| The Voter
Election Edition
The official newsletter of the
League of Women Voters of Piedmont, CA.
Vol. 38, Issue 1 | September 14, 2026
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In this issue:
- A Message From Our President
- Voter Information
- Vote with the League - Local and State
- Upcoming Candidate Forums
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Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
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A Message From Our President
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Dear LWV of Piedmont Members and Friends,
As we draw closer to this year's election on Tuesday, November 3rd, League of Women Voters across the country are gearing up with the work we do. Part of this work is providing voters with accurate, non-partisan and balanced information, so we've decided to create special Election Editions of The Voter. These special issues will reflect up-to-date voter information, such as candidate forums and other LWV events. We're also listing local and state LWV voting recommendations.
In League, and on behalf of the Board,
Lisa Gardner
President, League of Women Voters of Piedmont
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Piedmonters can register to vote on the website of the California Secretary of State HERE or with Alameda County HERE . To find out what is going to be on your ballot, and check your registration, you can go to www.vote411.org .
As the general election primary election day--November 3, 2026--nears, these sources will have updated information about voting by mail and/or polling places near you.
| | |  | | A message from our Director of Voter Services
Kathleen Quenneville and Winifred Walters will be populating the League's VOTE411.org website, a free resource with information about local candidates and issues. Please watch that website as information is regularly added. Included on VOTE411.org will be a Pros and Cons document addressing Piedmont Ballot Measure GG, which would increase the real estate transfer tax from 1.3% to 1.75%.
Voter Services also organizes local candidate forums and will be sponsoring a forum on Tuesday, September 29 at 7pm for the five candidates running for three Piedmont City Council seats. Please register to attend the City Council forum in person (City Hall Council Chambers seating is limited), and submit proposed questions, HERE. In addition to being held live this year, and livestreamed on KCOM, a recording of the City Council candidate forum will be found on our website, YouTube channel, and on KCOM. We are grateful to the City of Piedmont for making the City Council chambers available for this forum.
Since only one of the two candidates in each of these races--California Assembly 14th District and the East Bay Municipal Utility District Ward 3--accepted our invitation to a forum, we're unable to host forums for these races. We hope these candidates will participate in the VOTE411.org website.
There will not be an election for the Piedmont Unified School District School Board, as there were only two qualified candidates for two positions. Therefore, the City Council cancelled that election and the qualified nominees can be appointed by the School Board during a regular school board meeting before Nov. 3, 2026, saving the cost of that election.
Kathleen Quenneville
Director of Voter Services
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From the LWV Santa Clara County
Protecting Our Elections:
How to Prepare for the Attacks on the Right to Vote
As we head into the November elections, many are concerned about potential threats to voting rights. Join us to hear from voting rights experts from the Brennan Center for Justice and Common Cause California on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5 – 6:15 pm (PST) via zoom. The speakers will discuss current threats to voting rights nationally and in California, efforts to safeguard our rights, and steps you can take.
Speakers
Justin Lam serves as counsel in the Brennan Center’s Voting Rights and Elections Program. Before joining the center, he clerked for Judge John P. Howard III of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and Judge Nina R. Morrison of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He also worked to advance children’s rights in education and juvenile justice as a public interest fellow at the National Center for Youth Law. Lam earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his master of public policy and law degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Brittany Stonesifer is the Senior Program Manager for Voting Rights and Redistricting at Common Cause California, where she leads statewide advocacy and education to ensure that all voters have fair access to the ballot. Brittany previously served as Senior Staff Attorney in the Democracy and Civic Engagement Program at ACLU of Northern California and Staff Attorney with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. Brittany holds her J.D. from University of California Law, San Francisco, her B.A. from The Evergreen State College, and studied international human rights law at the University of London.
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VOTE WITH THE LEAGUE
Local and State
|  | Our League’s Board of Directors has voted to endorse Piedmont’s Ballot Measure GG (See its wording and fact sheet below, and look for the LWVP's Pros and Cons, on this measure, to be published soon on VOTE411.org). You can also go to this website to learn more: www.YESonGG.com
The League of Women Voters doesn't endorse parties or candidates, but we do take positions on ballot measures based on current program positions and/or on League principles. Measure GG is aligned with the League of Women Voters of California's Position on State and Local Finances. A modest increase in the transfer tax rate from 1.3% to 1.75% would generate approximately $1.5M in needed additional revenue for Piedmont’s general fund each year, and would be more in line with neighboring cities. The transfer tax is only incurred when real property is conveyed from one owner to another; the responsibility for the transfer tax is negotiated, and often split between the buyer and seller. All revenues from the transfer tax stays in Piedmont. We urge voters to join us in supporting Measure GG in the November 3 election.
"Shall the measure, providing funding for City of Piedmont’s essential city services, such as police, fire, and emergency medical response; and maintenance of aging City buildings, parks, stormwater drains, roads and sidewalks, by increasing the real estate transfer tax from 1.3% to 1.75% to be more in line with neighboring cities and to generate approximately $1,500,000 annually in general tax revenue until ended by voters, be adopted?" | |
Measure GG Fact Sheet
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Piedmont’s local real estate conveyance tax (“transfer tax”) was first approved by voters in 1968, nearly 60 years ago. It was increased by voters in 1993 to its current rate of 1.3%, or $13 per $1,000 of the purchase price).
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Berkeley and Oakland have tiered transfer tax rates:
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For the sale of a $2.5M home in Oakland, the transfer tax would be 1.75%
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For a $2.5M home sold in Berkeley, the transfer tax would be 2.5%
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The City of Albany is also asking voters to adopt a tiered transfer tax this November. If approved, a $2.5M home sold in Albany (under the new measure) would incur a transfer tax of 3.0%.
City Attorney Impartial Analysis (posted 08/03/2026 to 08/13/2026)
Direct Argument in Favor of Measure (posted 08/03/2026 to 08/13/2026)
Direct Argument Opposed to Measure GG - None filed
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Are you looking for guidance on state Ballot Measures? Check out the League of Women Voters of California's resources for analysis and recommendations here and see the graphic below for a quick reference.
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UPCOMING CANDIDATE FORUMS
| Meet the Candidates!
Join the League of Women Voters for upcoming candidate forums and hear directly from the people seeking to represent our community. Come learn where candidates stand on the issues that matter and make an informed choice at the ballot box.
Recordings will be made available as soon as they are ready, and we’ll let you know where to find them. | |
We're social. Connect with us!
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