County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, Joseph E. Canciamilla, announces that Monday, March 2, 2015 is the voter registration deadline for the March 17, 2015 7th State Senatorial District Special Primary Election. New voters must register and anyone who has moved or has had a name change must re-register.

Voters may register online at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote/. Voters may also obtain registration forms at government offices including City or County Offices and DMV locations. The completed form must be delivered to the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez no later than 5:00 pm on March 2, 2015, or be postmarked by March 2, 2015.

To be eligible to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen who will be at least 18 years old by March 17, 2015 and not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony. Anyone who becomes a newly naturalized citizen after the March 2, 2015 deadline may register and vote between March 3 and March 17, 2015. New citizens may register at the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez and must present his or her Certificate of Naturalization.

Dear Editor:

The conundrum of the California Democratic Party versus the local Democratic club endorsements. The California Democratic Party endorsement of Susan Bonilla in the State Senate District 7 race was based on the outcome of a vote of 75 local people authorized to vote in this internal party process. A total of 44 additional votes were gathered by Bonilla thanks to a greatly discredited rule that allowed any state legislator currently in office to get ‘proxy’ votes from anywhere in the state. Advantage Incumbents. (The rule’s been removed from the Party By-Laws, but not officially until May, so it was still ‘legal’ to use this procedure).

The Democratic clubs within Senate District 7 that have chosen to make endorsements represent a larger group of people.

Joan Buchanan endorsements:

Rossmoor Democratic Club – 600+ members

Diablo Valley Democratic Club –  70 members

Tri-Valley Democratic Club – 60 members

San Ramon Democratic Club – 73 members

Susan Bonilla endorsements:

Concord Democratic Club – approximately 20 members

Do the math.

Sue Hamill, Walnut Creek

By Corporal J McMurry #2384, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 9:56 PM Antioch Police Officers responded to the 911 call of a fight in the area with gunshots being fired. Officers arrived in the 1500 block of Sandy Way, off East 18th Street in Antioch, and encountered a group of approximately fifty subjects in the street.

A 14-year-old juvenile was later found to have been struck in the leg by fragments and sustained a non-life threatening injury. The juvenile was transported to an area hospital for treatment and later released.

There is no suspect information at this time and the investigation is still on-going.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call the Antioch PD non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. They may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word “Antioch” in the body of the text.

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla announced today that her campaign for State Senate has earned the endorsement of Congressman Jerry McNerney, whose congressional district includes portions of eastern Contra Costa County that are within the 7th State Senate District. McNerney is a widely respected local leader in the region, and has played a crucial role in the protection of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.

“Susan Bonilla has the trust and respect of her colleagues. She is known for her leadership and as someone who can work with fellow lawmakers to achieve results in Sacramento. I look forward to working with her as a State Senator, especially in protecting our Delta, providing the best education for our children, and fostering small business invocation and growth in our economy.” McNerney said. “I’m proud to endorse Susan Bonilla’s campaign for State Senate.”

“I’m honored to have the support of Congressman Jerry McNerney in my campaign for State Senate. Congressman McNerney is nationally recognized as a champion of veterans, for building a stronger economy, and for protecting the Delta,” Bonilla said. “We both share a strong commitment to preserving this great natural resource. In the State Senate, I will continue to voice my strong opposition to the Delta twin tunnel proposal, which would recklessly divert water out of our region.”

Bonilla has built a strong base of support and strong momentum. In addition to the receiving the Democratic Party endorsement, She’s recently earned the support of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier – who represented this district before being elected to Congress this fall, Congressman Mike Thompson, former Congresswoman and Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher, PORAC, AFSCME, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and the California Professional Firefighters.

Antioch residents are invited to a first School Sounding Board session with Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig and Contra Costa Community College Board Trustee Greg Enholm from Ward 5, on Thursday, March 5th at 7 p.m. to the Starbucks at Blue Rock on 4045 Lone Tree Way.

Enjoy coffee and conversation in an informal setting, and ask any questions and share any and all concerns you have about our schools.

Also addressed will be Dual Enrollment of high school students taking community college courses.

They plan on monthly meetings, so to be notified please e-mail walter.ruehlig@gmail.com.

Candidates in the 7th State Senate District special election, from left, Steve Glazer, Susan Bonilla, Joan Buchanan (in blue) and Terry Kremin, discuss the issues during a recent forum.

If you live within the boundaries of the 7th State Senate District, your mailbox has likely been overflowing with campaign materials over the past few weeks.  Now you can find out firsthand from the candidates themselves where they stand on the issues, with Contra Costa Television (CCTV) broadcasting a pair of election forums through March 16.

One candidate forum was held at an East Bay Leadership Council event on February 11, and the second roundtable, moderated by columnist Tom Barnidge of the Contra Costa Times, was recorded at CCTV on February 17.  The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and Contra Costa County Elections co-sponsored both events.

Four candidates are seeking to fill the spot vacated by former State Senator/current Congressman Mark DeSaulnier.  Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, former Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, Orinda City Councilman Steve Glazer and teacher Dr. Terry Kremin are vying for the seat.  A fifth candidate, the only Republican to enter the race, Michaela Hertle, dropped out too late for her name to be removed from ballots.  Vote by Mail ballots have already been sent to voters registered to receive them, with Election Day taking place on Tuesday, March 17. 

Airdates on Contra Costa Television for the CCTV forum are: Saturday, February 21, 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 22, 7:00 p.m.; Monday, February 23, 8:00 p.m.; Thursday, February 26, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 28, 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 1, 7:00 p.m.; Monday, March 2, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 7, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 14, 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 15, 7:00 p.m.; and Monday, March 16, 8:00 p.m.

Airdates on Contra Costa Television for the East Bay Leadership Council’s forum are:  Saturday, February 21, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 22, 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, February 24, 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 1, 9:00 p.m.; Monday, March 2, 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 7, 9:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 8, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 14, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 15, 8:00 p.m.; and Monday, March 16, 9:00 p.m.

CCTV is found on Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32, and AT&T U-verse channel 99.  You can also watch the forums online, by visiting the Video on Demand page of the CCTV website at www.contracostatv.org.

By Allen Payton

The Antioch Planning Commission, on Wednesday, February 18, on a minimally required 4-0 vote, gave the green light for a new indoor soccer business in a building on West 10^th Street that was the former location of an auto painting business.

Ruben Herrera of East Bay Indoor Soccer, requested approval of a Use Permit to establish and operate an indoor soccer facility, including soccer fields, seating area, offices, and a reception area in the 16,000 square foot building. There will be no exterior modifications to the building, other than painting and front landscaping. The project site is located at 1825 W. 10th Street, across from Hazel’s Drive-In.

Commissioners addressed a few issues. There will be no on-site preparation or sale of food, other than snacks.

For proper traffic flow into and out of the parking lot, one of the two driveways will be used as

But, the main issue was parking. The site contains 41 parking spaces.

So, although there will be two soccer fields inside, only one game will be played at a time and the games will be 45 minutes apart so there will be no overcrowding of the parking lot.

Antioch resident Karl Dietzel spoke at the meeting and suggested they do advertising through the schools. Dietzel later said that the business owner liked his idea.

The commission determined that the use fits within the business park designation for the site.

The hours of operation of the facility will be from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.