Santa Cruz Sentinel

Primary elections a draw at unions' annual Labor Day party

September 4, 2007

By DONNA JONES
SENTINEL staff writer

Songs of solidarity, political pitches and barbecued chicken.

That was the menu at the annual Monterey Bay Central Labor Council's Labor Day Picnic Monday at DeLaveaga Park.

More than 200 people attended, including most of the region's prominent politicians and wannabes — at least on the Democratic Party side of things — looking to primary elections in February and June.

"I'm always interested in meeting new people," said a grinning Ariadne Symons, a Santa Cruz County prosecutor with an eye on Superior Court Judge Samuel Steven's seat on the court when he retires.

Santa Cruz Mayor Emily Reilly, Felton resident Barbara Sprenger and Monterey's Bill Monning also attended, hoping for support in their bids for Assemblyman John Laird's seat.

Laird, who will have to step down next year unless voters decide to change term limit rules in February, was there, too.

"John's the best argument for changing term limits," said Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, praising Laird's work on the state budget.

Laird wanted to talk about health care reform, which he said will undoubtedly be on the agenda when the Legislature heads back into session after the holiday. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears ready to deal after his proposal fell flat on both sides of the aisle, and he urged picnickers to push for a bill that will ensure all Californians get coverage.

"We've got to demand people act and not pass up this opportunity," he said.