(CONTRA COSTA COUNTY) --- 350 Bay Area Action (BAA) said the District 16 race is a "tricky election."

That is what the local action group said about my run against Representative Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, referring to the difficulty of choosing the incumbent over me. In the last San Ramon Mayor election, 350 Bay Area Action endorsed me, and this election, they endorsed Bauer-Kahan, which is the group's right.

But what does not seem right is 350 Bay Area Action

(Photo: Email correspondence between 350 Bay Area Action Representative Rebecca Kaplan)

"We have supported both you and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in previous elections, so this was a tricky race for us," Rebecca Kaplan wrote. "But we feel it is important to support those, generally, who have been doing solid work in their positions, which is why our local group 350CCA decided in the end to endorse RBK."

(Photo: 350 Bay Area Action website)

That is when I asked her to be more specific about what "solid work" meant, for further clarification.

(Photo: Email correspondence between 350 Bay Area Action Representative Rebecca Kaplan)

Her "off the record" email shocked me, showing how questionable the group's endorsement really is.

"Please note that I am making these comments "off the record" and just by way of conversing with you since I know you have been a true climate leader as well," Kaplan wrote.

As for "off the record," it does not apply since I am not a journalist, and her email is public record. Additionally, why would you not want to speak on the record about Bauer-Kaun's "solid work" and the difference she has made in her term?

(Photo: Email correspondence between 350 Bay Area Action Representative Rebecca Kaplan)

After naming all the "solid work," Kaplan admits the representative's lack of attention to polluters' pay.

"And agreed, she has not been at all where we want on polluter's pay," Kaplan writes. "We hope she will come around on this and think it's fine to keep pushing on her on issues where we don't like her position."

My question is: if the 350 Bay Area action about making polluters pay had at least asked Rebecca for a pledge before endorsing her.

As for "solid work," on my end, I started and continue to lead Lead4Earth.org, a global group founded on youth engagement, and it's making a marked difference with 20 global partnerships and 50K lives changed.

I have decided not to respond to Kaplan and have tasked Reporter Angela Underwood with asking how they can award an endorsement without any commission to their mission of making polluters pay.

(Photo: 350 Bay Area Action Website)

As you can read above, the first thing 350 Bay Area Action Contra Costa asks for is "Your Support."

Why are they not asking Bauer-Kahan for her support, as noted in the email?

As far as endorsements, another questionable one that 350 Bay Area Action gives out is to Kaplan herself, saying they are "proud to endorse Rebecca Kaplan for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 3 seat (district map), noting, "her record of service as Oakland City Council member and on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District board shows her strong commitment to climate action and environmental justice."

I would like to know what she has done to be endorsed.

Access Denied