Senator Holly J. Mitchell and Assemblywoman Dr. Shirley Weber to California Democrats: It’s time.

The Fresno County Democratic Central Committee has not endorsed any candidate in this race.

Senator Holly J. Mitchell and Assemblywoman Dr. Shirley Weber to California Democrats: It’s time.
Senate Budget Chair Holly Mitchell and Assembly Public Safety Budget Subcommittee Chair Dr. Shirley Weber
call on California Democratic Party delegates to choose Kimberly Ellis for Chair.

For Immediate Release
Contact: 510-560-3704

OAKLAND, Calif. (May 3, 2017): Kimberly Ellis’ campaign for California Democratic Party (CDP) Chair gained the support of two progressive champions, Senate Budget and Finance Chair Holly Mitchell and Assembly Public Safety Budget Subcommittee Chair Dr. Shirley Nash Weber.

“We have an opportunity to elect a strong and inspirational Black woman who is eminently qualified to lead the California Democratic Party into the 21st Century. As a Party, it’s time for us to do some tough soul searching around our innate bias in what leadership looks and sounds like,” said Sen. Mitchell. “Instead of recoiling from the subtle cuts and double standard, Kimberly has facilitated difficult conversations and told hard truths around race and gender and shown grace under pressure — proving she’s got the grit to lead.”

Senator Mitchell chairs the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, and serves on the Senate’s Health, Insurance, Labor and Employment, Public Safety Committees and on the Joint Committee on Rules. She also founded the Senate Select Committee on Women and Inequality, and belongs to both the Black and Women’s Caucuses.

“As a professional organizer, working parent, woman and person of color, Kimberly provides a perspective that’s desperately needed in our next Party Chair,” said Dr. Shirley Weber. “Making room for qualified, new voices means that we must choose the new over the known, understanding that inclusion is a conscientious choice, not a passive passage of time. It’s time for us to move beyond the rhetoric of inclusion; it’s time we choose Kimberly as the next CDP Chair.”

Dr. Weber chairs the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety. She also serves as a member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Education, Higher Education, Elections, Budget and Banking and Finance.

“These remarkable women represent the very best of progressive voices and I am deeply honored to have their strong support,” said Ellis. “Everyday, leaders in our Capitol are hearing from delegates about where they want this Party to go. I’m confident that when we convene later this month, we will be speaking with a unified voice about moving this Party into the future in a bigger, better, bolder direction.”