Age is no object

It's no secret that Jacque Robinson is new to local politics.

But what is perhaps not so evident is the kind of political upbringing that the 28-year-old Robinson has already experienced to arrive at the point of running on April 17 for the Pasadena City Council seat being vacated by longtime District 1 representative Joyce Streator.

Born and raised in Pasadena, Robinson attended Cleveland Elementary and graduated from John Muir High before heading north to UC Berkeley.

Coming home to Pasadena, she went to work for the California Teachers Association in Los Angeles, where Robinson worked as contract law clerk and outreach consultant.

Toward the end of her three-year stint with the CTA, Robinson applied for Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's HOPEFUND/Yes We

Can Program in Washington, DC, where young idealists gathered for training in the political process.

In June, at the same time her job with the CTA was ending, Robinson learned she had made the cut

and traveled to Washington for a week, finding that she was the oldest person among a group of early twentysomethings.

     Infused with a sense that any political goal was achievable, but still needing a job, Robinson went to work as a consultant with the American Federation of Labor. It was during the summer while on a business trip to Philadelphia that some friends encouraged her to run for the council in Pasadena.

“I thought of myself and I couldn't think of a reason why I shouldn't run, except for my age. I flew out here and pulled papers and submitted the signatures and flew back to finish my contract,” she recalled.

Last week we interviewed Robinson at the Weekly offices in Old Pasadena.

“I'm not a spotlight person,” she said. “I don't like being interviewed, but I know I have to be now.”

What are the top three issues facing District 1, excluding education, and what do you plan to do about them?

Affordable housing of course, public safety and … I don't know how you don't touch on education. A lot of people have concerns, especially with Muir. I know [candidate] Robin [Salzer] is pushing for vocational education. I can understand that, but we have to do more than that, like jobs for the youth and recreational opportunities. There are not a lot of things for the kids who are eighth grade and above to do. A lot of people have been saying we need to have things for the young people to do so they don't get into trouble. With public safety, I think we need to work more closely with the Police Department. A lot of people are leery about working with the Police Department. It has to be a joint effort. We need to have a better understanding about providing accurate information. Police come to forums, especially with the gang shootings that have been going on. There is a misconception that all of it is black on Latino or Latino on black, and that's not the case at all. Yet the people that go to the forums know that, but in general, most people don't know that. That message has to get out to a larger group of people.

What issues do you think need to be addressed that haven't been addressed by the sitting council member?

I only know what people have complained to me about. I think the largest problem I have heard from other people is that she was not available. I think being available and accessible is one of the first steps that whoever gets elected needs to take. I think when you don't respond to questions, even if you don't have the answers, it makes people less willing to work with you in the future.

The district was formed to increase voter and candidate participation in the process, but does it have to have female or minority representation on the council?

It doesn't have to be a woman or a minority, but considering the demographics of the district, I think that it is important to have someone represent that district, and I think hearing different opinions based on gender is important, not only on the City Council but on all the commissions and boards. Most importantly, even if you take gender and race out of it, I still represent the district because I was born there, I have family there and I continue to stay there. I have been on community organizations that operate there. The requirement that you live in the district you represent is there for a reason, and regardless of race and gender I am still the most qualified candidate, as far as that is concerned. I have a better understanding of the things going on in the district.

Given the little bit of power that the city actually has over schools, what would you do to fix our broken education system?

  I think it starts internally, between the council and the school board. They have to come to an understanding amongst themselves that, yes, they can work together without the school board feeling like the City Council is trying to take over, or without the City Council trying to feel like the school board is incompetent. They have to work amongst themselves before they branch out and start including the parents and the teachers. I do think it's important that once a plan comes together, it includes all of the community-based organizations, teachers, parents and the youth.

There are several mutual issues of importance to both District 1 and Altadena —education, business development, economic development and crime. How would you improve that relationship?

I think staying abreast of the issues going on there, especially since it's on the border of District 1. I don't think the council has worked closely with the Altadena Town Council. Maybe there is an avenue for a once a month meeting, where both sides discuss what's going on, especially in regards to all that new development going on in Altadena.

How much money have you raised during your campaign?

We raised $13,000 for the primary, probably closer to $20,000 total.

Who have been your biggest supporters?

During the primary, labor helped me get bodies out on the streets, but a lot of the money I raised during the primary was on my own and from different contacts I had in the labor community, with AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and SEIU (Service Employees International Union).

If you could offer a word of criticism about your opponent, what would it be?

That he doesn't have roots in this community. He doesn't have specific roots in District 1. I understand he is a longtime restaurant owner. Robin's has been here forever, but as far as District 1, he is only a six-month, eight-month resident. He's just now getting here and I think that puts him at a disadvantage, and I think that makes his candidacy look suspicious, even though he may have the truest of intentions. I don't even know what part of Pasadena he lived in before, but why didn't he run in that district?