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Even as he faces his most competitive Congressional challenge in decades , 19-term East Bay Democratic Rep. Pete Stark , 80, has cut back on local campaign appearances –andturned down two upcoming debates sponsored by fivearea Chambers of Commerce and an Asian Pacific Islander groupin his district. Stark's retreat from public and campaignappearances in the East Bay in the midst of a heated campaignhas been noticeable since he made headlines recently with some eyebrow-raising campaign gaffes at a Chronicle editorial board and at a public debate in Hayward. The California Congressional delegation'slongest serving member, who has served nearly 40 years inoffice, has faced an unusually strong challenge from Democraticchallenger, Alameda County District Attorney Eric Swalwell , who is also a Dublin city councilmember. Neither Stark's campaign nor his Congressionaloffice staff have responded to repeated Chronicle requests forinformation about the candidate's upcoming publicevents. But his campaign strategist, Alex Tourk, onFriday sent out a press release — touting Stark'sendorsement by President Barack Obama. Dale Eldridge Kaye, who heads the LivermoreValley Chamber of Commerce, said her group is part of acoalition that included the chambers of Pleasanton, San Ramon,Danville and Dublin; the groups jointly invited Starkfor a debate during the congressional recess and offered a May 21date with Swalwell and Republican candidate Chris Pareja. But the Congressman turned down the invite toaddress representatives of upwards of 2,000 businesses in theLivermore and San Ramon Valleys, a region newlyincorporated in Stark's Congressional district, CD-15,because of California's recently redrawn legislativelines. "People are a little taken aback,"Eldridge Kaye said, who said she tried to accomodate Stark withother dates. "He may feel there's a agenda becausewe're business-friendly — and he may not realize we arenon-partisan."' Kevin Ikuma of the Asian Pacific Islander PublicAffairs Association (APAPA), a non- partisan group, said hisorganization also invited Stark for a late May Hayward debateduring the Congressional recess. Despite several attempts to workwith his staff, Ikuma said he got "no response." "We are certainly disappointed," Ikumasaid. "We wanted to inform everybody, certainly in the AAPIcommunity," he said. "Our goal was to give him achance to meet the community, so the community can learn more aboutwho represents them…(not) to push a certain agenda." Stark's political troubles began at an earlierdebate in Hayward sponsored by the League of Women Voters lastmonth, in which he accused Swalwell, 31, of taking "hundredsof thousands of dollars" in bribes from developers. The Congressman later apologized and retracted thecomment. A week later at a Chronicle editorial board, hefalsely accused the paper's "Token Conservative"blogger and columnist Debra J. Saunders of contributing toSwalwell's campaign. He apologized to the paper'seditors and Saunders afterward. Still, the candidate had something big to celebrateon Friday, when Stark's office released a statement fromObama, calling the Congressman "a tireless champion for allof the 15th s working families." "We have made great strides, but there is much more todo. That is why we need his dedicated efforts back in Congress tocontinue the fight with me," said Obama in a statementemailed to reporters. Stark, in his emailed response, said: "I am honoredto receive the President s endorsement. After a campaign focusedon health care, working families and economic development, my firsttask back in Congress will be to work with the President and othermembers of Congress to get our economy back on the right track. I am an expert from glass-handicrafts.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Glass Bead Bracelet Manufacturer , Handmade Glass Christmas Ornaments Manufacturer, Hand Blown Glass Goblets,and more.
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