Tony Thurmond is the clear choice. We've long admired his work in the state Assembly, on the West Contra Costa Unified school board, and the Richmond City Council, and he's spent much of his career in public life looking out for low-income youth. We agree with Thurmond's priority of keeping kids in school and out of the criminal justice system. He's also right about charter schools: In some cities around the state, they need to be reined in, especially in Oakland where they're now harming the viability of traditional public schools.