Two weeks ago, Japan’s Supreme Court upheld a 117-year-old law requiring all married couples to share the same last name. Many considered the ruling anachronistic if not outright discriminatory to Japanese women, who take their husband’s surname 96 percent of the time. When it comes to politics, though, name recognition is the name of the game. Enter Darcie Green, a State Assembly candidate and county board of education trustee. Last time we checked in, Green was getting engaged on a Summer Jazz Fest stage in downtown San Jose. After a Thanksgiving wedding, Green and her husband, Rick, decided he would tack on her last name to become Rick Alexander Green. The choice to eschew patriarchal tradition has been applauded by local politicos and wags, but that’s just half the story. Rick actually took the name as a way to honor his new father in-law, Robert Green, who had a profound effect on his new son in-law’s life. Robert has two daughters but no sons by blood. The equality angle was simply a happy byproduct of honoring one man’s legacy. But more and more married couples are keeping their own names, going with hyphenates or experimenting with hit-or-miss mash-ups where two names are combined—in this case we’d have Grander, or the less appealing Alexeen. The Greens’ homage couples with a progressive approach to spousal equality, but it also makes good political sense. Green has aspired to serve in the Assembly her entire life, so throwing voters for a loop with a new name six months before the 2016 primary could imperil her chances of advancing to the runoff. She’s already facing tough competition from Madison Nguyen, a former San Jose councilmember who also retained her surname, and Ash Kalra, who remains on the council one more year. Other examples of women in local politics who have built a public persona and retained their names include county Supervisor Cindy Chavez, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and San Jose Vice Mayor Rose Herrera. The latter two decided against changing their names a second time after remarrying.
The Fly
Darcie Green’s Husband Takes His New Bride’s Last Name
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Darcie Green’s camp has gone into damage control, and the Mercury News seems more than happy to help. (Photo via Facebook)
“Enter Darcie Green, a State Assembly candidate and county board of education trustee.”
A “Trustee on the County Board of Education” should be a “Kiss of Death” to being elected to any office.
Ms. Green is encouraged to run for the State Assembly.
She will not be elected. She won’t even come close.
David S. Wall
> She will not be elected. She won’t even come close.
David:
Thanks for cheering me up. I was getting the urge to yell at my computer.
I believe this guy has a criminal record. Including domestic issues. I went to school with both of them.
Does Ms. Green ever plan to serve out a full term once elected? She served in Alum Rock for only 2 years before leaving Alum Rock school board to be appointed to the County Board of Education, and now has served in an elected capacity on the County Board of Education only since Nov. 2014 – just a little more than one year. So has her service on school boards been only with the goal of using school boards as a stepping stone to a higher elected office? Voters should have been told when she ran for school board, both for Alum Rock and then for County Board of Ed, that she did not intend to serve out even one full term before trying to use a lower elected office to climb higher.
I won’t vote for someone who uses a lower elected office just as a stepping stone. And I vote in the district in which Councilmember Kalra, Ms. Nguyen, and Ms. Green are running for Assembly.
You know who came by my grandma’s house this Halloween? Darcie and Rick.
I wouldn’t be so harsh on her you guys. Personally it’s a 3 way race I can’t pick a winner in, but thankfully I don’t have to choose as I don’t live in that assembly district. All three are pretty good people once you get to know them (Although Madison is still mad I switched my endorsement to Dave, but I gotta do the right thing and support family)
I encourage everyone to at least go have a coffee with all 3 candidates and give them an honest, in person chance to impress you. Anyways, you can’t trust everything written on SJI, that’s about the only proven constant here.
Way cool.
> After a Thanksgiving wedding, Green and her husband, Rick, decided he would tack on her last name to become Rick Alexander Green.
Now would be an excellent time for some progressive opinion monger with a large brain to explain to us in the vast underclass just what the hell “marriage” is.
My supposition is that the overwhelming majority of “progressives” in a progressive hive like San Jose have no use for marriage and regard it as just some quaint, anachronistic social convention that went the way of button shoes and gaiters.
> The choice to eschew patriarchal tradition has been applauded by local politicos and wags, but that’s just half the story.
“Marriage”, as progressives apply the concept, just seems to be another symbolic behavior to get a few more endorsements, campaign contributions, or votes.
> Rick actually took the name as a way to honor his new father in-law, Robert Green, …
> The Greens’ homage couples with a progressive approach to spousal equality, but it also makes good political sense.
One of my in-laws likes to provoke family friction by loudly demanding to know “WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE”. To which my response is: “WHY ARE GAYS FOR MARRIAGE FOR ANYONE?”
Stalemate.
A story on Kylie Jenner getting a tattoo is a bit more interesting than this. Way to end 2015 SJI. I guess the Shirakawa, Campos and Water District ( no pun) wells dried up.
Nope..they haven’t dried up yet hence why Ash is running..as much as Nora Campos is not a fan of Darcie (Nora had to make a move on her own political move) Nora is a fan of Ash. So be careful.
Can we ask ourselves why this man would change his name. It’s not about being an honorable man it’s so no one tracks down his criminal past. Food for thought….
Just curious, why does it even matter? He’s not in office, and from what a lot of mutual friends have told me, Rick’s made a huge turnaround in his life the last few years. If you want to use me for comparison, I have a criminal court case from 2010 (this is all that shows up on the county search) It was for trespassing on Mount Uhminum. This is more recent than things from Rick’s past.
He’s had a longer track history for staying out of trouble than I have.
Finding that special “Someone” can really put a dent for positive change in someones life. I know, before I met my wife I was a trainwreck. Had I not met my wife, I seriously doubt I could have gotten anywhere in life. I wanted to work so I could do things for her, take her out to dinner, build a life.
I see a lot of similarities between me and Rick. We both have negative people in our lives like yourself Jane that would rather put a guy down for his past than acknowledge that the past is in the past, and he’s made serious inroads to make a better future. I hope you can be a better person than this. Some people can’t change, but some can and Rick is one of them.
I have to say this…it’s not about “giving someone a chance to change”…it’s about being honest. Everyone makes mistakes in life, but what makes you a man is owning up to your mistakes. And part of being a good woman and a good wife is holding your man accountable. Ms. Green has been very vocal in regards to her stance “against men” when it comes to issues of violence against women. There is grey in every situation, but the stance that Ms. Green has taken has allowed for only black and white. If these are truly her views, then how can she stand by a man with such a past? I am not judging anyone…I am simply stating that if you choose to stand by a man with a past (which is totally fine in my book), you should also stand by him and own that past….not hide it. She should be advocating for men like him…and helping men like him make a change in their life the way that he supposedly able to make a change in his life. THAT would be the honorable thing to do. That would be the responsible thing to do. Instead, they hide the past and try to portray an image of perfection, when in reality, no one is perfect. This was her chance to build a campaign on truth and real life experience. Instead she has built it on an untrue image. In regards to her stance on Education….let’s be honest…she has no formal higher education. She takes a stance on education, but has none. What she should do is make an example of herself, go back to college and REALLY show people that ANYONE can do it. Instead she makes speeches and presentations and carries on about children and education as if she has the life experience. She doesn’t. Let’s be real.
My issue with all of this has nothing to do with judgment of someone’s past or the lack of education…it has to do with accountability and the opportunity to be an honest person who wants to make a difference by leading by example. There is always time to change direction in life and do the right thing, and be honest. She is running in the area that she grew up in…so it goes without saying that many of the claims she is making do not add up to the memories of the people who grew up with her; the people who are supposed to be voting for her. These are the same boys and girls that once voted for her to be ASB president…the same girls who sat next to her in high school classes and who are themselves now mothers, wives, and career women. If Ms. Green wants to win this election, she needs to start being honest and stop trying to portray an image that she thinks people will “respect”. Newsflash…people respect honesty.
>>I have to say this…it’s not about “giving someone a chance to change”…it’s about being honest.
Why don’t you start being honest by using your real name, You cry for honesty while hiding behind anonymity. If you have nothing to hide, this shouldn’t be an issue, at least link your SJI profile to your facebook?
>>Ms. Green has been very vocal in regards to her stance “against men” when it comes to issues of violence against women.
Heh, I used to get on Darcie a lot for her sometimes strong feminist views. One time she posted a comic titled, “Not every man!” that featured the mysognists spandex clad superman named, “Not Every Man!”
I pretty much asked her, “Is your pops every man then?” For the last few years her “Black and White” as you put it has become a little more softened, with more focus on getting young women to realize their worth, instead of bashing on men and blaming every feminist issue on every man.
Even Darcie can change. I don’t hold people to the fire for a disagreement on philosophies, and I hold people that are willing to listen to alternative views (and take them to heart) to be a step above the rest. Next up…..
>>”I am simply stating that if you choose to stand by a man with a past (which is totally fine in my book), you should also stand by him and own that past….not hide it.
Who’s hiding anything? It’s freely available info if you know where to look. Are you saying that all spouses of elected officials should be required to conspicuously post their rap sheet somewhere? Rick has a right to privacy, even as the spouse of an elected official.
>>”In regards to her stance on Education….let’s be honest…she has no formal higher education.”
That just makes you an intellectual elitist. Again, with the dishonesty of your anonymity, I can’t verify if you are qualified to, “a stance on education, but has none.” or even. ” What she should do is make an example of herself, go back to college and REALLY show people that ANYONE can do it.
The whole point of “America” is these things are not, and never will be a barrier to a persons success. Your past, who you’re related to, does not matter. Bill Gates had no formal education, Zuckerberg dropped out of college. Same goes for Steve Jobs. All of these people have contributed millions to education and have shaped education for years to come. Are you saying that a person can ONLY take a stance on education if they themselves were educated? Are you saying that these 3 people’s contributions to education is moot because they never held a former degree? Are you sure you want to go down this slippery slope?
” She is running in the area that she grew up in…so it goes without saying that many of the claims she is making do not add up to the memories of the people who grew up with her”
Little known fact… I’ve known Darcie since she was around 14. My friend had a daughter her age, they used to hang out. I haven’t seen anything dishonest in any of her political pieces.
But if you want to keep this up, it’s a slow day for me. I’m more than happy to keep myself engaged on this thread.
well…first of all, my post wasn’t meant to start an argument. LOL But apparently, for someone who doesn’t even have a vote in that district where she is running, you seem to care an awful lot about it all. To be honest, like I said, I am not passing judgment on anyone…all I am saying is that honesty is always the best policy. To answer your questions that you have posed to me…
1) I can stay anonymous if I choose. I am not running for office, nor am I making myself a public figure. I am simply stating my opinion.
2) If she truly has changed her stance on “every man”…that is great. I have yet to see any statements made by her that validate that claim.
3) He is hiding. He doesn’t use his real name. His last name is NOT Alexander or Green. And although he is not running for office, he has made himself a public figure right along with her. Spouses are part of the election just as much as the candidate. If you can’t admit that, then you sir are clearly not being rational. They talk an awful lot about the two daughters that he has…but make no mention of the other 3 children he has. I don’t know any parent who only boasts and talks about 2 children when there are 5. Just sayin….
4) I am not an educational elitist LOL. I never once said that an education is NECESSARY to be successful. I would NEVER say that because I do not believe that to be true. Bill Gates and Mark Z are very successful, but they are not going around advocating for kids to get an education…they are not sitting on the education board of trustees. LOL If I weighed 400lbs, and did not do anything to change my weight, how would I look if I was going around telling people the importance of exercise and eating right? Would I expect people to take health advice from me? Of course not. Come on now…it really isn’t that difficult of a point to understand.
5) You keep referencing “people and relatives” who know her. Do you know her? LOL probably not. There are around 200 people in Darcie’s graduating senior class and about 800 other students who were a year or two ahead or behind her…who actually know her. Maybe you can ask them? “activist” “east side love story” “feminist”…..all exaggerations and fabrications. Shall we pull out the year books?! hahaha
I replied to who I’m assuming is your son below. I’ve been told I should be “ashamed” for airing my families dirty laundry on this site, and frankly it’s a sentiment I don’t agree with, and I would be a hypocrite if I told you any differently.
But my advice to you, Rick, and your son is to talk things out (offline). Had I known this was family posting this stuff, I would have stepped aside sooner. I don’t plan on engaging this topic any further, and I apologize for doing so. I hope you and your son have a good new years.
You know him well how many kids he have?
Sweetheart that’s my son and I have no need to talk to him nor does my son. He gave up that right when cps asked him if he could take them and he said no. This isn’t a family posting but my son has a right to talk about things that are a lie so respect that. I don’t care who you are or how long you know her. I will back my son no matter what because he found out about the last name change through this article. Tell me how a child should feel. You may not understand because you don’t know the whole story. Please live my son out of your conversation.
Maybe he sees this as a way to not be tracked down by District Attorney office for all of his 6 children that he doesn’t help support. That would be my guess, the change starts with taking care of your kids before anything else.
You know being this man’s son and knowing better than all of you especially living with him for a year or I was supposed but of course he abandoned me and my sister in the home of our child molester his father. You say this is honorable but it’s not a man in the bible sense is supposed to lead his kids and teach them right ways which he didn’t he is not a man or honor I bet none of you know or his two first kids that he left or that the countless times he would have us cover for him while he went and cheated on his fiancé that he left and then went to Darcie and how darcie would never include two of his kids and leave them in a home or torture so you have no right to say anything about this man but me and my mother he isn’t honorable and you say he deserves a second chance this is more like his fourth. Did you know how he was charged for domestic violence just this year to a 23 year old…? I love my father changed through God and I wish he would respect God but he constantly disrespects God and try’s to manipulate people and change how God is therefore he has no honor. Someone who isn’t even my true father is more of a father them him and. True man of God which I have more respect for. And another thing you think he has changed many years ago no no no I just left my fathers house at the end of September because CPS pulled us out and he didn’t bother to help us me and my 17 year old sister so is that honor? Ask yourself that to me it isn’t.
So to Robert Cortese you don’t have no right and shut your damn mouth in speaking on things you don’t know
Roman you’re right, I’m sorry, and I’m not going to comment any further. Sounds like you guys have some things to talk about, and again I am so sorry for butting in here. Hope you have a good new years.
You know Robert you don’t have to make a comment on each and every blog that comes across on this site. Give it a break and stop trying to be the moderator(?) and/or hijacking the entire comment thread to give us your personal view on each and every story. Nobody,with any intelligence, really even listens to your rants. Give it a break, nobody is listening to you! Move on!
So to Robert Cortese shut your damn mouth on speaking on things you have no idea about.
There are other reasons to not vote for Ms. Green:
A vote for Ms. Green will be nothing more than a vote to do exactly what the Santa Clara County Democratic Party machine wants. There will be no independence in her voting, thinking, or in any legislation she would put forth. She is very very tied to what labor wants, which only represents a small proportion of the people living in Santa Clara County.
We do not need anyone else in the State Assembly (or at any level of government) who will do nothing more than tow a party line (any party line, not just the Dems.)
I agree with a commentator above about the need to attend college for someone who purports to want to help youth become college and career ready (i.e. have at least some college under one’s belt before serving on school board), or serve in the state legislature. With the wealth of wonderful community college resources in this area, the reasonable tuition cost for community college, and the availability of evening, weekend, and online classes, there is no excuse to not at least take some college classes.
Something here does not add up to me. This is very much sounding like a matter of discussion betweeen family members. It is disappointing that Darcie’s career shall be scrutinized in this matter. I will hold me judgement.
Madison Nguyen end of story.
Sounds to me this family has some stuff to work out locally (family counseling sessions). Leadership begins at home. Politics is ugly. Madison Nguyen for Assembly, end of story for me.