Hayashi Ducked Recent Democratic Party Fest As Her Charity Event Looms

A gathering of Alameda County Democrats held last Wednesday in San Leandro attracted a who's who of elected officials with a notable exception — Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward).

Hayashi, who stands , sent an aide to represent her at a potluck sponsored by the county's Democratic Central Committee at the

The Central Committee organizes get-out-the-vote drives and rallies democratic regulars, making it a vital group for office holders and candidates.

Hayashi sent aide Christopher Parman to the gathering. He confirmed that the Assemblywoman plans to attend her annual charity event Thursday at the Oakland Zoo.

Many aspiring or current office-holders attended in person, including:

• Hayward optometrist and former San Leandran and Hayward city councilman Bill Quirk. They are vying for the Democratic nomination to represent some of the same communities — including San Lorenzo, Castro Valley and Ashland — that had been represented by Hayashi, who is reaching the limit of her Assembly term;
• Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski of Fremont, who is considered a likely candidate for the state Senate District 10 now represented by Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, who reaches her term limit in 2014. Hayashi was thought to have been eyeing the same seat, but the shoplifting charges cloud the picture.
• Four aspirants for the Democratic nomination in the newly-drawn 18th Assembly District seat that adds San Leandro on to Alameda and a large chunk of Oakland. They are: Joel Young, Kathy Neal, Abel Guillen and Rob Bonta.

Current office-holders at the event included Corbett, who has deep roots  in San Leandro.

She spoke briefly, exhorting the troops to win a second term for President Obama, help House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi add seats in Congress and boost the Democratic lead in the state legislature.

Other office-holders in attendance included State Senator Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan of Alamo and Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner of Berkeley.