Alameda Vice Mayor Tony Daysog formally announced his candidacy for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 12, on Sunday, June 25. He stated that he is running “as a pro-choice Democrat to continue my work in making all of ours a better, a more fair, and a more peaceful world.”
Daysog, who has been an Alameda resident since 1974, stated that during his 19 years as an Alameda City Councilmember, he is most proud of his work in helping to convert the former Naval Air Station to peaceful, civilian uses. “I am especially proud of this work in transitioning our former military base to peaceful uses because my mother is a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bomb,” he said.
Daysog’s mother was 5 years old when Nagasaki was bombed, he noted. His family and their family farm is still in Nagasaki, just 2.9 miles from the site of the bombing.
“My family’s experience with the Nagasaki atomic bomb is what separates me from other Democrats,” Daysog stated in his announcement. “It helps explain the pride I take in helping to convert our former military base, and it helps explain my emphasis on reducing our military budget to achieve peaceful change.” He promises to bring “a new perspective, a new voice, and a new passion and energy to Washington DC in favor of peace, reinvesting in our communities, and strengthening our social safety nets.”
Daysog’s 20-point “peace and fairness” platform, listed on his campaign website, focuses strongly on reducing the U.S. military budget and shifting spending toward universal health care, addressing climate change, making college, university, and trade schools truly affordable, and helping young adults burdened by student loan debt.
Dealing with the effects of climate change is a particularly close-to-home issue for Daysog. He noted that Alameda is uniquely affected by sea level rise because it is an island, but stressed that every city in this Congressional District is directly affected by sea level and/or groundwater rise.
Daysog graduated from Encinal High School, where he was Student Body President, and then went to UC Berkeley, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in U.S. History and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning.
To learn more about Daysog and his campaign for District 12 U.S. Representative, call 510-473-0676 or visit his campaign website.