Hayward Councilman to Run for Redrawn State Assembly District Seat

With the release of new district maps last week, local leaders are eyeing soon-to-be vacant seats. Among them is Hayward City Council member Bill Quirk, who recently announced his bid for the State Assembly office currently held by Mary Hayashi. Hayashi’s term expires next year.

Hayashi currently serves the 18th Assembly District, though the district will likely be renamed when the California Citizens Redistricting Commission’s new maps are officially certified Aug. 15.

The new maps released July 29 shows Union City shifting out of the 20th Assembly District, currently represented by Bob Wieckowski, and into a newly shaped district with Hayward.

Currently the district encompasses Union City, Newark, Fremont, Milpitas and parts of Sunol, Castro Valley and Pleasanton, plus tiny portions of Hayward and San Jose. The newly drawn lines shifts all of Union City and a northern part of Fremont into District 18 with Hayward, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Castro Valley and a portion of Sunol.

In an Aug. 4 press release, Quirk said he has the experience required to make a difference in the capitol. Quirk, a two-term Hayward Councilman, has served Hayward for seven years.

“Sacramento is dysfunctional because it is polarized,” Quirk said. “My years on the Hayward City Council have taught me how to listen to all sides and build consensus.”

His primary concern is lowering the unemployment rate, mainly through strong support of education, he said.

“We need to create more revenue for K-12 and higher education,” he said.

He has already received early endorsements from Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer, who represents Union City in District 2, Hayward Mayor Michael Sweeney, Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena, former senator Don Perata.

Also running for the new Assembly seat is Hayward doctor Jennifer Ong, who serves on a number of committees and boards.

Union City Mayor Mark Green has also expressed his interest in the redrawn seat but has yet to launch a formal campaign. Green, an independent, has served as mayor of Union City since 1993. He said he'd bring something to the district that it hasn't had before.

"I'm not one who follows a prescribed instruction book on how to vote [and] I won't pull the rug under local governments," Green told Union City Patch last week.