Voter's Edge California Voter Guide
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Tuesday April 3, 2018 — Special Election
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California State AssemblyCandidate for District 45

Photo of Ankur Patel

Ankur Patel

School Community Coordinator
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My Top 3 Priorities

  • Stronger Schools: We need to empower parents, teachers, and communities to engage in their local schools. We also need to fully fund public education, and provide children with diverse and relevant learning opportunities.
  • Better Healthcare: We fully endorse an improved Medicare for All Californians. Three million Californians are currently uninsured, and the healthcare system is too expensive. California can do better.
  • Protecting Our Environment: Clean air, clean water, and clean energy are among our top concerns. Many of our constituents were impacted by the Aliso Canyon Gas Storage facility. We support its decommissioning.

Experience

Experience

Profession:School Community Coordinator
School Community Coordinator, Los Angeles Unified School District (2015–2018)
Organizer, Food an Water Watch (2014–2014)
Graduate Assistant, California State University Northridge (2013–2013)
Labor Organizer, National Union of Healthcare Workers (2012–2013)
Field Biologist, University of California Los Angeles (2012–2012)

Education

CSUN Masters, Transportation Planning (2014)
UCLA BS, Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution (2007)

Biography

My name is Ankur Patel, and I am running for California State Assembly District 45. I am the child of two immigrant parents who moved to the West Valley, where I was born and raised. Throughout my childhood, my parents taught me the power of education, the importance of community, and the value of hard work.

When I was eleven years old my father ran for Congress. While he cherished the opportunities America provided our family, he knew there was a clear imbalance between the people with power and those of us without. His campaign wasn’t built on raising money from corporations, insurance companies, or lobbyists who would influence his decisions and priorities. He was a simple man who rode the bus to public places, shopping malls, and gas stations to talk to everyday people about what they thought government should look like.

But corruption has become institutionalized through lobbying, campaign contributions, and backroom deals between political insiders and corporations.

My father didn’t win when he ran for Congress, but the experience taught me a lot. A candidate shouldn’t run for office because they believe they have a few good ideas, the backing of big dollars, or they see a political opportunity. A candidate should run for office when they believe they can represent the vision of their community.

Who gave money to this candidate?

Contributions

Total money raised: $54,088

Top contributors that gave money to support the candidate, by organization:

1
California Nurses Association
$17,600
2
Employees of Eisner Health
$2,000
3
Food & Water Watch and employees
$1,490
4
Employees of ATGen America
$1,000
5
North Valley Democratic Club
$700

More information about contributions

By State:

California 96.68%
District of Columbia 2.24%
Illinois 0.54%
New York 0.54%
96.68%

By Size:

Large contributions (85.74%)
Small contributions (14.26%)
85.74%14.26%

By Type:

From organizations (41.71%)
From individuals (58.29%)
41.71%58.29%
Source: MapLight analysis of data from the California Secretary of State.

Political Beliefs

Political Philosophy

This campaign for State Assembly will raise the conversation on essential issues for our community: healthcare, the environment, education, traffic, and housing. Most importantly, we will shine a light on the corruption and systematic abuse of power that must no longer define our politics. We need a moral revival in our political system, where people act based on principle not political expediency. We need elected representatives who will do what is right and are in it for the right reasons.

I am listening and ready to take action. Our campaign for Assembly is about a bold vision that recognizes economic rights, broad principles of democracy, and unites people to realize the potential of our District.

Videos (4)

— March 18, 2018 Jesse Bertel, pro-bono

Introduction to Ankur and his Campaign for State Assembly.

— March 18, 2018 Blue State Consulting

A statement by campaign supporter Ari McIntyre.

— March 18, 2018 Blue State Consulting

Ankur's father Mayur talks about his son's integrity, and the grassroots support behind Ankur's campaign.

— March 18, 2018 Blue State Consulting

CSUN Professor Loraine Lundquist talks about Ankur Patel's position on climate change and the environment, and his track record during the Aliso Canyon Gas Blowout of 2015.

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