By Allen Payton, Publisher

I spoke with candidate for the Antioch School Board, Barbara Cowan, today about her experience with the endorsement process of the Contra Costa County Democratic Party Central Committee. Three of the five Democratic candidates running for the board had sought the endorsement, but they only endorsed two candidates for the three seats, and both are African American.

Following are Cowan’s comments about it:

“It was the first interview I’d done. I was extremely nervous going in,” she said. “But, it was a very, very unpleasant experience.”

When asked who was involved in the interview, she responded, “I believe there were at least six people involved in the interview with one Hispanic and one African American on the panel.”

So what did she think was the reason she wasn’t endorsed for the third seat?

“There was a gentlemen there who took an issue with a remark I made and interrupted all the other questions, so he could argue with me,” said Cowan. “I told him I was talking about the API scores in Antioch. I indicated that on the history scores, that the teachers needed a little training. He came across angry and said, basically, not yelling, but very firmly, that it wasn’t the Antioch teachers but that is was a lack of support for the discipline. He’s a substitute teacher in Antioch and seemed very bitter and angry.”

“Maybe they looked at me as an ingenue or that I wasn’t qualified. After I was reamed by this guy a couple times, I stumbled over my words,” Cowan added. “I can tell you my interview didn’t go well. I answered the questions that I could, but maybe they may have chosen not to endorse me because of that.”

She doesn’t believe race was a factor in the endorsement decision.

“I’m not going to pull the race card. But I don’t feel it was fair because of the way I was treated,” she said.

Cowan was never informed that she hadn’t been endorsed.

“There was no feedback, not even a notification that I had not been endorsed,” she added.

So as far as the Antioch School Board election is concerned, I believe we can put to rest the concerns that race was a factor in how the Democrats chose their candidates. What we don’t know is the criteria that was used to decline the endorsement of Cowan, the only former teacher and principal running in Antioch, this year.

However, they only endorsed two of the three candidates who requested it for the three seats on the Antioch School Board

By Allen Payton, Publisher

This is to follow up on my recent commentary about the elections in Antioch and reporting on the concerns shared by some white Democratic candidates that the Contra Costa Democratic Central Committee only endorsed minority candidates for office.

I emailed the Democrats’ Endorsement Chair, Jeff Koertzen with the following questions:

“Mr. Koertzen,

I have been informed that you are the Endorsement Chair for the Contra Costa Democratic Central Committee.

In following up on my recent commentary on the Herald website regarding the elections in Antioch, I’d like to know did any of the following candidates seek the endorsement of the Contra Costa Democratic Central Committee?

Randy Benevides, Barbara Cowan, Diane Gibson Gray

The reason I ask is that the CCDCC only endorsed two Democratic candidates for the three seats, both African Americans, even though there are three other Democrats in the race.

Also, was race used as a criteria for the endorsements for the elections in Antioch? Knowing the history of support for Affirmative Action by the Democratic Party, is there a desire to promote minority candidates over white candidates, at the local level?

Finally, why is the Democratic Central Committee endorsing in what are supposed to be non-partisan races?

I look forward to your responses.

Thank you.

Allen Payton

Publisher”

Koertzen responded:

“Mr. Payton,

Regarding the three candidates you reference.

Randy Benevides did not respond to our correspondence (email and postal mail, no answer by phone).

Barbara Cowan was interviewed but was not endorsed.

Diane Gibson-Gray told me by phone that she was not interested in seeking our endorsement. (Phone calls were made to Democratic registered candidates who had not responded by email.)

Per our bylaws and the bylaws of the California Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County may endorse any candidate in non-partisan races who is registered as a Democrat as long as that candidate specifically indicates he or she is interested in our endorsement. (A non-response must be interpreted as the individual is not interested in our endorsement. Our Bylaws require that we send a letter to the campaign mailing address on file with the registrar’s office. In addition, emails were sent to the email address on file with the registrar’s office and phone calls were made to the campaign phone number on file with the registrar’s office. Messages were left when answering machines were reached, but because we had attempted to reach candidates in multiple ways, it was not required that we actually reach any person to receive a yes or no response if they were interested in endorsement. Due to the multiple methods to attempt to reach candidates, it was up to the candidate to reply to us.) In addition, we may only endorse a maximum of the number of seats available in a particular race. Only one of the three you mention indicated she was interested and sought our endorsement.

As for the city council race which you mention in your blog post but not in your email, Walter Ruehlig did not respond to our correspondence and Noel Pinto was interviewed but was not endorsed.

Race is absolutely not considered as a factor. It was actually a surprise to me when I read your blog post because when we interviewed the candidates, we interviewed them as people not as representatives of a particular race. The endorsement committee made our recommendations based on the individuals we felt best met the requirements for office, would best represent their constituents, and who represented Democratic ideals.”

I then responded with the following:

Mr. Koertzen,

Thank you for your quick and complete response.

However, regarding the Antioch School Board race, since one more Democratic candidate sought the endorsement, who appears to be very qualified from her experience as both a teacher and principal, why wasn’t Barbara Cowan endorsed, instead of leaving the one position without an endorsed candidate?

Allen Payton

Publisher”

Koertzen responded:

“Mr. Payton,

The endorsement committee did indeed find her to be qualified as a teacher and administrator, and, as I recall, she is a warm and engaging person, but some committee members had some reservations and concerns based on responses to questions posed during the interview. As a result, she did not meet the threshold required for the committee to recommend endorsement. Although we may endorse up to the number of available seats, we are not required to endorse that number of candidates.

To be fair to Ms. Cowan, I would need to discuss that information with her. It would not be appropriate for me to discuss the details of our endorsement deliberations with the press, especially if I have not yet had that conversation with Ms. Cowan.

Thank you,

Jeff Koertzen”

So there you have it. The Democrats claim race wasn’t used in their endorsements, but when they had the opportunity to endorse a very qualified, white Democratic candidate for the third seat on the Antioch School Board, they chose not to. So it’s up to you to decide what to believe and determine what impact, if any, it will have in the election results.

I emailed each of the three candidates mentioned to ask if they had requested the endorsement of the CCDCC, but none of them responded before publishing this commentary. If and when they do, I will provide an update.

Now, let’s get something, straight. I’m being accused of injecting race into the elections in Antioch. Let’s be clear. I was not the one who put out the emails about the issue. I received them and spoke with a few of the white Democratic candidates for office in Antioch about the issue and shared that information in my commentary. They chose to share it with me on condition of anonymity. If people are upset, so be it. No issue is too sensitive to discuss it if it’s of concern to candidates running for office or the voters. But don’t shoot the messenger or even try to read into anything I wrote. You need to take it on its face value. Debate and discuss the issue don’t attack the one who brought it out of the shadows. If those candidates who have the concern wish to remain anonymous, that’s their choice. But it would be good if they would step forward and share their concerns, publicly and challenge their own party.

This is America where we have freedom of speech. Don’t be afraid to speak up and speak out when you feel an injustice has occurred – no matter who it might be against.

Dear Editor:

I am writing in regards to the Antioch Unified School District elections that will take place in just a matter of days. My mother Debra Vinson is indeed running for school board and I would like to state a few reasons as to why I believe she is the best candidate for the job. It would be too simple to state that I am voting for my mother simply because she is my mom or that I want people to vote on that basis alone. It would also be an immense understatement of her abilities if I left it at that.

Ms. Vinson has the kind of drive and enthusiasm that the AUSD needs, especially at a time like this. As a former student of Antioch High School, I believe that I am proof that students that come from that high school can succeed. My mother always pushed me to do the best that I could do as well as supported me in all of my endeavors. I graduated AHS as a Music Master, an athlete and an honors student who recieved mutliple college acceptance letters. I now attend the University of California, Santa Barbara and am studying abroad. I credit my drive to succeed in everything I do and try new things to my mother’s support and care. She knows what it takes to motivate students, motivate teachers and motivate parents to fight for their students in order to make sure that every child recieves the best education they can and takes full advantage of all opportunities possible. Every student from the AUSD can attend a 4-year university or trade school, they just need the right tools to do so and it is my firm belief that my mother can provide those tools.

My mother knows how the AUSD operates and as a psychotherapist, violence prevention trainer and school counselor I do not doubt for a second that she can implement strategies to turn the AUSD around. Whenever I talk to my fellow graduates from the class of 2010 I always hear about the school system and all of the elementary, middle and high schools getting worse. I want to be proud of the school I graduated from and I want the district to have a better reputation so that students have a better opportunity to get into university, as well as achieve higher test scores. So often it feels as if the district does not care about the students minus a select few; and having seen the nepotism and favoritism that is shown to some of the “star” students, I believe my mother will be able to change that. Therefore, it is for those reasons that I advise the voters of Antioch to vote Debra Vinson for School Board Member. A vote that will truly make a difference. Thank you and happy voting.

Morgan Vinson

University of California, Santa Barbara

Programming Vice President, RHA

Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Associated Students

Scholarship Chair, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi

Following are the responses to the questions asked of the candidates for State Assembly in California’s new 11th District, which includes all of Antioch, most of Eastern Contra Costa County, and much of Solano County. There is no incumbent. Unfortunately, there was not enough room in our November print edition to include this, so we present it here. Mike Hudson’s responses are below, Jim Frazier refused to respond.

1. Full name: Michael James Hudson

2. Background – age, education with degrees and subjects, city in which you live, elected and/or appointed offices held, family: marital status, how long, spouse’s name and # of children

Age: 51

Education: I have 8 years of college that I took before, during, and after my service in the military. I took college courses while being deployed during the first Gulf War. I have completed my Certified Novell Engineer (CNE), Certified Information Security Professional (CISSP), Sun Certified Engineer, Sun Certified System Administrator, Check Point Certified Security Expert and Security Administrator, Tripwire Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Professional, Solaris System administrator, HP OpenView certified, and ISS Certified.

Residence: Suisun City since 1996

Elected: Suisun City Council in 2006

Reelected: 2010

Elected: Vice Mayor 2010 by City Council

Married to Sandi, 4 children

4 grandchildren – Derek, Nicole, Christopher & Joshua

3. Contact information – including campaign phone #, email address, street address, website, Facebook page, Twitter and any other social media sites in which you participate

Mike Hudson for Assembly 2012

Cell phone (707) 372-8389

Contra Costa HQ

1781 Vineyard #220, Antioch

(925) 755-9489

Solano County HQ

411 Main Street, Suite C, Suisun City

(707) 428-6175

mike@mikehudson2012.com

www.mikehudson2012.com

www.facebook.com/mikehudsonforcalifornia2012

www.facebook.com/VeteransForHudson?ref=hl

www.facebook.com/MikeHudsonParaCalifornia2012EnEspanol?ref=hl

www.facebook.com/MikeHudsonSupportsThe2ndAmendment?fref=ts

www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Hudson-for-Suisun-City/186020308373

http://twitter.com/MikeHudson2012

http://pinterest.com/mikehudson2012/

www.linkedin.com/in/mikehudson2012

www.flickr.com/people/mikehudson2012/

4. What motivated you to run?

While Chairman of the North Bay YMCA I had the opportunity to apply for Proposition 49 grant money for before and after school programs for Fairfield and Suisun schools.  Prop 49 grants require a nonprofit, a municipality, and the school district to act as partners and to provide a soft match for the grant money. The School district was not acting on the grant.

I successfully navigated the proposition’s requirements, got the cities and the school district involved.  That was not easy feat, yet I was able to succeed.  Suisun City Elementary was awarded the money.  In fact , I found I had the knack for getting things done in local government.  Other schools still needed these programs, so I began my first City Council campaign in 2006 to Suisun City Council; I successfully ran and we found a way to finance before and after school programs without tax dollars.

5. Top three priorities if elected – what do you plan to accomplish?

JOBS is #1!

California needs to get back to work. We need to create an economy that rewards hard work and investment, rewards job creators, that encourages small business. The economy will bloom through job growth. We need regulatory reform, reduce red tape, create road maps for success, lower taxes will help create a more business-friendly environment. We have to stop driving business out of our state.

#2 Infrastructure

California’s aging infrastructure is not keeping pace with the growth of our state. Projects take too long, are brought to a virtual standstill by environmental studies, and multi-level bureaucratic agencies. We need to cut the red tape. California has the highest administrative cost per mile for building new roads or maintaining existing roads, almost double what it costs Texas.

1. Build and maintain roads and bridges

2. Build and strengthen levies

3. Water

a. Build additional surface storage

b. Use ground water recharging

c. Build desalinization plants

d. Use existing subsurface water storage

4. Protect the Delta by defunding the Peripheral Canal

5. Stop High Speed Rail (the train to “Nowhere”), we can’t afford it.

#3 Budget

California needs to toughen up and balance the budget without counting on revenues that will never materialize, borrowing billions of dollars that will cost the state billions more in interest, new gimmicks or tricks that really disguise a poor budget. We need decisive action. A balanced budget amendment that limits borrowing, caps spending, and creates a true reserve fund, a 2-year budget cycle not tied to election years, sales tax apportionment reform, reform redevelopment, stop raiding, back filling, borrowing, and stealing from local governments.

6. Do you support Prop. 30 and/or Prop. 38?

Both are ballot box budgeting, so I am opposed to both. These propositions also demonstrate the legislature’s inability to agree on anything. We pay them to make the tough decisions. They chickened out and went to the voters.

I am especially opposed to Prop 30. The Legislature and the Governor both stated “Kids are our top priority”. Then they cut education, “we are broke”, they stated. Yet they gave raises to Sacramento bureaucrats and bought a brand new high speed train. This proposition simply back-fills the general fund without providing any monies to schools.

7. What has been your greatest accomplishment? Why should people vote for you?

My greatest accomplishment is bringing more businesses to Suisun City and more jobs, creating before and after school programs, and redeveloping the downtown. All of my accomplishments required working together with fellow Council members. Politicians may claim all the glory, in proportion to their egos, the fact remains, at no time can a single Council member get anything done by themselves; Working Together We Achieve!

People should vote for me because I am honest, hardworking, I listen, and I care about people and their communities. I offer real world solutions to jobs, education, our state budget, and protecting the delta. My vision is to return California to the top, the best in education, best transportation, balanced budgets, and real jobs.

Mike Hudson

Candidate for Assembly District 11, FPPC # 1342466

BART’s all-time ridership record was broken Wednesday with 568,061 exits reported, among them fans attending the San Francisco Giants World Series victory parade, Halloween revelers, and people relying on BART for their everyday trips to work, school and other activities.

It was the highest ridership in BART’s 40 years of service, easily passing the old record of 522,198 exits, which was set on Nov. 3, 2010, the day of the Giants victory parade after they won the World Series that year. (This year’s parade day had 45,863 more exits in all.)

Compared to a typical October Wednesday, the Oct. 31, 2012, ridership represents a whopping 40% increase.”This was a tremendous and exciting day for BART and the Bay Area,” Board President John McPartland said. “We can’t thank our passengers enough for being patient and helping make the day a success.”

BART beefed up staffing and deployed every train available to accommodate crowds. Rush hour service was used the entire day with extra event trains travelling the entire system to help carry passengers into the city and then home.

Ticket sale tables were set up at high volume stations to help speed up ticket purchasing. About 100 extra BART employees in yellow vests were stationed throughout the system to help with crowd control and to assist passengers. BART Police had extra patrol and extra train technicians were also on hand just in case.

“Safety and crowd control was our top priority,” McPartland said. “BART staff diligently managed passenger flow especially at our downtown San Francisco stations to avoid overcrowded platforms. So far, today was a great example of the power and efficiency of public transportation. That is something worth celebrating,” McPartland said.

For more on how and why the Bay Area relied on BART, watch BARTtv coverage of the parade at www.bart.gov/barttv.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 40^th installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from United Citizens for Better Neighborhoods (UCBN), community volunteers, and the Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program, Target Volunteers, Volunteers in Police Service, community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Collectively, “We”, everyone who works and lives in the City of Antioch, can make a difference and improve the quality of life. It’s our community and it’s our chance to make a difference.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Cleanup program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

The 40^th Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, November 3rd, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Volunteers should report to the Mountaire Park located at 2600 Sunset Lane. There should be plenty of curbside parking adjacent to the park. Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events will be scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

If you have a suggestion for a future cleanup area, please inform the assigned Volunteer in Police Services (VIP) or you can call (925) 779- 6878. If there is no answer please feel free to leave a message regarding your suggested cleanup area.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community!

 

Dear Editor:

There is one plan Retired Environmental Manager and mayor candidate Don Freitas did have for Antioch: a plan to raise our property taxes.

You may have recalled back in April of this year receiving a mail in ballot for a Contra Costa Initiative which would have raised $8.7 million by increasing our property taxes. Before he retired this year, Don Frietas was the manager of that program and directed the taxpayer funded campaign for its passage.

The initiative was resoundingly defeated by homeowners. But not without controversy. Critics everywhere blasted Don Freitas’s spending of $1.45 million in taxpayer funds for promotion and propaganda in favor of the initiative to raise our property taxes.

Here are a few excerpts from newspaper articles talking about Don Freitas’s failed plan to tax homeowners:

“It is impossible to discern from the $1 million taxpayer-funded study and propaganda effort, produced by an unaccountable group of government bureaucrats (Don Freitas, Project Manager) and their consultants, whether the ballot measure deserves support.”

Dan Borenstein, Contra Costa Times Columnist, April 1, 2012

“The entire process cost approximately $1.43 million, the largest portion of which was $444,092.40 spent on campaigning, labeled as educational outreach by county staff (Don Freitas, Project Manager), as well as $346,800 on printing and mailing the ballots. Almost $435,000 was spent on analysis, research, the Engineer’s Report and action plan prior to the election.”

Allen Payton, Publisher, Antioch Herald, October 2012

“So they’re (Don Freitas, Project Manager) spending $1.55 million on their tax-funded campaign, including amounts explicitly intended to support and promote the new tax scheme – an illegal misuse of public funds.”

Richard Soderholm, Contra Costa Times, March 29, 2012

Citizens for Democracy

Ralph A. Hernandez, Chairperson

Antioch

The Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) found more projects worthy of funding than they have in the last six years.  Typically, the CAP has distributed $15,000 to four or five local organizations.  Though the number of applications this year was fewer, they found a larger number of projects about which they were passionate.  This resulted in six projects being chosen and nearly $25,000 in grants being given.

The Dow CAP is pleased to announce the six organizations that will be receiving this year’s grants.  The grants vary from $3,000 to $5,000 each for a total of $24,740.  The recipients are:

·Antioch High School Environmental Studies Academy (Antioch) – Garden restoration Project:  replace greenhouse heater, build a chicken coop, create compost areas, construct a pond and more.

·Delta Science Center (Oakley) – Delta In-Classroom Education Program: purchase microscopes to bring into the fifth-grade science classrooms

·Independence High School (Brentwood) – Biology = Learning Outside: purchase of lab materials that will allow students to explore local ecology, specifically through entomology

·Los Medanos College Foundation (Pittsburg) – Nature Preserve Improvement Project: erecting two greenhouses, providing fresh water to promote growth of California native fruits and plants, and creating learning tools for visitors

·Orchard Park School (Oakley) – Inquiry-Based Science:  materials and supplies to equip a science lab

·Lone Tree Elementary (Antioch) – Purchase of six new computers

The successful applicants designed projects that combined all of Dow’s criteria – education, science and the environment –, would reach a large number of residents and would have staying power; projects that, though the funding would be used in one year, would continue to have an impact for many years. CAP members were pleased with the variety of applications they reviewed and expressed their hope that the ideas won’t die just because they don’t get funded.

Members of the CAP Grants Committee ranked applications based on sustainability, overall impact, benefits to the community, emphasis, and the strength of their partnerships.

“We were surprised that so few non-profits and schools applied this year,” stated Darien Croce, a member of the Dow CAP who participated in the grants review process. “However, we were really pleased with the quality of applications.  And nearly all fit Dow’s criteria to a ‘t’ so that made it doubly hard to choose.  In fact, we appealed to Dow to allow us to increase the amount of grants just so we could fund some really worthy projects – and we’re grateful they complied.  These six projects will have a far-reaching impact in our community.”

About Dow

Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.5 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Dow’s Pittsburg Operations

The Dow Chemical Company purchased the Pittsburg facility in 1939 from the Great Western Electrochemical Company. It is one of more than 150 manufacturing sites located in 37 countries around the world and supports two of Dow’s eight global businesses – Dow AgroSciences and Performance Chemicals.  The Pittsburg facility produces a variety of products used in personal care products as well as a variety of crop protection products and intermediates. www.dowpittsburg.com

About the Dow CAP

The Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) is comprised of 14 members of the East Contra Costa community who serve to advise Dow on issues affecting both the community and Dow’s operations in the community.