Jovanka Beckles
{{Short description|American politician (born 1963)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jovanka Beckles
| image = Jovanka Beckles AC Transit Board.jpg
| office = Member of the
AC Transit Board of Directors
from Ward 1
| term_start = December 4, 2020
| term_end = December 6, 2024
| predecessor = Joe Wallace
| successor = H.E. Christian Peeples
| office1 = Member of the
Richmond City Council
| term_start1 = 2010
| term_end1 = 2018
| birth_date = {{birth-date|1963}}
| birth_place = Panama City, Panama
| party = Independent (since 2024)
| otherparty = Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic (until 2024)
| spouse = Nicole Valentino (m. 2013)
| education = Florida A&M University (BA)
University of Phoenix (MBA)
}}
Jovanka Beckles (born 1963) is an American politician. She served as a member of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit Board for Ward 1, and previously served as a member of the Richmond City Council. In 2018 and 2024, she lost high-profile runoff elections for California state legislative office.
Early life, education, and career
Beckles was born in Panama City, Panama and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1972. She attended Florida A&M University on a full basketball scholarship, and graduated cum laude in 1988 with a BA degree in Psychology. She later earned an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix. She moved to the Bay Area in 1989 and worked as a counselor, youth educator, housing case manager for the homeless, and mental health specialist.{{cite web |date=September 26, 2010 |title=Full Biography for Jovanka D. Beckles |url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2010/11/02/ca/cc/vote/beckles_j/bio.html |work=Smart Voter |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
Political career
= Richmond City Council =
In 2008, she first ran for the Richmond City Council as part of the Richmond Progressive Alliance and lost. She ran again in 2010 and won, and in 2014 she was reelected despite Chevron spending $3 million on opposing candidates,{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Carolyn |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Chevron's $3 million backfires in Richmond election |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Chevron-s-3-million-backfires-in-Richmond-5873779.php |work=SFGATE |access-date=May 21, 2023}} and became vice mayor. She was Richmond's first openly lesbian councilwoman.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Carolyn |date=August 4, 2014 |title=Richmond councilwoman perseveres through hate speech |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Richmond-councilwoman-perseveres-through-hate-5668138.php |work=SFGATE |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
During her time on the City Council, Beckles worked on implementing rent control in Richmond.{{cite news |last1=Carson |first1=Lynda |date=July 7, 2015 |title=Richmond City Council to consider rent control proposal at meeting |url=https://abc7news.com/richmond-rent-control-city-council-meeting/834095/ |work=ABC7 News |access-date=May 21, 2023}} She voted against or abstained on several proposals to build housing in Richmond.{{Cite web |last=Wiener |first=Aaron |date=2019 |title=Is Bernie Sanders a NIMBY? |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/09/is-bernie-sanders-a-nimby/ |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}
= Campaign for California State Assembly =
In 2018, she ran for California State Assembly in the 15th District to replace Tony Thurmond, who chose to run for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.{{cite news |last1=Edevane |first1=Gillian |date=May 4, 2017 |title=Richmond City Councilmember Jovanka Beckles Announces Run for State Assembly |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/richmond-city-councilmember-jovanka-beckles-announces-run-for-state-assembly/18151/ |work=NBC Bay Area |access-date=May 21, 2023}} She was endorsed by fellow Richmond City Councilmember (and former mayor) Gayle McLaughlin, former Black Panther Ericka Huggins, Senator Bernie Sanders, the Sierra Club, SEIU 1021, Our Revolution, and the Democratic Socialists of America. She took second place in the June 12 primary, but lost to Buffy Wicks in the general election.{{cite news |last1=Marzorati |first1=Guy |date=November 7, 2018 |title=Buffy Wicks Defeats Jovanka Beckles in East Bay Assembly Race |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11702200/buffy-wicks-opens-up-early-lead-over-jovanka-beckles-in-east-bay-assembly-race |work=KQED |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
During the campaign, Beckles said she wanted to retain local control over housing, "I really think that cities need to be able to have more control in terms of building, because they know best."{{Cite web |date=2018-07-28 |title=Here's How East Bay Assembly Candidates Jovanka Beckles and Buffy Wicks Differ on Housing Issues |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11683139/heres-how-east-bay-assembly-candidates-jovanka-beckles-and-buffy-wicks-differ-on-housing-isssues |website=KQED |language=en-us}} On housing, she argued that cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley are "building lots of new housing" but that the problem is that the housing is not affordable. She added, "I don't think that we have a housing crisis. I think that we have an affordable housing crisis." She called for a repeal of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which would enable cities in California to expand rent control.
= AC Transit Board =
On July 18, 2020, Beckles announced she would run for AC Transit Board in Ward 1 against 20-year incumbent Joe Wallace.{{cite web |date=July 18, 2020 |title=Campaign Launch: Jovanka Beckles for AC Transit Board |url=https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/1354/2020-07-18-campaign-launch-jovanka-beckles-for-ac-transit-board/ |work=East Bay DSA |access-date=May 21, 2023}} Her platform included keeping transit fare-free and strengthening labor rights for transit workers.{{cite web |title=Platform |url=https://www.jovankaforactransit.com/platform |work=Jovanka Beckles for AC Transit Board 2020 |access-date=May 21, 2023}} She won the general election with 50% of the vote, defeating Wallace and a third candidate, Ben Fong. She was sworn in on December 4, 2020.{{cite news |last1=Laird |first1=Cynthia |date=December 4, 2020 |title=Beckles sworn in on AC Transit board |url=https://www.ebar.com/story.php?299872 |work=The Bay Area Reporter |access-date=May 21, 2023}} Her term ended with her successor, H.E. Christian Peeples, sworn in on December 6, 2024.{{cite web |date=December 6, 2024 |title=AC TRANSIT CONGRATULATES THREE DIRECTORS ON THEIR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |url=https://www.actransit.org/press-release/ac-transit-announces-new-and-returning-board-of-directors |access-date=March 15, 2024}}
= Campaign for California State Senate =
In 2023, Beckles announced she would run for California State Senate in the 7th District to replace Nancy Skinner, who is term-limited.{{cite news |last1=Bajko |first1=Matthew S. |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Political Notebook: List of LGBTQ 2024 CA legislative candidates expands |url=http://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=Politics&sc=&id=324244 |work=The Bay Area Reporter |access-date=May 21, 2023}} Foregoing re-election to the AC Transit Board, Beckles participated in the top-two general election, losing to then-Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín in November 2024.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Ria Raniwala {{!}} Senior |date=2024-11-17 |title='Lead with values': Berkeley mayor Jesse Arreguín wins state Senate seat and reflects on 8-year tenure as mayor |url=https://www.dailycal.org/news/city/city-government/lead-with-values-berkeley-mayor-jesse-arregu-n-wins-state-senate-seat-and-reflects-on/article_6f79e6e8-a506-11ef-a73c-073aae81625e.html |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=www.dailycal.org |language=en}}
Political positions
= Healthcare =
Beckles supported Medicare for All, establishing single-payer healthcare system.{{Cite web |last=Dinkelspiel |first=Frances |date=2018-10-29 |title=Jovanka Beckles, running for AD15, sees herself as the champion of the people in Berkeley and the East Bay |url=http://www.berkeleyside.org/2018/10/29/jovanka-beckles-running-for-ad-15-sees-herself-as-the-champion-of-the-people-in-berkeley-and-the-east-bay |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Berkeleyside |language=en-US}} Beckles posted a statement on Instagram, citing that "Our current healthcare system has placed corporate profit over people, both patients and workers, time and time again.
Honored to receive the endorsement of National Union of Healthcare Workers and join them in the fight for higher wages, safer staffing levels, and single-payer healthcare! #TogetherWeWin" from her Instagram page after National Union of Healthcare Workers. {{Cite web |title=National Union of Healthcare Workers endorsement - Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C8XS8chv8BQ/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.instagram.com}}
= Minimum wage =
Jovanka Beckles supported increasing minimum wage to $15.{{Cite web |last=Group |first=Robert Rogers {{!}} Bay Area News |date=2014-01-14 |title=Richmond takes another step toward raising local minimum wage |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/01/14/richmond-takes-another-step-toward-raising-local-minimum-wage/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}
= Green New Deal =
When asked about the Green New Deal, she agreed that the Green New Deal would bring more representation and can help improve the transportation and housing.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-14 |title=Jovanka Beckles Wants to Represent Richmond in State Senate |url=https://ccpulse.org/2023/07/13/jovanka-beckles-seeks-green-new-deal-for-richmond-in-state-senate-campaign/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |language=en-US}}
= Corporate money =
She opposes taking money donations from corporates. She claimed that lawmakers that promised to address climate change, and building more affordable housing and infrastructure were all denied or forged with progressives and those who are New Democrats.{{Cite web |last=Marzorati |first=Guy |date=2018-03-12 |title=Jovanka Beckles Hopes to Take 'Corporate Money Free' Message to State Assembly {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11655062/jovanka-beckles-hopes-to-take-corporate-money-free-message-to-state-assembly |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}}
= Housing =
Beckles supported housing as a human right. She worked with Berkeley council people on capping rent. She supports rent control and wants to push for affordable housing on public property paid with public funds rather than increase the supply of market-rate housing being built.{{Cite web |last=Dinkelspiel |first=Frances |date=2018-10-08 |title=Strong policy differences emerge between AD15 candidates Jovanka Beckles and Buffy Wicks |url=http://www.berkeleyside.org/2018/10/08/strong-policy-differences-emerge-between-ad15-candidates-jovanka-beckles-and-buffy-wicks |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Berkeleyside |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Melody |date=October 29, 2018 |title=Bernie Sanders backs CA rent-control measure, candidate Jovanka Beckles |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Bernie-Sanders-backs-CA-rent-control-measure-13345525.php}}
Personal life
Beckles is openly lesbian. She married Nicole Valentino in 2013.{{cite news |last1=Goodwin |first1=June |last2=Schiff |first2=Ben |date=March 30, 2018 |title=Jovanka will bring people power from Richmond to the California Assembly |url=https://sfbayview.com/2018/03/jovanka-will-bring-people-power-from-richmond-to-the-california-assembly/ |work=San Francisco Bay View |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
References
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Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century California politicians
Category:American lesbian politicians
Category:American LGBTQ city council members
Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States elections
Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States elections
Category:Florida A&M University alumni
Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from California
Category:Panamanian emigrants to the United States