Pigeon Point Lighthouse at night. Photo by California State Parks using Fresnel lens.
To begin in early 2024
PESCADERO, Calif.— California State Parks today announced the selection of a contractor to rehabilitate the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, located within Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. The $16 million rehabilitation project will start construction in early 2024 and is expected to be completed within two years.
Named for the 1853 wreck of the clipper ship Carrier Pigeon, Pigeon Point Lighthouse was first lit on Nov. 15, 1872. The 115-foot structure is the tallest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. Pigeon Point Light Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places—a reminder of the days when whalers and Gold Rush-era clipper ships fought gales, stiff seas, jagged coastal rocks, and unforgiving fog. The lighthouse has been closed to the public since late 2001, when it was deemed unsafe after two large pieces of brick and iron fell from the top of the building. Funding issues, COVID-19 and a thoughtful process to ensure a contractor with the special skills to work on a lighthouse was selected have been the reasons for the continued closure of this historic building.
“California State Parks looks forward to once again providing public access to this historic landmark that continues to guide mariners along the rocky San Mateo County coast,” stated Santa Cruz District Superintendent Chris Spohrer. “Thank you to our partners for their support over the years and the public for their patience.”
Pigeon Point Lighthouse during the day. Photo from California State Parks by J. Barrow
Sustainable Group, Inc. of Moraga, CA, and subcontractor ICC Commonwealth of North Tonawanda, New York, have extensive experience in lighthouse rehabilitation and restoration in the United States. Jointly, they have worked on nearly 100 lighthouses, including several built to the same blueprints as Pigeon Point, including Bodie Island, North Carolina; Currituck Beach, North Carolina; and Yaquina Head, Oregon, as well as numerous other tall lighthouses. For the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, the contractors will refurbish or replace all the ironwork throughout the building. Masonry elements will also be repaired or replaced as needed. A major focus of the project will be the upper belt course or cast-iron ring where two large pieces broke away in late 2001, compromising the building’s structural integrity.
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park relies upon its collaborative relationships with its nonprofit partners, including Coastside State Parks Association, California State Parks Foundation and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. These organizations provide support for the tower restoration, the operation of the park and the development of visitor-serving programs and amenities.
To learn how the public can support the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Restoration project or enhance the visitor experience at Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, please visit CoastSideStateParks.org. Restoration project updates are available at parks.ca.gov/PigeonPointLighthouseRestoration.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.
80Kg Gold Medalist Carl CJ Nickolas’ first flag run after he won the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC.
Former Heritage High student and son of former Antioch business owner Ed Givans is ranked #2 in the world
By Allen D. Payton
Former Brentwood resident and Heritage High student, Carl “CJ” Nickolas, has earned one of two spots for men on the U.S. Taekwondo team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris next summer. It follows him earning several medals this year. In June he won silver at the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was the first U.S. male taekwondo medal at the World Championships since 2009.
In addition, CJ won gold at the Pan American Games 2023 in Santiago, Chile in October, gold at the President’s Cup Pan America in Rio de Janeiro in September, and this month won bronze at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix 2023 Final in Manchester, England. He competes in the -80 kg division and as of October, CJ was ranked #3 in the world in the sport but is now #2.
According to the World Taekwondo Federation during his competition at this year’s Grand Prix Final, “In the bronze medal match…CJ Nickolas of the USA won bronze after facing Jordan’s two-time Grand Prix gold medalist and (Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist) Saleh Elsharabaty. The American kicked off the scoring with two push kicks to the body and later extended his lead in the closing 15 seconds with a head kick to take round one 8-2. Before contesting the second round, Elsharabaty, who had been struggling physically in the first round, conceded the match to Nickolas.”
“It was the event that qualified me for the Olympics,” CJ shared.
The 22-year-old, 6-foot-3½-inch athlete was a student at Heritage High School in Brentwood where he competed in track. Until he turned 18, CJ was trained by his father, Ed Givans, who previously owned Givans Taekwondo in Antioch but relocated to Las Vegas a few years ago. Yet, CJ credits his mother, Denise Nickolas, as his biggest inspiration. She still lives in Brentwood while their son has been living and training in Colorado since 2019 where he was a member of the USATKD Academy team. CJ recently moved to North Carolina where he trains at the United States Performance Center.
CJ Nickolas of Team USA took the Gold Medal in 80Kg Taekwondo competition bites his medal Rafael Nadal-style at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC.
CJ started taekwondo at age three with his whole family and began competing at age six but started to become serious about the sport around age 11. He has a history of experience and victories in his career which includes participation at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships, the 2022 Paris Grand Prix where he won bronze, and the 2021 and 2022 Pan American Championships in Cancún, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, respectively, at which he won back-to-back gold medals. CJ also won gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games held in Cali, Colombia.
“I won three bronze medals at the Grand Prix, which is a series of four competitions, this year,” he shared. “We knew going into the finals, all I needed to do was to have a solid performance, to qualify for the Olympic team. I was already locked in, and number two in the world.”
“But me being me, I wanted to make a statement,” CJ said with a laugh. “I had lost in the semi-finals. It was repachage, which allowed me to fight again for the bronze medal. Elsharabaty and I had been in the same division for so long but that was the first time we fought.”
“At this point I think I’ve beaten all the top guys in the division,” he stated. Except the number one ranked athlete, Simone Alessio of Italy.
CJ lost to him at the World Championships. Asked if he expects to face him again at the Olympics, CJ said with a chuckle, “I’ll either catch him at the semi-finals or finals – if he makes it.”
He has an older sister who is supportive of him, just like his parents.
“And my coach, as well, Gareth Brown, who I’ve been with since 2019. He’s been imperative to my development as an athlete and as a man, from age 17 to now. He’s British and moved his entire family to America to serve the team. He was originally the coach for the British Olympic Taekwondo team and was at the forefront of the development of the academy program in Colorado.”
CJ on the medal stand at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in May 2023. Photo by Jose Villalpando, U.S. Performance Center
Mom, Denise was asked if she’ll be attending the Olympic games next summer to watch her son in person.
“You bet. I wouldn’t miss it,” she replied. “His competition is Friday, August 9, 2024. Near the Champs-Elysées in the heart of Paris.”
“The whole experience has been surreal,” Denise stated. “Am I super surprised? No. CJ has always been the hardest working person I know. He’s always said this is where he’d end up. So, here we are.”
She referred to a 2020 Herald article (AH) which mentioned him preparing for the 2020, then the 2024 or 2028 Olympics.
“It’s definitely not luck,” she continued. “He’s worked his butt off all these years. I’m pretty proud of him.”
“You know it’s always been a dream of his and his will is greater than anything,” Dad, Ed stated. “He was supposed to go to the Olympics in 2020 but he grew from 5’10” to over 6’3” and he couldn’t hold the weight for his division. Then they extended the Olympics for a year because of COVID and there was no way he was going to be able to hold that weight for a year.”
“Then they told him he was going to be too small for the -80 kg division and now he’s number two in the world,” Givans shared. “So, I made a movie about the two of us entitled ‘The Journey of Dreams’ about me overcoming PTSD and him making his way to the Olympics. We’re waiting for the outcome next summer before finishing the film.”
Asked if he’s going to the Olympics to watch his son Givans said simply, “I’m going.”
“I’m just proud of him. He’s worked so hard for it,” he continued. “Going to the Olympics is extremely hard. They only take two men and two women from each team except the host country’s team. In 2028 since we’re hosting the Olympics, we can take four each. But being in the top two in the U.S. is extremely hard.”
CJ takes it all in following his quarter final match at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in May 2023. Photo by Jose Villalpando, U.S. Performance Center
CJ has his own Wikipedia page and athlete’s page on the Team USA website, where more photos can be viewed of the athlete in action. He has a rare anomaly in his C1 vertebrae called “os odontoideum” yet, it hasn’t stopped CJ from competing. His hobbies include film analysis, photography and singing.
CJ offered “A big thank you to my family and all those who supported me over the years. I could not be here without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
“I feel like I’m watching my own journey roll out. I’m having so much fun,” he continued. “It’s so entertaining to see where God puts me with the people I meet.”
“I just want to be the best person I can be and keep working as hard as I can, so I can continue to be blessed with these opportunities,” CJ added.
Advises the public to make this a season to remember: Celebrate responsibly with a “Go Safely” game plan
By Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH – Dec. 19, 2023 – The holiday season can be a dangerous time for people on the roads. In December 2021 alone, 1,013 people were killed in the U.S. in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Antioch Police Department wants to remind the public of the dangers of driving impaired and celebrate the holiday season responsibly by not driving under the influence.
From Dec. 13 through New Year’s Day, APD will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The high-visibility enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others on the road at risk.
“Impaired driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal,” Sergeant Rob Green said. “Let’s make this a joyful and safe holiday season for everyone on the road. This enforcement period allows us to get the message out that it is essential to act responsibly and plan a sober ride home.”
Antioch Police Department encourages everyone to stay in for the night or have a “Go Safely” game plan by scheduling a ride or designating a sober driver if you plan to consume alcohol.
Impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Marijuana, prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may also impair. Do your research and understand how certain drugs may affect your driving ability.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The state’s presidential primary is on March 5, 2024
By Allen D. Payton
Today, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis sent a letter to Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber, urging her to explore legal options to remove former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot following the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63). The Colorado Supreme Court held that Trump’s role in inciting the actions at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, disqualifies him from standing for presidential election under section three of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Lt. Governor claims the riot at the U.S. Capitol was an insurrection. However, as reported elsewhere, the former president has not been convicted of insurrection nor inciting one.
Copy of Lt. Gov . Kounalakis’ letter to Secretary of State Weber dated Dec. 20, 2023.
Based on the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63), I urge you to explore every legal option to remove former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.
I am prompted by the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s ballot as a Presidential Candidate due to his role in inciting an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy.
Specifically, the Colorado Supreme Court held in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63) that Trump’s insurrection disqualifies him under section three of the Fourteenth Amendment to stand for presidential re-election. Because the candidate is ineligible, the court ruled, it would be a “wrongful act” for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate on that state’s presidential primary ballot. Furthermore, Colorado’s Supreme Court cites conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch to make their case, saying the following, “As then-Judge Gorsuch recognized in Hassan, it is ‘a state’s legitimate interest in protecting the integrity and practical functioning of the political process’ that ‘permits it to exclude from the ballot candidates who are constitutionally prohibited from assuming office.’”
California must stand on the right side of history. California is obligated to determine if Trump is ineligible for the California ballot for the same reasons described in Anderson. The Colorado decision can be the basis for a similar decision here in our state. The constitution is clear: you must be 35 years old and not be an insurrectionist.
There will be the inevitable political punditry about a decision to remove Trump from the ballot, but this is not a matter of political gamesmanship. This is a dire matter that puts at stake the sanctity of our constitution and our democracy.
Time is of the essence as your announcement of the certified list of candidates for the March 5, 2024, primary election is coming up next week, on December 28, 2023.
Thank you for all your work to make our state’s elections a shining example across the country and world and for your time and consideration on this urgent matter.
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier and Ambassador C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger. Official photos.
Safe Landings Act garners support of “Sully” Sullenberger, Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations
Washington, D.C.– Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-10) announced the introduction of the Safe Landings Act (H.R. 6850) to increase aviation safety and avoid near-miss aircraft incidents, like the one that occurred at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on July 7, 2017, in which over 1,000 passengers were in danger of losing their lives. By creating a new federal task force to research and identify safety risks, expanding training, and addressing new technology needs, this bill would help reduce human error in aviation and save lives. DeSaulnier first introduced this legislation in August 2019, but with runway incursions this year up 25% from a decade ago and expectations of the busiest ever holiday season for air travel, he has updated the bill based on new information and industry needs.
“As we approach an exceptionally busy air travel season following a year of unprecedented levels of aircraft near-misses, I am doing all I can in Congress to pass aviation safety reforms to help ensure the protection of and convenience for the flying public,” said DeSaulnier. “By taking a proactive approach to identifying flaws and risks in flying before they cause harm, this bill would help ensure the safety of millions of Americans, especially during periods of heavy air travel, and that the United States remains a global leader in aviation.”
“My mission is making all of us safer when we fly,” said Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger, U.S. Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization. “There is still much work to be done. This bill closes many of the gaps in safety that still pose a threat.”
“We applaud Representative DeSaulnier’s proactive efforts to improve aviation safety with the Safe Landings Act,” stated Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) President Captain Larry Rooney. “Aviation safety is a direct result of the continued collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that the safety of the traveling public remains paramount. This legislation provides the latest opportunity to further refine and improve on known and newly discovered safety deficiencies. Additionally, it recognizes that any attempt to reduce pilot flight deck staffing diminishes the tremendous safety strides made through the robust and proven life-saving application of Crew resource management skills (CRM). CAPA looks forward to providing the subject matter expertise necessary to ensure that this important safety legislation becomes enacted into law.”
Following the near-miss incident at SFO when an arriving Air Canada flight came dangerously close to landing on a taxiway occupied by four aircraft loaded with more than 1,000 passengers, Congressman DeSaulnier, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and former chair of both the California Assembly and California Senate transportation committees, spent two years researching aviation and near-miss incidents. In consultation with experts in the field, including Captain Sullenberger, pilot unions, air traffic controllers, mechanics, ground safety crews, and federal agencies (NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) he developed this legislation to ensure that fatal or near-miss incidents—like what occurred at SFO—are prevented in the future.
In addition to this legislation, the FAA announced in September 2023 that it is promoting the use of cockpit-alerting technologies, which is a positive step in the direction toward Congressman DeSaulnier’s provision mandating this technology and the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) recommendations following the 2017 incident.
Specifically, the Safe Landings Act would:
Require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement systems that would alert both pilots and air traffic controllers if a plane is not properly aligned to land on a runway;
Require FAA to gather data and issue guidance on the most effective techniques for pilots to electronically verify they are landing on the correct runway;
Require the “notices to air mission” (NOTAM) system to be evaluated for improvements;
Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the concerns some pilots have with cockpit voice recorders (CVRs)—like inappropriate foreign government use—and provide recommendations to improve CVRs while also protecting pilots;
Create a Task Force on Human Factors in Aviation Safety to review and provide recommendations on crew responses to abnormal events, pilot performance during unexpected events, current flight crew rest and fatigue standards, and other safety related issues;
Require that international rules, regulations, or standards regarding flight crew and maintenance personnel rest and fatigue be studied to ensure worker safety;
Direct the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General to audit current FAA standards and programs for whistleblowers to strengthen protections for aviation workers;
Require a report that studies the role of human factors in high-risk professions, including the aviation industry, and recommend best practices to reduce the risk;
Require updating of guidelines for air carrier maintenance programs to improve transparency;
Ensure that safety data that is voluntarily provided to the Aviation Safety Action Program is protected;
Require a review of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) best available technologies and standards and a timeline for adoption in the U.S.;
Require a minimum of 2 pilots in all part 121 air carriers providing transportation to passengers and cargo;
Require knowledge safety experts on any FAA advisory committee that provides recommendations on topics that impact aviation safety; and
Require the FAA Administrator to ensure that air carriers are prohibited from hiding information that is important for any investigations of aircraft incidents.
This legislation is endorsed by the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) and original cosponsors of the bill include Representative Dina Titus (NV-01) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL)
Contra Costa County is updating the local Hazard Mitigation Plan and seeks your input. Take a short survey to help tailor emergency plans to your community needs.
By Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act (TPA) is a proposed constitutional amendment which has already qualified for the November 2024 ballot. It is sponsored by taxpayer and business organizations to restore key provisions of Proposition 13 and other pro-taxpayer laws that give voters more control over when and how new tax revenue is raised.
Although TPA, unlike previous tax reform measures, doesn’t reduce or eliminate any state or local tax, it does impose both enhanced voter approval requirements for fee and tax increases as well as robust accountability and transparency provisions.
For obvious reasons, tax-and-spend interests hate TPA and have launched a multi-front assault hoping to either defeat it or keep it off the ballot entirely.
The motivation for these schemes is that politicians and their enablers are fully aware that TPA is highly likely to pass if it stays on the ballot. Californians are sick and tired of having the nation’s highest tax rates jammed down their throats, especially when these heavy tax burdens are not accompanied by higher levels of public services; in fact, the opposite is true, as evidenced by California’s high cost of living, crime, homelessness, hostile business climate, and other ills.
But now, there may be another reason why anti-taxpayer interests are waging this war on TPA. A recent report by the California Legislative Analyst’s office threw a bucket of cold water on progressives’ plans to continue to increase taxes with virtually no restraint. The LAO now estimates “2022-23 revenues to be $26 billion below Budget Act projections. Historical experience suggests this weakness is likely to carry into this fiscal year and next. Overall, our updated revenue outlook anticipates collections to come in $58 billion below Budget Act projections across 2022-23 to 2024-25.” (Note that in less than a week after this news, the LAO upped the shortfall from $58 billion to $68 billion).
If there is any saving grace to the current financial situation it is that California still has substantial budget reserves. That, plus some creative accounting, can probably blunt the negative impacts of a severe drop in revenues – at least for a while.
Nonetheless, if California’s tax revenue spigot is curtailed any significant amount, will the enemies of the Taxpayer Protection Act argue that this provides another justification for removing all restraints on raising taxes?
Economic growth in Texas and Florida is outpacing that in California, due in part to a top marginal income tax rate of zero. What is happening in other smaller states is less well known. The smart move would be to follow the lead of other states which are aggressively pursuing pro-growth strategies which in turn lead to more tax revenue.
Take Iowa for example. Defying critics who claimed that tax reductions would crush the state budget, Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds slashed top marginal tax rates, previously some of the highest in the nation. Not only did revenues not crash, but they shot up by huge percentage points. According to a report in Center Square, “Iowa led the ‘tax-cutting wave’ in 2022, with the most comprehensive and aggressive tax reform in the United States. This will gradually replace the nine-bracket, progressive income tax with a flat tax, bringing the top rate, which was close to 9 percent, down to a flat 3.9 percent by 2026.”
Other states have provided California with a roadmap for economic growth and healthy budgets by cutting taxes and pursuing other pro-freedom policies. However, the political realities in this one-party state – governed by hardcore progressives – render the odds of politicians even looking at the roadmap extremely slight.
That being said, if the Governor and the Legislature won’t do what’s necessary to prevent a budget disaster, the least they can do is get out of the way of those who have offered the Taxpayer Protection Act to the voters so that ordinary citizens can do what politicians won’t: impose fiscal discipline on a fiscally reckless state.
This column originally appeared in the Orange County Register. Republished with permission.
Announces support from Planned Parenthood of Northern California, California Labor Federation, State Controller Malia Cohen, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, California Federation of Teachers in growing list of state, local endorsers
The Christian minister won’t say why he would want the pro-abortion organization’s endorsement
Assemblyman Tim Grayson has announced new key endorsements from a wide array of organizations and elected officials from across the state in support of his campaign for State Senate District 9 which includes all of Antioch. His latest endorsers include Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund, California Labor Federation, State Controller Malia Cohen, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and California Federation of Teachers.
“In the Assembly, I’ve tried to work hard, be collaborative and never stop fighting for working people. I’m committed to continuing to create good paying jobs, standing behind our first responders and protecting women’s rights. I’m proud that so many organizations have acknowledged our work by signing on to support our campaign to keep up this fight in the State Senate,” said Assemblymember Grayson.
As previously reported, Grayson is a bi-vocational pastor of Lifepoint Church formerly, Calvary Apostolic Church, in Concord. In an email on Dec. 8, he was asked why, as a Christian minister, he would want the endorsement of the pro-abortion Planned Parenthood.
Then, in a December 18, 2023 post on X (formerly Twitter) he wrote, “Proud to have earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund in my campaign for State Senate.”
Grayson was asked again via email and X the same question. But neither the candidate nor anyone from his campaign responded.
Grayson currently represents more than half a million Contra Costa County residents in the California State Assembly. A small business owner and the former Mayor of Concord, Tim is focused on fighting for quality jobs and economic security for working families, addressing California’s housing crisis, and taking on predatory lenders and financial fraudsters across our state. Tim was the first in his family to earn a college degree. His father was a Teamster and his mother was a public transit worker. Tim has been a licensed general building contractor for nearly 30 years and operates his own small business. He is the Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee. Tim and his wife Tammy have been married for 35 years and have raised two adult children in Concord, CA.
Complete Endorsement List:
Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund
California Labor Federation
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
State Controller Malia Cohen
State Treasurer Fiona Ma
California Federation of Teachers
CAL FIRE Local 2881
California Association of Highway Patrolmen
Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council
Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County
Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104
Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 300
Housing Action Coalition
The Honorable Bob Hertzberg (former Speaker, Majority Leader and State Senator)
Contra Costa Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District 5
Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, District 1
Contra Costa Supervisor Candace Andersen, District 2
Pleasant Hill Vice Mayor Matt Rin
Pleasant Hill Councilmember Sue Noack
El Cerrito Councilmember Gabe Quinto
Sheet Metal Workers Local 104
Grayson faces fellow Democrat San Ramon Councilwoman Marisol Rubio in the March 5 primary election. With only two candidates in the race, they will face off again in the November general election.
