Random Lengths asked Janice Hahn, Debra Bowen and Marcy Winograd each to respond to parallel questions meant to highlight their strengths. Although their answers did not fully conform to the letter of the specific requests, they largely did respond to the spirit, providing a good sense of their specific strengths. Here are the complete responses we received. By Paul Rosenberg

Marcy Winograd

We want to look at Marcy's experience as an activist. We're looking for three things. First, we'd like a brief list of what she considers her most significant accomplishments/advances--basically a two-sentence description. The emphasis here should be on covering the full range of issues she's been involved in. We'd like at least 10 items, but no more than 20.

Second, we'd also like a longer statement about three of the items on the list--a 3-5 sentence paragraph that spells out how it relates to what she would do if elected to Congress.

Third, we'd like background information about the items on the list--such as quotes from news coverage, statements from other activists about the significance of the work you were involved with, acknowledgment or endorsements you may have received for the work you did.

Marcy Winograd’s Accomplishments

• Successfully lobbied LAUSD school board members and protested with fellow union members to reinstate thousands of laid-off public school teachers (2005-2006). (In Congress, I would fight to increase federal funding for classroom libraries, state-of-the-art technology, early literacy, and career apprenticeship programs. I would work to repeal No Child Left Behind with its over-emphasis on standardized testing that ultimately disengages students. We need a new initiative that is not intended to fail schools in order to privatize them, but instead strengthens public education through project-based assessments that encourage student creativity and problem-solving.)

• Built a strong anti-war movement to demand an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq; led peace delegations to congressional offices in Washington; organized “Out of Iraq” forum with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, drawing a thousand citizens to the Inglewood event; authored anti-war resolutions passed by the California Democratic Party; spoke before thousands at Los Angeles anti-war marches and rallies (2003-present); founded a Peace and Conflict Studies Center at Palisades Public Library. (In Congress, I would immediately join the Out of Afghanistan and Progressive Caucuses, and work to responsibly bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, I would encourage Congress to demand the Executive Branch comply with the War Powers Act in seeking congressional authorization before taking the country to war. I would take to the floor of Congress to call for substantial reductions in our military budget (larger than the military budgets in all other countries combined) to fund job creation in education, health care, and green energy.)

• “I remember when Marcy and I challenged the orthodoxy of the California Democratic Party. We stood on the floor of the convention to speak in support of an Out of Iraq resolution. Someone called quorum and shut down the convention just to prevent us from getting that resolution passed. The next year, though, our message was written on placards and handed to the crowd to wave at the Presidential candidates when they spoke before the convention. Standing up to orthodoxy isn’t something everyone is willing to do. They may be feeling the same way you’re feeling and want to challenge the status quo, but they are looking for leaders to emerge. We are the spark that lights the flame.” Karen Bernal, Chair, Progressive Caucus, California Democratic Party

• Worked in conjunction with Mayors for Peace to establish Hiroshima-Nagasaki atomic-bomb photo exhibits at local schools to build awareness of the need to abolish nuclear weapons (2004-2006); wrote educational curriculum for exhibit. (As a congress person committed to nuclear abolition, I would urge the Executive to revise its Nuclear Posture Review to forsake a 1st use of nuclear weapons against any and all countries. The United States’ current nuclear policy targets Iran for a first strike in the event of surprising military developments. Under Bush, we witnessed a reversal of fifty years of global cooperation and U.S. commitment to not use nuclear weapons first. We need to re-embrace the no 1st-strike policy that was in place following the U.S. atomic annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.)

• “Marcy helped us immeasurably in staging Hiroshima-Nagasaki Remembrance Day at Palisades High School and Compton College. Her work for nuclear abolition inspires us all.” Foumi Kometani, Japanese author living in Los Angeles; organizer of Hiroshima-Nagasaki photo exhibit.

• Organized to demand health care reform; served on LA steering committee for single-payer health care; hosted forums on Medicare for All; blogged about the need for universal health care.(2004-present.) (As a member of Congress, I would fight to protect the rights of states to pursue Medicare for All – and work to prevent further cuts to Medicare. I would also co-sponsor legislation to increase fines for insurance companies who disregard the new health reform law to deny legitimate claims or deny coverage based on pre-conditions).

• Worked to protect our environment; testified before the State Lands Commission and wrote California Democratic Party resolution to successfully stop new offshore oil drilling in southern California; testified before the EPA holding hearings in Los Angeles on implementing stricter gas mileage standards (2009).

• “I remember Marcy writing that no-new-oil-drilling resolution on her Blackberry before arriving at a Los Angeles County Democratic Party meeting. Though we were told not to introduce the resolution, Marcy insisted on leaving a copy on every delegate’s seat. She was determined to stop the state from risking our beautiful coast for a loan from the oil companies.” Dorothy Reik, Pres., Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains.

• Testified before Federal Communications Commission to successfully stop further media consolidation through cross-ownership (2006)

• Co-founded LA Jews for Peace to work for a more balanced U.S. foreign policy in middle east peace negotiations; with LAJP hosted tour by Jeff Halper, Dir., Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions (2006 to present)

• Founded Progressive Democrats of America’s Los Angeles chapter, which co-hosted The Great Mind Series featuring various authors discussing constitutional law, the dangers of nuclear power, and possibilities for peace. (2004-present)

• Helped organize the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus to advance Medicare for All, bring our troops home from Iraq, stop an attack on Iran, and promote fair trade not unfair trade deals that outsource jobs (2004 to present). (I would like to organize the Progressive Caucus as an effective swing voting block to advance progressive legislation. I would not just be a legislator, but also an organizer, reaching out not only to the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus, but also the Progressive Caucuses in other states. We need to build momentum for a national progressive movement working closely with its representatives on Capitol Hill.)

• Challenged pro-war Democrat Jane Harman in 2006 and 2010, mobilizing 41% of the vote last June, sending a strong peace message to Congress and building coalition of true progressives in the 36th congressional district.

Debra Bowen

For our next issue, we want to look at highlights of Debra's legislative record, as well as her work on securing voting systems as Secretary of State. We'd like a brief list of what she considers her most important and/or significant accomplishments--the distinction being an early action in an area might not be that important in terms of actual substance, but would be significant for getting the ball rolling. This should be a list of 10-20 items, with a one- or two-sentence description.

We'd also like a longer statement about two legislative accomplishments--a 3-5 sentence paragraph--and about her work on voting systems.

You may also include an addendum of quotes from others about any of these accomplishments, which may or may not get worked into the story. This should NOT be prioritized. It's just that if I do have space to include some assessments, you might already have something more on point than I could dig up.

Debra Bowen is best known for her work on progressive issues including election reform, government transparency, consumer protection, and the environment. She has established a reputation during her 18 years in public office as a leader who does not shy away from difficult issues and as someone who has the patience and skill to see things through to results. In 2008, Bowen received the acclaimed John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her groundbreaking work ensuring the accuracy and integrity of elections in California.

Accomplishments as a State Legislator:

As a member of the State Senate, Debra Bowen helped pass AB 32, the groundbreaking Global Warming Solutions Act that phases-in a cap on greenhouse gas emissions to reduce them to 1990 levels by 2020.

After Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the California universal health care bill by Senator Sheila Kuehl which Debra Bowen helped pass, Bowen supported legislation to require employers with 10,000 or more employees to spend 6-8% of their total wages on employee health insurance costs.

As a state legislator, Bowen supported investing in K-12 classrooms — building new ones, upgrading old ones and making them all safer — to help relieve overcrowding.

She also successfully worked to pass legislation to re-invest in our public university and community college campuses. This investment continues to help train nurses, firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other essential professionally trained workers.

Secretary of State Accomplishments:

Because of her leadership on election integrity, Debra Bowen was recognized nationally with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.

As Secretary of State, Bowen has also:

• Enhanced public access by expanding website services and establishing social media feeds of Secretary of State news and directives
• Fought for increased accountability of private-sector election contractors
• Won $3.25 million for Californians in a lawsuit against a voting system vendor
• Strengthened election fraud prevention efforts
• Launched a complete rebuild of the statewide voter registration database
• Expanded voter education with creative new and traditional methods
• Worked with law enforcement agencies across the state to ensure those who break the law in elections or business dealings are brought to justice
• To protect the integrity of the electoral process, her Election Fraud Investigation Unit (EFIU) examines allegations of illegal activity such as registration fraud, voter intimidation and misleading petition circulation.

Debra Bowen has used technology to make government more open and transparent.

Debra Bowen is recognized as a pioneer in open government. She long championed the use of technology to make many of government’s functions more transparent and accessible. In 1993, just months after being elected to the State Assembly, Bowen authored the first-in-the-world law that put legislative information online, giving Californians and everyone around the world immediate access to information about state lawmakers’ bills, voting records and more she was the first California lawmaker to voluntarily put her campaign finance reports on the Internet in 1995, five years before all candidates for state office were required to do so.

Currently she oversees the disclosure of all state officials’ campaign finance documents and all lobbying activity reports.

She enhanced round-the-clock public access to elections information by expanding phone and website services, offering webcasts and transcripts of public hearings, and adding many more details about how the process of conducting an election works, she made memorandums issued to county elections officials, which had previously been private, available to all on line.

She also authored landmark consumer protection laws to protect people from becoming identity theft victims by banning businesses, schools, universities and government agencies from using social security numbers as public identifiers, requiring credit card numbers to be removed from receipts kept by merchants, giving people the right to freeze access to their credit reports and giving people the tools to fight back against unsolicited email and fax advertising.

Janice Hahn

Janice has shown great strength in lining up endorsements. For our next issue, we'd like to make sense of what that means. There are three things we're looking for:

First, we'd like a list of what she considers her 20 most significant endorsements in terms of illuminating specific strengths, with a one- or two-sentence description of how she's worked with them in the past (best) or more generally why they are endorsing & why that matters. Specificity is what we're looking for above all.

Second, we'd like a longer statement--a 3-5 sentence paragraph--about three specific endorses who are particularly important, again not for who they are so much as for the light they shed.

Finally, we'd like statements from her endorsers with a similar emphasis on specificity. The form this takes can be whatever works for you. There's no guarantee how much this will figure into the story, but I'd like to have the opportunity of seeing what might suggest, in order to give me a better feel for this story.

“These endorsements from national, state, and local leaders, as well as labor groups, leading environmentalists, and dozens of local community leaders and community groups sends a powerful message that I am a fighter for the people that I represent and will continue to fight for them when I go to Washington,” said Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

US Senator Dianne Feinstein

“It is an absolute honor to have the endorsement of Senator Dianne Feinstein. Having Senator Feinstein’s support is paramount in this race, and sends a strong message that I have the experience needed to fight for the residents of California’s 36th Congressional District.”

State Senator Led Lieu

“Ted Lieu is a cherished leader in the South Bay. As a former Torrance City Councilman and State Assemblyman, and now as a State Senator, his support shows that I have the experience and know-how to get Californians back to work. When I go to Congress, I plan to work with Ted to create new green jobs, expand clean energy technologies, grow the South Bay aerospace industry and ensure that local small business owners get the help they need.”

Los Angeles County Federation of Labor

“This is a monumental endorsement in this race, and I am honored to have this official seal of approval from my friends in labor. Having the support of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor sends a strong message that I am a fighter for the working middle class, and I will do everything that I can to create more good paying, middle class jobs.”

Here are quotes for most of the endorsements.

United States Senator Dianne Feinstein

“I am proud to endorse Janice Hahn for Congress. Given her history of public service, and her 10 years of experience in local government, there is nobody better prepared to serve the people of California’s 36th Congressional District,” said United States Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Congressman and Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Xavier Becerra

“I have known and worked with Janice for a long time and I am convinced that she is the right person for this job,” said Congressman Becerra. “I look forward to Janice bringing her local knowledge and experience to Washington. I know that we will work together to create new jobs and help small businesses in Southern California.”

Congresswoman Karen Bass

“As a local leader on the City Council for the past 10 years, Janice Hahn has shown that she has the proven ability to get things done. She has demonstrated a clear understanding of the issues that face her district and I know that she will be a strong representative for the residents of California’s 36th Congressional District,” said Congresswoman Karen Bass.

California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez

“Janice Hahn is a local leader who will go to Washington and fight for California, and create even more jobs. In just six days she has built a lot of momentum and is clearly taking the lead, receiving overwhelming support from local elected officials, community leaders and labor groups, and I am happy to be a part of her team,” said Assembly Speaker John A. Perez .

California State Senator Ted Lieu

"Having served in local office for ten years, Janice Hahn truly grasps the issues facing the people of the 36th Congressional District," said Senator Ted Lieu. "I have worked with Janice on many issues and she has proven to be a fighter for the people she represents. I know she will continue to fight for us in Washington."

California State Assemblymember Warren Furutani

Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl

“Janice Hahn and I have stood together on the City Council and fought for more jobs, a cleaner environment, and government transparency,” Rosendahl said. “Janice listens to her people, hears their concerns, and fights for them,” Rosendahl said. “We need her voice and we need her fighting for us in the nation’s capital.”

Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

“Workers are under attack in Wisconsin and other states, and we need fighters in Washington to help protect the rights of workers. As a local Councilwoman, Janice Hahn has always been a true fighter on the side of working people, and we know that she will be a champion for labor in Congress,” said Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary–Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. “Working families need Congress to help turn our economy around, and get people back to work, and we know that Janice Hahn will devote herself 100% to creating good paying middle class jobs with benefits.”

AFSCME California PEOPLE, AFL-CIO

"Collective bargaining reinforces the concept of freedom of association as outlined by the First Amendment to the Constitution," said AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. "Janice Hahn has said that she supports workers' rights, which lay the foundation for human rights worldwide, so we are happy to endorse her for Congress."

International Longshore and Warehouse Union local 13 & 63

“Janice Hahn has been a champion for our issues, is battle-tested, and has always been a trusted friend of ILWU Local 13. In tough times like these, we need a Congressperson who will go to Washington and fight not only to protect workers but create more living wage jobs to grow our nation's economy,” said Joe Cortez, President of ILWU local 13.

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City local 112

“Janice Hahn has always been a champion for firefighters in Los Angeles and we are confident that she will continue to fight to improve public safety when she goes to Washington,” said Pat McOsker, President of United Fire Fighters of Los Angeles City local 112.

Los Angeles Police Protective League

"Janice Hahn understands that protecting the public and keeping our neighborhoods safe has to be a top priority," said Paul Weber, President of LAPPL. "As a local Councilwoman, Janice has worked closely with us on public safety and homeland security issues. We know that she will be a strong supporter of law enforcement and public safety when she goes to Washington, and that's why we are proud to endorse her for Congress."

Los Angeles County Firefighters local 1014

“Firefighters dedicate their lives to protecting the public. Janice Hahn has a unique understanding of our work and an unmatched track record when it comes to public safety. We are proud to endorse her for Congress,” said Dave Gillotte, President Los Angeles County Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 1014

Torrance Firefighters Association local 1138

“The Torrance Firefighters Association local 1138 has a proud tradition of helping elect those who demonstrate a true understanding of the issues facing firefighters and the jobs we do. Candidates who we endorse become trusted friends who we rely on to represent our issues and the issues of all working people. We are proud to endorse Janice Hahn for Congress,” said Ryan Rasnick, President Torrance Firefighters Association local 1138.

Hermosa Beach Firefighters Association local 3371

Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club

“This is the woman we need in Congress who will fight for the South Bay and keep alive the progress our city has made in the fight for marriage equality,” Long Beach Councilman Robert Garcia said on behalf of the Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club. “Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club is the first LGBT and first Democratic club to endorse in this race.”

Jonathan Parfrey, President of Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, Director of Green LA, and DWP Commissioner*

“As Chair of the Trade, Commerce & Tourism Committee, Janice Hahn oversees the Port of Los Angeles, and through this capacity, she has worked to green and clean the Port, while at the same time, she has created an incubator for green industries around the Port. This is the kind of innovative thinking that we need in Congress,” said Jonathan Parfrey*, President of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters. “With our economy still recovering, we need someone who can go to Congress and work to jump-start these local green industries and get our economy back on track.”

James Lau, Environmentalist and Community Leader

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, NBA legend-turned-businessman