Bass urges Alameda County Democrats to keep focused on November election

OAKLAND - Several hundred East Bay Democrats gathered Saturday to hear Assembly Speaker Karen Bass encourage them to get out the vote for both Sen. Barack Obama on the national stage but also just as critically for Democratic candidates on the state and local level.

Bass headlined the 38th Alameda County Democratic Party Unity Dinner at the Oakland Airport Hilton Hotel. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer served as master of ceremonies for the annual dinner.

Now that the long, 80-plus day state budget ordeal is over, Bass told PolitickerCA.com prior to her speech that she is going to focus on the November election.

"Between now and election day, we have to focus on getting Barack Obama elected and other Democratic candidates elected," Bass said. "This must be our first priority."

Bass also said that she will be fighting to hold a special election early next year that will ask voters to do away with the burdensome two-thirds requirement to pass a budget within the legislature.

"Structurally, we need to get rid of that requirement, but, of course, if we're successful enough across the state this November, it may render the two-thirds requirement moot," Bass said, smiling.

Also appearing at the event was San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and his wife, actress Jennifer Siebel. The mayor, who has formed a 2010 gubernatorial exploratory committee, did not speak but worked the pre-dinner crowd for about 30 minutes, shaking hands and posing for photographs.