Rob Howard

Template:TOCnestleft Rob Howard is a Southern California activist.

Communist support/Mayoral run

According to Janice Rothstein of the Peoples World Rob Howard stood for Mayor of Oceanside California in 2020:

“Public servant vs. politician” is how Howard, a labor and community activist and former president of the San Diego County NAACP from 1999-2006, describes himself. He is one of 12 candidates on the November 3rd ballot for mayor. There is no incumbent running, and the candidate with the most votes will win without a runoff election.

Howard’s résumé includes six years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear machinist mate, decades as an activist, shop steward, and officer of the Utility Workers Union of America Local 246, service on the boards of numerous civic, church, and college youth organizations in Oceanside and around Southern California. This is Howard’s first run for elective office, but he is no stranger to public policy, having served on the state Public Utility Commission’s Diversity Council. He promotes detailed plans and conducts online public forums discussing land use, economic justice, homelessness, gentrification, and policing issues with voters.

As with many Southern California cities, the City Council is dominated by Republicans, despite their being a minority among the electorate. Oceanside is one of the last semi-affordable coastal communities in Southern California, but speculation and unchecked vacation industry development are putting rentals and home ownership out of reach for many young people who grew up in the community.

His mayoral platform includes transit hub-based affordable and low-cost housing, securing funds for housing subsidies, negotiation of bulk electrical rates, conversion of city vehicles to electric, and installation of electric vehicle charging stations. He proposes to introduce municipal broadband to help bridge the city’s digital divide. Howard views his campaign as part of a long-term effort to bridge the income and wealth gaps for Oceanside residents.

In a county long notorious for unchecked police misconduct, Oceanside has had a much lower rate of police brutality than surrounding cities, in large part from Howard’s spearheading of community policing projects.

While not the only Democrat running for this office, he recently received the overwhelming endorsement of the newly organized Oceanside Democratic Club. He has also received the endorsements of the influential San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council as well as many individual local labor unions, including IBEW Local 569, UDW AFSCME Local 3930, the North County Labor Alliance, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 230, and the Utility Workers Union of America. He is also a certified firefighter, a certification now required for all nuclear reactor operators.

Anne Wood, retired steelworker and registered nurse, told this writer, “I’ve known Rob for years. It’s hard to campaign wearing a mask, but Rob is a natural. He answered questions easily as we walked our neighborhood going door-to-door, meeting folks on their evening walk with their kids. Rob’s experience as a labor leader and community activist will help him provide the progressive leadership Oceanside needs.”

Sharon Anstaett, former president of Utility Workers of America Local 246, says, “I’ve known and worked with Rob for 20 years. He worked as a Nuclear Reactor Operator, and he was the secretary-treasurer of Local 246 when I was the president of the Local. I couldn’t have asked for better. He has integrity and smarts. He was also head of the North County NAACP for years. All in all, he is who Oceanside needs to be in the Mayor’s office. From the day I was elected, Rob supported me as the first female president of the Local.”

Personal endorsements

Janet Lacy

Stephen Lacy

Cynthia Rice

Robbie Hass

Keith Hass

Val Warner-Saadat

Al Nyman

Don Greene

Jose Perez

Doug Oden

Chuck Lowery

Velisa Hollins

Sherman Hollins

Shirley Gibbons

Mike Gibbons

Carl Wood

Ann Wood

Nina Deerfield

Michelle Gomez

Don Gomez

Ryan Haggerty

Michelle Howard

Jordan Howard

Brianna Parker

Chris Hollins

Michelle Krug

Teresa Laughlin

Brandon Maze

Clint Carson

Roberto Rodriguez

Kelli Lacy

Basil Kimbrew

Lizet Angulo

Jose Rodriguez

Rosie McDaniels

Daran Howard

Angela Legree

Fred Carter

Terrance Webster

Vanessa Webster

Rod Matthews

Debbie Matthews

Henry Hawthorne

Terri Hawthorne

Robert Jenkins

Dorthy Jenkins

Andrea Hollins

Chris Hollins

Sharon Anstaett

Matt Krist

Larry Burns

Christopher Burroughs

Sharon Jacobs

Frank Jacobs

Lorna Wilson

Pamela Judice

Terron Sumpter

Letrice Sumpter

Camille Crill

Kristina S. Londy

John Paolozzi

Chelsi Sparti

Eddie Price

Rick Bates

Brigette Brownin

Nikki Faddick

Nathan Waters

Dr. Preston Butler, Jr.

Alycia Anthony

Pastor Morris L. Woods

Alma Sisco-Smith

Robert V. Smith

Sharron H. Austin

Noel Christmas

Rob Knecht

Emma Maxey

Shawntae Mitchum

Elizabeth Perez

Tim O'Healy

Misty O'Healy

Lawana Richmond

Major Grant

Karin Brennan

Chris Hollins

Andrea Hollins

Bart Ziegler

James Slevin

Daniel Dominguez Phyllis Dominguez Jerry Adams Daryl W. Adams Kyle Owens Candy Owens Thomas Stewart D.J. Stewart Emiliana Sparaco Justin Domecillo Janice Rothstein James Madden Mikhail Hussein Don Love Carolyn Goodspeed Crystal Goodspeed Polly Downey Lynn Sakamoto

References

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