Rob Howard

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, Anne 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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