By Allen Payton

It has been confirmed by Jeff Koertzen, Chair of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, that former President Bill Clinton will be in Antioch on Monday, June 6th to campaign for his wife Hillary in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Reports have been circulating since Thursday that campaign staff were at Nuce Nuce Deli in Waldie Plaza in Antioch’s downtown looking for a location for the event.

UPDATE: The event will be held at Marsh Elementary School, 2304 G Street, Antioch at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.

Contra Costa County voters can receive and cast their ballots at seven Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county before Election Day.

Regional Early Voting sites are structured so that any registered Contra Costa voter can vote at any location. For example, a Concord resident who works at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon can vote at the site in either of those cities.

The Regional Early Voting sites will be open for voting on Saturday, June 4th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The sites are geographically balanced and are located in convenient and accessible locations.

·        Prewett Water Park Multi-Purpose Room, 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch

·        Bay Hills Community Church, 4100 Klose Way, Richmond

·        Lafayette Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette

·        San Ramon Community Center at Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon

·        Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Ave., Pittsburg

·        The Salvation Army Church, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord

In addition to the Regional Voting Center sites, vote-by-mail voters can continue to drop off their ballots at “CoCo Vote-N-Go” drop-off boxes at all 19 city hall buildings and the County Administration building on 651 Pine Street, Martinez.

For more information on Regional Early Voting, visit www.cocovote.us.

By Allen Payton

At the annual State of the City lunch, hosted by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and attended by about 200 business owners and community leaders on Friday, May 27, 2016 Antioch Mayor Wade Harper shared information about the progress the city has made over the past year as well as the challenges we face.

Chamber CEO Dr. Sean Wright introduced the mayor by stating “There are many exciting things happening in Antioch and at the Chamber, as well.”

Harper then thanked the city staff and his fellow council members.

“They do a wonderful job,” he stated. “They’ve had to do more with less through the years.”

He presented a slide show covering various aspects of the city’s efforts.

The first slide stated: “Antioch has recently grown to be the second largest city in Contra Costa County, with a population of approximately 112,968 according to recent state of California estimates.

Antioch is the ‘Gateway to the Delta’ and the economic as well as geographic center of East County.

Antioch is Business and Family Friendly. We encourage businesses and families to come grow with us!”

“The city’s finances have improved,” Harper stated. “Crime has decreased. We want to keep that up.”
He also shared some downsides.

“Homelessness has become a bigger problem,” he said. “City staff is working with cross-departmental task forces. This is a real problem we’re working on.”

“We are balancing our efforts with quality of life enhancements,” Harper added. “Reducing crime has always been our top priority…reducing blight, increasing economic development.”

He spoke of the weekly reports by City Manager Steve Duran as examples of being “the most transparent.”

Harper then stated the city will be “ending the fiscal year slightly over budget by about $800,000.”

He then spoke about the reduction in crime between the first quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of this year, that Police Chief Allan Cantando reported at a recent council meeting.

“Police services take up about 71% of the General Fund budget,” Harper stated.

Then he spoke about the use of Measure C funds.

“All of the funds…used for police services and code enforcement,” he said. “There’s no fudging on the numbers. We put the honest numbers out there.”

He spoke of the addition of one Code Enforcement Officer and Manager, and the hiring of the Blight Abatement Crew.

“It’s like the Bay Bridge,” stated Harper. “We have to keep at it.”

He spoke of “enhancing quality of life” with parks and the new “All Abilities Playground for children and families at the Prewett community park,” the new playground structure at Contra Loma Park, family campfire, Jr. Giants which includes 600 youth, Jr. Warriors with 200 youth, recreational pre-school affecting 500 children and the kids fishing derby.

Then Harper spoke about the recent improvements to Highway 4 including the interchange with Highway 160, and the new BART station that is to be ready by spring, 2018.

“Every time I drive by I get excited because I can see it getting built,” he shared. “I can see progress.”

Then he spoke about economic development advancements.

“This is the part I get excited about,” Harper said.

He then read highlights from the list of new businesses and space that has been leased up in town.

Harper spoke of the WalMart expansion with the new grocery section, and the addition of Hurricane Grill & Wings, the new Taco Bell at 18th and A Streets, the remodeled Denny’s on Lone Tree, Pete’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in the former Sizzler location, and Southern Café in downtown, in the former Bases Loaded location.

“I try to get my fix regularly with Southern Café,” he joked.

He also spoke of the “nice, new, huge health club, City Sports, on Lone Tree” as well as the anticipated new restaurant “Plates in Rivertown,” Panda Express with a drive-through on Auto Center Drive, and Kangazoom soon to open in the former Golf n Games on 4^th Street.

Harper said the city has “fewer vacancies overall” then mentioned the addition of Limitless Kitchen & Bath leasing up 4,400 square feet of showroom and warehouse, Alegre Trucking leasing 9.5 acres on Wilbur, WalMart leased 39,000 square feet of warehouse space and a solar distributor leasing 99,000 square feet in Antioch.

He shared that “Rivertown currently has over 80 active businesses,” that “Somersville Town Center is under new management,” that “G St. Mercantile was voted the number one antique store” in Antioch, and that “Strategic Threat Management patrols downtown.”

Then the mayor showed some design concepts of a townhome project for the old lumber yard lot, as well as concepts for an expanded event center at Waldie Plaza, across from City Hall.

Harper then compared Antioch to a patient in the hospital.

“The patient is getting regular treatment and checkups,” he stated. “It is on the way to a very healthy recovery.”

“I give this council accolades and kudos for all the hard work,” Harper concluded. “The council is everywhere. The City of Antioch is in good hands.”

Wright followed Harper’s presentation with a motivational speech of his own.

“There are multiple reasons to live in Antioch,” he said. “Business is coming. We’re having 10 new members join the Chamber each month.”

“We’re Antioch and we have people who live this city,” Wright continued. “We are a vibrant, viable, wonderful community.”

“People are going to move here to play on the Delta,” he shared. “They’re going to move here in the next year in droves, because we have affordable housing, here. We’re a community on the rise.”

“Remember, Antioch is the place to be,” Wright concluded.

Dr. Sean Wright, a local chiropractor and the CEO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced his campaign for Mayor of Antioch in the November election.

“I am running for Mayor because this town desperately needs someone with experience and a proven track record in the ability to create lasting change,” Wright said. “Antioch has a rich history that should be celebrated and the potential for a bright future. The speed at which we get to that bright future is dependent on the person who takes over the city’s leadership position. It is crucial for the success of our city and the people who live here, and for our future. I feel confident in my ability to be Mayor, leading us into the future we all desire for Antioch.”

In a press release issued on Wednesday, June 1st, it states: “Five years ago, Dr. Sean Wright took on the challenge of turning around the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, which was on the brink of bankruptcy. Now, he wants to bring that same vision, passion and energy to lead Antioch as Mayor.

As a successful small business owner, Wright feels the need for new leadership and a new direction for Antioch.

His past performance shows his ability to lead collaboratively and create a vision for the future in Antioch. Partnering with leaders from many different areas including elected officials, business, education, volunteers and government staff, his focus was, and remains, on problem solving and creating an environment conducive to future growth and vision.

Programs that Wright has successfully helped initiate include, regional economic development collaboration in the creation of EC2: The Collaborative in partnership with the County’s Northern Waterfront Initiative and Agricultural Growth Initiative which will help to create the needed local jobs to allow more of our residents to live, work and play in our community; Suburban Poverty Task Force bringing the City, County, Police, Code Enforcement, churches, and non-profit organizations together to educate, collaborate and initiate positive campaigns to help those in need and clean up the city; Education reformation at the high school level, helping business leaders and academics work together resulting in programs that are copied state-wide for their success, better preparing our Antioch students for the workforce; and Police support and public safety through the Business Neighborhood Watch program which brings businesses together, helping to police their own areas and supporting our officers.”

“I take great pride in being a resident of Antioch,” says Wright. “Fifteen years ago we purchased a home, and my wife and I and our five children moved here. We opened our chiropractic practice, served in the schools and Kiwanis. I joined the Chamber, becoming Chairman and ultimately CEO, making decisions that were good for the Chamber and businesses.  I volunteered nearly 20 hours a week to create a new purpose and vision and led impactful efforts in education, economic development, public safety and poverty.”

Wright held his campaign kick-off party at his home on Wednesday, June 1st where he says about 60 people attended. On the event’s invitation, his three issues are listed as leadership, safety and economic development, and his slogan reads The Wright Choice for Antioch Mayor. Robin Agopian is listed as his campaign’s treasurer.

Filing for Mayor of Antioch and the city council seats currently held by Mary Rocha and Monica Wilson, opens in July.

By Dave Roberts

One of the biggest problems facing East County residents is the lack of adequate fire protection and emergency services. Most of the candidates for county supervisor representing District 3, which includes East County, favor raising taxes to beef up staffing in the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD). Only one candidate, Doug Hardcastle, has publicly opposed a fire tax hike.

ECCFPD voters have twice rejected fire tax hike measures in recent years. In 2012 a 10-year parcel tax hike, which required two-thirds approval to pass, failed to gain even a majority. In 2015 a benefit assessment, which needed a majority to pass, also failed with 53 percent of voters rejecting it. The district may place another tax hike measure on the November ballot.

In 2008 the fire district was able to staff six fire stations with 48 employees on a $10.8 million budget. But the current $12.1 million budget – a 12 percent increase in funding – only provides for 36 employees and staffing for three fire stations. This has resulted in longer response times, particularly in outlying areas, putting East County residents’ lives and property at risk.

The reason that a 12 percent budget increase in the past eight years has resulted in layoffs and station closures is that employee salary and benefit costs have risen even faster, 15 percent. Most significantly, retirement expenses have increased 64 percent from $2.2 million in 2008 to $3.6 million today.

Four of the six candidates seeking to replace Mary Piepho on the county board of supervisors – Steve Barr, Diane Burgis, Hardcastle and Odessa Lefrancois – discussed the fire district problem at a recent forum in Discovery Bay. The other two candidates – Wade Harper and Monica Wilson – failed to show due to family emergencies, according to Greg Robinson, publisher of the Brentwood Press, which sponsored the forum.

The candidates responded to this question: “Fire protection in East County is an ongoing concern. Despite the fact that there are three stations open with a fourth scheduled to open in July, the voters still turned down a recent tax initiative to support and reopen stations. What do you see as the solution to the ongoing funding for the district, and how can the supervisors help?”

Brentwood City Councilman Barr is the only candidate who has sat on the ECCFPD board, where he’s now in his fourth year.

“I know firsthand what the issues are out here,” he said. “The simple fact is there is not enough funding to fund more than three fire stations. It’s about $2.8 million per station, and the current funding from your property taxes is somewhere around $10 or $11 million. So as you can see, you’re not going to get anything more than three stations.”

The fire board has conducted a study, which determined that the 250-square-mile district actually needs nine fire stations to provide adequate protection, said Barr. He did not do the math at the forum, but nine stations at $2.8 million per station would total $25 million, more than double the district’s current budget.

“So I think we’re on the right track,” he said, adding that he’s “hopeful” about the next tax measure.

Barr did not mention Piepho by name, but he criticized the lack of leadership provided by the county supervisor on the issue.

“The supervisor of this county needs to step up and be the one leading, not the city manager of the city of Brentwood [who is chairing a task force],” he said. “I’m happy he’s doing it because he’s actually looking for solutions, like we all have. And I think that’s exactly what I would expect out of the county supervisors. Not leave it all to one of the cities, but actually leading and showing leadership and finding solutions.”

Oakley City Councilman Hardcastle said the solution is not another tax hike attempt.

“We’ve had enough studies,” he said. “People do not want to raise their taxes again. They tried it twice already. It’s ridiculous that they would even try it twice. We pay too much money. We just need to learn how to spend our money properly where it needs to be spent. I’m there to make sure that that money gets spent like that.”

“I’ve been in business for 40-something years,” Hardcastle continued. “You don’t stay in business for 40-something years by spending money needlessly on stuff that it doesn’t need to be spent on. So my number one priority is going to be conservancy of the money to make sure that our dollars are spent like we want them to spend it.”

Hardcastle did not provide specifics on how he would like to reallocate the fire district’s budget, but said something needs to be done, including increasing salaries.

“Our fire stations out here are in horrible shape,” he said. “These guys are overworked; a lot of them are underpaid. I talked to one guy, he’s [making] $20 an hour being a fireman. That is ridiculous.”

One possibility is continuing the temporary funding provided to the fire district by the county and the cities of Brentwood and Oakley that has allowed the Knightsen station to be reopened through June 2017.

“My number one priority in this whole thing is having our families be safe,” said Hardcastle.  “We can get money from our budgets at the city.”

Lefrancois, who is a past president of the East County NAACP, also favors other government agencies pitching in to help the fire district.

“As a supervisor I’d like to bring all of the concerned parties to the table to try to figure this out,” she said. “This needs to be figured out not just by the county board of supervisor[s], but also by the county board of education and also special district[s] who also have funding on safety that goes into their budget[s].”

Lefrancois also agrees with Barr that another tax hike attempt should be studied. “Maybe we need to figure out from the voters what type of tax, if there is a parcel tax, what would they be willing to pay, what would they be willing to do,” she said. “I think this is a very complex issue, and it needs more than just one individual at the table making that decision.”

East Bay Regional Park District board member Burgis also wants to look at the possibility of another tax hike measure. “We need to find more revenue,” she said. “That can be different tools. That can be property tax, it can be reallocation, it can be consolidation. It can be a whole combination of things. But it has to be legal. And it has to be something that we make urgent.”

She did not mention Barr by name, but criticized the fire board’s efforts thus far.

“The problem has been the leadership on this fire board hasn’t done the job,” said Burgis. “So we need to figure out what hasn’t worked and stop that and move forward. We need to have a more accountable fire protection board. I think that having an elected board that is responsible for the district is a good step.”

Burgis agreed with Barr that there needs to be county leadership on the issue.

“As a supervisor we are one part of three parts: Oakley, Brentwood and the county,” she said. “And as supervisor I would be that leader. I would bring those people together. That’s the reputation I have is bringing people together that have different opinions, politics and agendas and making sure that we do what we need to do. … It’s a problem that we need to deal with.”

On other issues, the candidates mostly agreed that:

• The proposed Delta tunnels project should be opposed because it would degrade water quality.
• Development of the Byron Airport could be an economic boon to East County.
• There is a need to attract more businesses to East County to provide local jobs.
• Local farmland needs to be protected.
• Crime, including shootings on Highway 4, needs to be reduced.

The election is June 7th. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, then the top two will face off in the general election in November.

By Sergeant Tony Turnbull, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Spokesman

In the morning hours of May 29, 2016, the Sheriff’s Department Marine Enforcement Detail resumed their search for the second victim and missing vehicle in the area of Georgiana Slough in South Sacramento County.  At approximately 12:30 p.m., a boater observed a small body in the slough just north of Tyler Island Bridge.  Marine Enforcement deputies responded and recovered the deceased victim from the water.  The Sacramento Coroner’s office responded, and identified the victim as Kaylee Jackson.

The prior evening (May 28, 2016) at approximately 5:45 p.m., the Sheriff’s Communication Center received a call regarding a body located in the water in the Georgiana Slough in South Sacramento County.

Sheriff’s Deputies and the Walnut Grove Fire Department responded to the scene.  The victim was recovered from the water.  The Sacramento County Coroner responded and positively identified the victim as 23-year-old Kyler Jackson, who was reported as a missing person with his daughter, Kaylee, out of Antioch, California on May 23rd by family members.

At 6:55 pm, Sunday, May 29, 2016 Sheriff’s Marine Detail and DART (Drowning Accident Rescue Team) team members confirmed they located the victim’s vehicle in 18 feet of water.  It was located near the confluence of the Sacramento River and Georgiana Slough.  They will be in the process of recovering the vehicle from the water.

By Allen Payton

Candidates and campaigns were required to file financial reports on Thursday, May 26 for the period of April 24 through May 21, 2016. Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle continues to lead in the amount of funds raised and spent in the campaign. East Bay Regional Parks District Board Member Diane Burgis is second behind Hardcastle in expenditures, but has the most in monetary contributions, and in unaid bills. But, Brentwood Councilman Steve Barr, has raised more than Burgis in total contributions. Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson is in a close fourth in fundraising, in both monetary and total contributions.

Following is the financial information submitted by the candidates in the District 3 Supervisor race for the latest period with their place in each category in parenthesis:

Doug Hardcastle

Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $8,297

Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $1,675

Total Contributions Received for the period: $9,972 (3^rd)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $25,308.16 (4^th)

Total Contributions Received during the campaign: $47,483.16 (1^st)

Expenditures Made during period: $11,176.07

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $45,818.87 (1^st)

Ending Cash Balance: $1,664.29

Outstanding Debts: $15,500 (2^nd) – all loans from himself

After his report was submitted, Hardcastle discovered a file of monetary contributions totaling approximately $700 and an in-kind contribution of $750 from a fundraiser in May, that was not included in the latest report. He will be submitting an amended report, this next week.

 

Steve Barr

Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $9,100.00 – Most from within the district.

Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $1,200

Total Contributions Received for the period: $10,300 (2^nd)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $27,785 (2^nd)

Total Contributions Received during the campaign: $38,635 (2^nd)

Expenditures Made during period: $28,594, paid down previous unpaid bills of $17,035

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $31,768 (3^rd)

Ending Cash Balance: $1,417

Outstanding Debts: $6,550 (3^rd) – $5,000 in loans from himself

 

Diane Burgis

Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $10,798

Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $ -0-

Total Contributions Received for the period: $10,798 (1^st)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $29,655 (1^st)

Total Contributions Received during the campaign: $29,755 (3^rd)

Expenditures Made during period: $15,336.52

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $8,098.85

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $41,905.38 (2^nd)

Ending Cash Balance: $11,220.23

Outstanding Debts: $23,470.06 (1^st) – $100 in loans from herself

Almost all of her contributions were received during the period from and most of her money was spent outside of the district.

 

Monica Wilson

Monetary Contributions Received during period: $6,665.16

Non-Monetary Contributions received: $1,927.88

Total Contributions Received for the period: $8,593.04 (4^th)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $27,075.92 (3^rd)

Total Contributions Received during the campaign: $29,121.86 (4^th)

Expenditures Made during period: $12,704.75 paid down previous unpaid bills of $11,462.87

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $29,215.95 (4^th)

Ending Cash Balance of $8,209.89

Outstanding Debts: $3,124.98 (4^th)

All of her contributions were received during the period from and most of her money was spent outside of the district, with the majority of it spent out of state for yard signs and direct mail.

 

Odessa Lefrancois

Monetary Contributions Received during period: $1,140.00

Non-Monetary Contributions received: $   -0-

Total Contributions Received for the period: $1,140.00 (6^th)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $13,025.00 (5^th)

Total Contributions Received during the campaign: $13,025.00 (5^th)

Expenditures Made during period: $2,312.22

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $11,590.02 (5^th)

Ending Cash Balance of $1,434.98

Outstanding Debts: $ -0-

She will have to file an amended report, as hers does not show the Year to Date Totals on the Summary page.

 

Wade Harper

Monetary Contributions Received during period: $1,675.00

Non-Monetary Contributions received: $   -0-

Total Contributions Received for the period: $1,675.00 (5^th)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $9,725.00 (6^th)

Total Contributions Received during the campaign: $9,725.00 (6^th)

Expenditures Made during period: $3,287.00

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $8,950.54 (6^th)

Ending Cash Balance of $774.46

Outstanding Debts: $ -0-

Please see the financial reports, posted below.

Publisher’s Note: For full disclosure and as explained in the March issue of the Antioch Herald, I, the writer of this article, am the paid consultant for Doug Hardcastle’s campaign for County Supervisor.

Barr 460 0424-52116

Burgis 460 0424-052116

Hardcastle 460 0424-052116

Harper 460 0424-052116

Lefrancois 460 0424-052116

Wilson 460 0424-052116

By Allen Payton

At the Antioch School Board meeting, last night (Wednesday, May 25, 2016) Board President Diane Gibson-Gray read the following statement about the search for a new superintendent, when reporting out from the closed session, earlier that day:

“The Board has narrowed the search to a finalist but no decision on actual employment has been made until the completion of negotiations on the terms of employment. The final decision would come with approval of the new superintendent’s contract which should be scheduled on or before the June 22, 2016 Board meeting. No candidate names will be released pending agreement on the contract and review of any additional information that may come to the attention of the Board.

All those interviewed have been notified of developments which have occurred to date.

Negotiations with the finalist will occur between now and the Board meeting. The Board will ask its attorney to develop a proposed contract with Board President Diane Gibson-Gray and Board Member Debra Vinson.”

In a subseqent email from Gibson-Gray, she wrote “The board reached a consensus on a final candidate. There was no vote to report out.”

The name of the candidate was not released.

“Once the contract has been negotiated it will be placed on a regular meeting agenda for a vote in public,” Gibson-Gray added. “Until then, the candidate name is confidential.”

Newly appointed Trustee Alonzo Terry has not been included in the board meetings regarding the search for a new superintendent. He is expected to take his seat on the board at their next regular meeting on June 8, following the required 30 days of the provisional appointment period.

When asked how the board can reach a consensus without a vote and if that’s legal, Gibson-Gray responded in an email, “The process is conducted using our board attorney. Not being an attorney, I cannot tell you about the legality of a consensus without a vote.”

Board Member Debra Vinson, who was asked the same question, said Gibson-Gray had been chosen to speak for the board on the matter.

A request was made to Gibson-Gray for the Board’s attorney to provide a legal opinion on the issue. Check back for that update.