00 PM. Your participation helps us get the message to as many people as possible before election day. Please RSVP your participation right away to Don Lowrie at Don@marikoyamada.net

Too busy to commit to a specific date & time in the office but you still want to help? Take your own precinct, and call your neighbors on your schedule. Come on in and we will set you up with a full kit. Remember, every bit helps!