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As a young activist, Sandré worked for Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign in California. This was his introduction to the campaign experience. As a result of joining this historic campaign, Sandré met another young activist — Barbara Lee. They became and remain lifelong friends.
Before Sandré was elected to represent the cities of Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont in the California Assembly, he served five years as Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Sandré started his government service as an entry‐level Legislative Aide, promoted to District Director and Senior Policy Advisor for Congressman Ronald V. Dellums during his 25 years of service. Following his terms in the California Legislature, Sandré served as Deputy Mayor for the City of Oakland during the administration of Mayor Jean Quan. He has held a number of civic and community leadership positions. Sandré served as Chair of the Alameda County Employee’s Retirement Association, ACERA; Chair of the Oakland Civil Service Commission; Chair of the Oakland Re‐Use and Redevelopment Authority; Vice Chair of the City of Alameda Re‐Authority; and Chair of the City of Alameda Golf Commission.
Of all of his community experience, Sandré has stated that his most enjoyable and exciting assignment was serving as the coordinator for Nelson Mandela’s historic visit to Oakland. He organized the celebration that brough 60,000 people to the Oakland Coliseum in 1990 to welcome Mr. Mandela following his release from a South African prison.
Sandré was born in Oakland California at Highland Hospital. Sandré and his wife Anita live in Oakland and have four adult children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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As Chair of the Labor and Employment Committee, Sandré never compromised his principles during the hard fights, as he sponsored laws that improved the quality of life in our community. Sandré sponsored laws for workplace safety and wage protection. He led efforts to protect your pensions and retirement security. He has always supported our ongoing equal pay for equal work campaign. For these reasons, working families are joining our campaign.
Sandré is passionate about the plight of troubled and at-risk youth. As Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color, his committee’s work is still widely used today by the State in its strategies for assisting young people. As a result of this work, in 2014 Sandré was invited to the White House by President Barack Obama and was requested to participate in the President’s "My Brothers Keepers" initiatives.
As a Member of the Assembly Budget Committee on Education Finance, Sandré worked hard to make education California’s top budgetary priority. Keeping his promise, his first bill on his very first day in the Assembly was to return local control of Oakland schools from State control to the parents, teachers and students of Oakland. Our students continue to need our support.
As a Member of the Budget Committee, Sandré was a consistent voice for more funding for our State colleges. He remains committed to free community college and real student loan debt relief.
During California’s budget debates, Sandré was at times the lone voice in the fight against the suspensions of Proposition 98 guarantees for school and classroom funding.
As an Assemblymember, Sandré R. Swanson was a leader in the fight to keep redevelopment programs for affordable and Senior housing. He told his colleagues in real time that "the elimination of redevelopment funds would lead to more homelessness and a growing housing crisis of affordability."
Homeless encampments are growing daily. We are losing control of our streets with an increasing environmental hazard of trash and waste. We no longer provide safe city parks for our children. Now a criminal element is victimizing the unhoused, particularly women and children. This violence is spreading to the general population and must stop.
History has shown Sandré’s hard‐fought opposition to the elimination of redevelopment funds were right and we need him now in the Senate to help us fix our current housing and homeless crisis. Sandré said, "solving the homeless problem is California’s moral imperative and I will lead a humanitarian effort to fix this as your State Senator."
Sandré has also sponsored laws to reduce neighborhood crime for the safety of our children and entire community. His Assembly office maintained the best Constituent Service in the East Bay for those in need of help with the State bureaucracy. Sandré led the fight to keep the "Healthy Family Program" that provided healthcare for 740,000 poor children, supported community clinics and was a champion for accessible and quality health care for all the people of our State.
Sandré sponsored legislation for a healthy and safe environment while working for sustainable jobs with a living wage. He conducted hearings at the Port of Oakland on reducing truck emission to protect children and seniors with asthma and to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint. Sandré has made it possible for qualifying homeowners in his district to make affordable seismic safety upgrades to their homes for protection before the next large earthquake.
Sandré was a leading voice in the legislature with the "Stop The Spray" movement protecting our children from pesticide spraying near schools. He sponsored laws to stop illegal dumping and supported green jobs. Sandré has worked over a number of years on conservation for our bay and supported efforts to rebuild California’s wetlands.
Sandré led the State’s efforts to rescue our children from Human Traffickers — some children as young as 12 years old and he increased funding for wrap‐around services for our most at risk‐youth. During the budget battles of the recession, he challenged those in leadership, who demanded we gut the social safety net for the poor, the disabled, seniors and children. Sandré stood up against their threats and fought to protect this important funding.
He supported small business loans in underserved communities to increase employment opportunities and has been an advocate for Equal Rights and Civil Rights for everyone.