Kumagai would bring a thoughtful voice to the state Assembly

Dublin city councilman is the standout pick to replace Bill Quirk, who is stepping down after 10 years in Sacramento

Under the state's term limit rules, Assemblyman Bill Quirk could have sought a sixth and final two-year term. His decision to retire instead has led to a four-way race to succeed him in a newly drawn Alameda County district.

Only one of the candidates, Shawn Kumagai, has held elective public office, having served on the Dublin City Council since 2018. His council work, day job as district director for Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, and 20 years in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve provide Kumagai experience that helps shape his thoughtful and pragmatic politics.

Kumagai is the standout candidate for voters in the June 7 election.

The new 20th Assembly District is exceptionally racially diverse: 34% Asian, 31% Latino, 20% White and 8% Black. But it's politically very homogeneous: 57% Democrats; 25% without party preference and 13% Republicans.

The district stretches along the Interstate 880 corridor from San Leandro through Hayward to Union City and along the I-238/580 corridor from San Lorenzo through Castro Valley to parts of Dublin and Pleasanton.

Kumagai, Dublin's first openly gay councilmember, is a moderate Democrat facing a conservative Republican, Joseph Grcar, on the right and two union organizers, Jennifer Esteen and Liz Ortega, on the political left.

Grcar is a retired mathematician. Esteen is a registered nurse and organizer for Service Employees International Union. And Ortega is the executive secretary-treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council.

While Grcar wants to eliminate the state gas tax, Kumagai recognizes the devastating effect that would have on needed transportation funding and the likelihood that a chunk of the savings would end up benefitting fuel producers rather than being fully passed on to consumers.

While Ortega and Esteen want to keep extending pandemic rental housing eviction moratoriums, Kumagai points out that many landlords in the district are small property owners who need to be able to collect rents to avoid foreclosures.

While Ortega and Esteen want to preserve the California Environmental Quality Act, Kumagai argues the law needs reform because it's being used by special interest groups, including labor unions trying to extract wage agreements, to block needed housing development.

And while Grcar wants Alameda County officials to vow never to have health lockdowns again, Kumagai recognizes that they have saved lives during the pandemic and might be needed again.

A voice of reason during a time of often-polarizing politics, Kumagai would be an excellent legislator in Sacramento and a wise choice for voters in District 20.