Joel Ventresca
Joel Ventresca | |
|---|---|
.png) Ventresca in 2019 | |
| San Francisco Environmental Commissioner | |
| In office 1994–1997 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joel A. Ventresca April 1, 1952 Evansville, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Green (2019) |
| Spouse(s) | Tess Manolo (m. 1994; died 2005) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Sunset District, San Francisco, California |
| Education | University of San Francisco (MPA) |
| Website | https://www.joelventresca.com/ |
Joel A. Ventresca is a retired airport administrator and perennial candidate. A Democrat, he has run several political campaigns in the U.S. State of California. Ventresca ran unsuccessfully to become mayor of San Francisco in 1995, 1999, and 2019, earning 0.61, 0.71, and 7.40 percent of the vote, respectively.[1][2][3] He also ran for San Francisco treasurer in 1997, garnering 34% of the vote.[4]
He is running in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election as one of nine Democrats campaigning to recall California's governor, Gavin Newsom. He is the only Democrat in the race who has previously ran for elected office.[5]
Ventresca is a progressive Democrat.[6] He is a longtime resident of San Francisco, California, residing in the Sunset District.[7][8]
Early life[edit]
Ventresca grew up in Evansville, Indiana, as one of 11 children. In his youth, he says he was inspired when Robert F. Kennedy campaigned in Indiana, calling him "a model progressive who believed that government could make social change, quickly and fairly." Ventresca first traveled to San Francisco when he was 11, and moved to the area for college, drawn to the place by his great-grandfather being a Gold Rush pioneer. He ended up graduating from the University of San Francisco.[9][10]
Career[edit]
On May 10, 1994, Ventresca testified before the United States Congress, advocating against development of The Presidio and criticizing that the planning proccess surrounding what to do with the space was "riddled with closed meetings, secret documents, [and] disinformation". He was a co-chair of the Preserve the Presidio campaign.[11]
Ventresca was appointed Environmental Commissioner of the city and county by Angela Alioto.[12][13][9][14] While a Commissioner, he established the first City and County of San Francisco Sustainability Plan.[15] He worked on the San Francisco aging and airport commissions, and was also the President of the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods.[16][11]
Ventresca worked in multiple positions at San Francisco International Airport for 30 years, including as an administrator. Ventresca was a member of the Service Employees International Union. He retired in 2018.[17] He currently earns an income based on pension and retirement earnings.[18]
Political career[edit]
Ventresca worked for the 1972 presidential campaign of George McGovern. He then joined the Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council, and became a board member of San Francisco Tomorrow, an environmental group.[10][19]
1995 San Francisco mayoral election[edit]
In 1995, Ventresca ran in the 1995 San Francisco mayoral election, finishing behind the eventual winner, Willie Brown, incumbent mayor Frank Jordan, and three other candidates. He earned 0.59% of the vote and did not advance to the runoff election.[1]
1997 San Francisco treasurer election[edit]
In 1997, Ventresca ran to become the San Francisco treasurer, after the seat was left open by Mary Callanan. Ventresca finished second of three candidates, earning 34% of the vote and losing to then-member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Susan Leal.[4]
1999 San Francisco mayoral election[edit]
In 1999, Ventresca once again ran for mayor in the 1999 San Francisco mayoral election. He improved on his 1995 margin, earning 0.71 of all votes cast, and finished ninth of eighteen candidates and did not advance to the runoff election.[2]
2019 San Francisco mayoral election[edit]
After a 20-year break from running for public office, upon his retirement from working at the San Francisco International Airport, Ventresca ran in the 2019 San Francisco mayoral election.[20] Although running as a nonpartisan, he was endorsed by the San Francisco Green Party.[21] He received 7.40% of the vote, finishing behind incumbent mayor London Breed and social worker Ellen Lee Zhou.[22]
2021 California gubernatorial recall election[edit]
Ventresca is a candidate in the upcoming 2021 California gubernatorial recall election. He is one of nine Democrats in the race, and the only Democrat running with previous political and electoral experience.[23] On his campaign website, he describes himself as "the most qualified Democrat on the ballot to replace the current governor".[24] Ventresca describes himself as further to the left than Gavin Newsom. He was endorsed by San Francisco's League of Pissed-Off Voters, a progressive political group, who called him a "old school San Francisco political gadfly".[25]
Political Positions[edit]
Climate Change[edit]
Ventresca has stated his support for California to became the first zero-carbon emissions state in the United States.[15]
Criminal Justice[edit]
Ventresca supports ending mass incarceration, passing police reform laws, giving additional resources to the police in high-crime areas, and passing gun control legislation to "get guns out of the hands of violent individuals" in order to "reduce mass shootings, gun-related homicides and gun-related suicides"[15][26]
Covid-19/Related Closures[edit]
Ventresca is fully vaccinated. He has stated his desire to reopen the economy and schools, while basing safety precautions on "indisputable facts, evidence and science"[15][27]
Education/Health Care[edit]
In the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election, one of the centerpieces of Ventresca's campaign platform is his pledge to enact free Education and Healthcare "cradle-to-grave" for all California residents.[15][28][29]
Energy[edit]
Ventresca is opposed to fracking, oil drilling, and nuclear power. He seeks to "restructure energy utilities into a full-service consumer-owned statewide public power system".[15] Previously, he sought to create a consumer-owned public power electric utility that relied solely on clean and renewable energy by using land owned by the San Francisco Water Department.[8] He has been a skeptic of nuclear energy and technology.[19]
Gavin Newsom[edit]
Ventresca has cited Gavin Newsom is a "coprorate, establishment, insider Democrat".[30] He has also said that Newsom "comes out of the most corrupt urban political machine in America".[15]
Gentrification[edit]
Ventresca has stated that he will push to reduce gentrification, and that would attempt to adopt a ballot measure that would give localities the ability to have rent control.[15]
Homelessness[edit]
Ventresca states that he would use comprehensive programs to end California's homelessness problem, and that he would push for "large-scale multi-unit permanent affordable housing in major cities near transit services" to be built. He has stated his desire to "change laws, regulations and policies to bring down the cost of building new housing and to significantly expand the supply of housing".[15]
Mexico–United States border[edit]
Ventresca has stated his desire to clean up pollution at the border and that comprehensive programs will solve what he calls a humanitarian crisis.[15]
Minimum Wage[edit]
Ventresca seeks to implement a minimum wage of $16 an hour.[26][31]
Public Transportation[edit]
Ventresca seeks to establish free public transit.[15][8]
Recall[edit]
Ventresca does not believe that California's recall system is abused. He sees it as a progressive reform and a form of direct democracy.[32]
Taxes[edit]
Ventresca has advocated for increasing taxes on wealthy corporations and individuals, and has said that he would eliminate taxes and fees for small businesses for five years if elected.[15]
Wildfires[edit]
Ventresca has stated that removing dead trees from forests is a "top priority", and that in general, the state needs to increase resources dedicated to fighting wildfires. He has stressed the need for buffer zones with no vegetation around populated areas and power lines.[15]
Personal life[edit]
Joel Ventresca met fillipino-born Tess Manolo, a teacher at Francis Scott Key Elementary School, when she was working as a treasurer on one of his political campaigns. The two were married in 1994, and she died in 2005 from complications from heart surgery. Joel is a father to three non-biological children from Manolo's previous marriage.[33]
Electoral history[edit]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Brown | 72,955 | 33.66 | |
| Frank Jordan (incumbent) | 70,764 | 32.65 | |
| Roberta Achtenberg | 56,583 | 26.11 | |
| Ben Hom | 6,355 | 2.93 | |
| Angela Alioto | 1,386 | 0.64 | |
| Joel Ventresca | 1,279 | 0.59 | |
| Dan Larkosh | 732 | 0.34 | |
| Ellis L. A. Keyes | 195 | 0.09 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | 6,486 | 2.99% | |
| Total votes | 216,735 | 100.00 | |
| Voter turnout | 51.86% | ||
| Runoff election | |||
| Willie Brown | 107,500 | 55.44 | |
| Frank Jordan (incumbent) | 82,173 | 42.38 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | 4,240 | 2.19% | |
| Total votes | 193,913 | 100.00 | |
| Voter turnout | 45.52% | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Susan Leal | 61,412 | 57.88 |
| Joel Ventresca | 36,075 | 34.00 |
| Lucrecia Bermudez | 8,610 | 8.12 |
| Total Votes | 106,097 | 100.00 |
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Brown (incumbent) | 75,732 | 38.90 | |
| Tom Ammiano (write-in) | 49,384 | 25.37 | |
| Frank Jordan | 32,893 | 16.90 | |
| Clint Reilly | 24,322 | 12.49 | |
| Martin Lee Eng | 2,232 | 1.15 | |
| Lucrecia Bermudez | 1,709 | 0.88 | |
| Cesar Ascarrunz | 1,578 | 0.81 | |
| Jim Reid | 1,502 | 0.77 | |
| Joel Ventresca | 1,379 | 0.71 | |
| David J. Martz | 949 | 0.49 | |
| Mark "Superbooty" O'Hara | 919 | 0.47 | |
| A. D. Wyatt Norton | 765 | 0.39 | |
| Max Wood | 511 | 0.26 | |
| William Felzer | 494 | 0.25 | |
| J. R. Manuel | 277 | 0.14 | |
| Steve Shyte (write-in) | 8 | 0.00 | |
| Larry J. Edmund (write-in) | 7 | 0.00 | |
| Anatole Ghio (write-in) | 4 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 194,665 | 100.00 | |
| Voter turnout | 42.96% | ||
| Runoff election | |||
| Willie Brown (incumbent) | 131,983 | 59.61 | |
| Tom Ammiano | 89,428 | 40.39 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | 6,836 | % | |
| Total votes | 228,247 | 100.00 | |
| Voter turnout | 48.84% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Maximum round |
Maximum votes |
Share in maximum round |
Maximum votes First round votesTransfer votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | London Breed (incumbent) | 1 | 126,221 | 70.28% |
| |
| Nonpartisan | Ellen Lee Zhou | 1 | 25,006 | 13.92% |
| |
| Nonpartisan | Joel Ventresca | 1 | 13,283 | 7.40% |
| |
| Nonpartisan | Paul Ybarra Robertson | 1 | 7,649 | 4.26% |
| |
| Nonpartisan | Wilma Pang | 1 | 4,963 | 2.76% |
| |
| Nonpartisan | Robert L. Jordan, Jr. | 1 | 2,458 | 1.37% |
| |
| Nonpartisan | Marc Roth (write-in candidate) | 1 | 7 | 0.00% |
| |
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "November 7, 1995 Consolidated Municipal Election | Department of Elections". sfelections.sfgov.org. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "November 2, 1999 Consolidated Municipal Election | Department of Elections". sfelections.sfgov.org. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "City and County of San Francisco November 5, 2019, Consolidated Municipal Election Final Summary Report" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 "November 4, 1997 Consolidated Municipal Election | Department of Elections". sfelections.sfgov.org. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "Who's running in Newsom recall? Politicians, activists, Californians of all stripes". CalMatters. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "Will tax return rule scare off Gavin Newsom recall candidates?". Lake County Record-Bee. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "Democrats' recall dilemma: Should they cast a vote for a candidate to replace Gavin Newsom?". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Interview: Joel Ventresca's Green-Tinted Vision". KALW. Retrieved 2021-08-24. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 "2019 Mayor Questionnaire - Joel Ventresca" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The Longest Shot". SFWeekly. 20 September 1995. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Hearing Before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands of the Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, Second Session, on H.R. 3286 ... Hearing Held in Washington, DC, October 26, 1993 · Part 1. United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. 1994. Search this book on
- ↑ International, Living on Earth / World Media Foundation / Public Radio. "Living on Earth: Presidio National Park". Living on Earth. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "London Breed Breezes to Victory — Elected to First Full Term as Mayor of SF". KQED. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ "Ventresca". www.joelventresca.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 "Q&A: Joel Ventresca, recall candidate for California governor". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2021-08-24. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ O'Connor, Lydia (2021-08-11). "Everything You Need To Know About The California Recall Election". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ↑ "The Trailer: How a Democratic primary in Ohio became a Biden loyalty test". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Six things to know about the Gavin Newsom recall candidates' tax returns". Red Bluff Daily News. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore Sites. United States. Department of Energy. 1982. Search this book on
- ↑ chinaqw. "旧金山市长选战名单出炉 7人候选其中3名是华人-中国侨网". www.chinaqw.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ "San Francisco Green Party - November 2019 Endorsements". sfgreenparty.org. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "Final RCV Detail Report City and County of San Francisco November 5, 2019, Consolidated Municipal Election" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "The celebrity factor in recall elections". Whittier Daily News. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ "Joel Ventresca - California Governor Joel Ventresca". www.joelventresca.com. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ Kahn, Debra; Yamamura, Kevin. "Second guessing the second question". POLITICO. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Race for CA governor: Learn about the candidates who plan to unseat Newsom". FOX 11. 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ Inc, Twitter. "California Independence Movement @YesCalifornia". Periscope. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ↑ "Joel Ventresca". WDRB. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ "Larry Elder not listed on California recall candidate roster". Associated Press. 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "Who's in? California recall candidate list draws confusion". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ "2021 CA Newsom recall voter guide: Who is Joel Ventresca?". Sacramento Bee. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Chris, Matt & K. "Episode 38 - Joel Ventresca - The Alt Left". The Alt Left. Retrieved 2021-08-24. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ King, John (2005-07-16). "Tess Manolo- Ventresca -- activist". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ↑ "November 4, 1997 Consolidated Municipal Election | Department of Elections". sfelections.sfgov.org. Retrieved 2021-07-26. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "City and County of San Francisco November 2, 1999 Consolidated Municipal Election Statement of Votes". San Francisco Department of Elections. Archived from the original (Excel) on February 18, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "City and County of San Francisco December 14, 1999 Municipal Run-Off Election Statement of Votes". San Francisco Department of Elections. Archived from the original (Excel) on February 18, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "November 5, 2019 Election Results - Detailed Reports - Department of Elections". sfelections.sfgov.org.
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