Antioch Mayor Wade Harper announced, on Wednesday, December 23rd, his decision to run for Contra Costa County Supervisor in the 3rd District, which includes parts of Antioch.

In his statement, Harper wrote “Due to the time consuming nature of running a winning campaign, I am stepping away from my field representative responsibilities with Senator Glazer,” which he was hired for in October, this year.

He states that he “has a proven track record of effective leadership that will benefit the Board of Supervisors and the County.”

After being appointed to the Antioch School Board in 2008, to fill the vacant seat due to the death of Trustee  Joyce Seelinger, Harper ran for and was elected to the Antioch City Council in 2010. Then, in the middle of his term he was elected Mayor in 2012, which ends next December.

Harper’s professional experience includes 24 years in law enforcement, including serving as a police manager, and teaching Emergency Preparedness, from which he retired in 2012 to serve as Mayor full time. However, currently, in addition to the position with Glazer’s office, Harper works as a part-time teacher at Antioch High School, teaching “Law Enforcement Careers” in the Leadership in Public Services Academy.

He states that he believes education and critical thinking skills are important as a leader.  Harper has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pastoral Studies from Patten University, where he was Student of the Year. He earned his Master of Business Administration in Leadership from John F. Kennedy University’s School of Management, and was honored as Alumni of the Year. During his career, Harper completed Executive Development Training, Management Training, and the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute where he was selected as class valedictorian.

As a directly-elected mayor of the largest city in District 3, Harper has served on the board of directors for several committees such as Transplan, the Highway 4 Bypass Authority, eBART Policy Advisory Committee, as well as the East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority.

He is Vice Chair of the Contra Costa County Conference of Mayors and meets with the Delta 6, which includes the East County mayors and supervisors or their representatives, to discuss regional issues.

Harper states that he believes, fiscal stewardship is of the utmost importance and that under his “leadership, the City of Antioch is operating from a solid strategic plan and has approved a policy and practice to commit 50% of all one-time funds and salary savings to reduce unfunded liabilities.  The City of Antioch maintains an AA- bond rating.”

Harper is also a member of the Board of Directors for Tri-Delta Transit and mentioned that it won “The Best Small Transit System in America” award in 2014 for the excellent operation of the transit agency. He also serves on the Delta Diablo Sanitation District Board of Directors, which Harper states “has won multiple awards for their efficient operations.”

“Delta Diablo is a leader amongst sanitation agencies,” he wrote in his statement.

Harper says he “understands water issues as the City of Antioch is a city in District III that maintains Senior Water rights, and that he “has fought to protect Antioch’s water rights and will continue to fight to protect our Delta.”

“What do I want people to know about me?” Harper asked. “That I am a man of faith and a family man.  I have prepared myself to lead and I consider my service to the community as my calling and a life-time commitment.”

Harper states that his family supports his run for Supervisor. He and his wife Lisa, an Instructional Assistant for Special Education in the Antioch Unified School District, have been married for 26 years. Their children attended Antioch Unified School District schools and the California State University system.”

“I respectfully request your support to serve as Contra Costa County Supervisor, District III,” he added.

Harper’s entry brings the total to four candidates in the race, including Oakley Councilman and immediate past Mayor Doug Hardcastle, NAACP East County Branch President Odessa LeFrancois and East Bay Regional Parks District Trustee Diane Burgis, who announced her campaign on Tuesday.

Today, Tuesday, December 22, 2015, Diane Burgis, an East Bay Regional Parks District Trustee, representing Antioch and other parts of East County, announced her candidacy for Contra Costa County Supervisor in District 3.

“New opportunities sometimes come when you least expect them,” said Diane Burgis.  “After discussion with my children, Supervisor Mary Piepho and supporters, I have decided to run for Supervisor.”

Current District 3 Supervisor, Piepho announced on Monday that she will not seek a fourth term in next June’s election.  Today she announced her support for Burgis stating, “I recruited Diane Burgis to succeed me on the Board of Supervisors because she is a leader in our community who possesses intelligence, integrity and compassion.  As executive director of Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed and a trustee on the East Bay Regional Parks District Board, Diane has an excellent understanding of Delta water issues and the regional experience needed to serve the constituents of this district.  Diane is the most qualified person to succeed me on the Board of Supervisors.”

“I believe I will bring new approaches and a fresh perspective to issues before the Board of Supervisors,” said Burgis.  “My priorities are to actively represent all parts of the District and provide fiscal accountability and transparency, ensure public safety, promote economic development and job creation for East County residents, and develop solutions to reduce traffic and improve infrastructure.”

Burgis was elected last year to the East Bay Regional Parks District Board and is the Executive Director of Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed. She currently serves on the Regional Planning Committee of the Association of Bay Area Governments. Prior to her election to the Parks District Board, Diane served on the Oakley City Council for two years, where she represented Contra Costa County on the Delta Protection Commission.  Diane was named 2012 California State Assembly’s Woman of the Year for District 15 for her work with Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed and her other contributions to the community.

Burgis spent over 10 years as owner of a small business that provided mobile fleet services to businesses. She has been actively involved in raising money and awareness for Tuberous Sclerosis for over 16 years and previously served as Chairperson for the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance of Northern California.

Burgis and her three teen-aged sons live in Oakley.

Oakley Councilman and former Mayor Doug Hardcastle, who announced his campaign for Supervisor in September and Odessa LeFrancois, the President of the NAACP East County Branch, who announced her candidacy with an entry in the Antioch Veterans Day Parade in November, are the only other candidates in the race, so far. Filing for the seat opens in February and closes in March. The election is in June, 2016. However, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates face off in the General election in November, 2016.

Today, Monday, December 21, 2015, County Supervisor Mary Piepho, who represents District 3 on the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, announced she will not seek reelection for a fourth term, next year. I want to applaud Mary on her decision and thank her for her service to the people of Contra Costa County, over the past 11 years.

While I have had differences with her over policy and some of her votes, we have served together well on the transportation boards serving East County, on which she has helped move forward the planned Tri-Link freeway and transit connection between Brentwood and Tracy. Mary has also helped lead the fight to protect the Delta, which is important to all of us who depend on it for our drinking water, as well as fishing and recreation.

As I stated when I launched my campaign in September, it’s time for new leadership in our county. I thank Supervisor Piepho for ensuring that will happen for the people of the Third District. Serving in public office should not be a career, but should be a place where average citizens can serve the people, for a time. If I’m elected, following Mary’s example, I pledge to serve no more than three terms on the Board of Supervisors, as well.

I wish Mary well and God’s blessings in her future endeavors.

Doug Hardcastle serves on the Oakley City Council and just completed a year as Mayor. From 2000 to 2012 he served as a Director for the Ironhouse Sanitary District, for which he served as President in 2011-2012. He and his wife Lyn own Hardcastle’s RV in Oakley. He’s a life-long resident of Contra Costa County. District 3 includes Oakley, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Blackhawk, Camino Tassajara, Diablo, Byron, Bethel Island, Knightsen and parts of Antioch.

For more information about Hardcastle’s campaign for Supervisor, visit www.doughardcastle.com.

Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Piepho, who represents part of Antioch in District 3, announced, Monday, she will not run for reelection to a fourth term, next year.

In a statement released by her office and posted on her campaign website, today, Piepho wrote:

“After significant and thoughtful deliberation, I have made a very difficult, personal decision and decided not to pursue re-election in 2016. At this point in my life I am ready to greet new challenges, welcome new opportunities and spend more time with my family doing things that we enjoy.

I have served on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors for nearly three terms and these years have been the most fulfilling of my career.   Saving lives and saving taxpayer dollars are the most rewarding achievements of my career and I have done both.

I am honored to have earned the trust and confidence from the citizens and business leaders of this County who have supported me to make tough decisions on their behalf and together build a better Contra Costa County.

When I took office in January, 2005 I had a lot of optimism, energy and many fresh ideas. After a lot of hard work and sacrifice, I’m proud to say my personal goals have been met; transportation, finance, public safety and the environment (a short list is detailed at the end of this message).

We have a diverse County with a lot of needs and I’ve done my best to work collaboratively with my colleagues and stakeholders to balance those needs. Not only for District III but for the greater needs of all Contra Costa citizens and taxpayers.

A lot has been accomplished in a relatively short period of time, especially with consideration of the financial and social impacts from the Great Recession.

My goals could not have been achieved without my dedicated office staff, our County Administrator David Twa and all County personnel. Much of what I’ve accomplished is directly attributed to these many hands involved in the heavy lifting.

My father, the late State Senator John A. Nejedly, always said to me to make sure you leave the world better than the way you found it. As I look back on my service to this County, I believe I’ve done that. I hope the citizens of Contra Costa will agree that Contra Costa County is in a much better, more secure place now than it was 12 years ago.

A County Supervisors’ job is one that is never done. It is never completed. And while I have listed many accomplishments below, there is always more work to do. I look forward to a busy and productive 2016 on the Board of Supervisors and continuing to work hard serving the citizens of this great County, region and State.

For the next year I will work on the 2016 goals outlined below, and more. Stay tuned and many thanks to everyone who has joined me for this wonderful experience.

Here are a few highlights of my accomplishments:

• Refocused our County finances to fund public safety as a top priority. The Sheriffs’ Department and District Attorney’s office are cornerstones to this accomplishment.
• Addressing and funding our Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) liability, which was $2.6 billion when I joined the Board and is now under $800 million.
• Created the Vasco Road Safety Corridor and saving lives with lane dividing delineators, safety realignment and roadway widening. This effort continues to be a work in progress.
• Stopped depending on County reserves to balance our budget and have rebuilt our reserves with new policies to protect them.
• 2015/2016 brought our fifth structurally balanced budget in a row and increased reserves of $220 million. This positions us well to achieve long term fiscal sustainability for the benefit of taxpayers.
• Grown from a declining AA rating to a glowing AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor’s. We worked hard to achieve this and there is no higher rating available.
• Highway 4 widening is nearly complete, 8 lanes to the Antioch/Nejedly Bridge in 2016.
• EBart stations are being built to Pittsburg and Antioch with studies for a Brentwood station.
• Highway 4 Bypass project nearly complete creating improved vehicle access and safety and economic development for Far East County allowing families to spend more time together.
• Designed and implemented policies that open up economic opportunities and future potential for our farmers and agricultural lands with value-added marketing and wine and olive processing. We now have nationally recognized award winning wines and olive oils from Contra Costa County.
• My Delta advocacy has been very personal to me. My father, the late State Senator John A. Nejedly, is well known for his leadership fighting against then Gov. Jerry Brown and his Peripheral Canal in 1980-1982 and I have found myself fighting against the 21st century version known as the “Twin Tunnels” and the same/new Gov. Jerry Brown.
• Lead the creation of the Delta County Coalition (DCC) to protect Delta Counties against state and federal politics that protect south Delta water exporters over in-Delta interests. I knew from my dad’s fight against the Peripheral Canal that the Delta Counties needed to stand strong together in order to be effective. And we have.
• Fought for Delta solutions that protect and enhance our Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta from further degradation, environmental harm and advocated for affordable and reasonable solutions that actually create water for all Californians.
• Sought and achieved in the 2009 Delta Reform Act a stronger Delta Protection Commission, creation of the Delta Conservancy and a seat on the newly formed Delta Stewardship Council for a Delta County Supervisor.
• Created the “No Tow Zone” for Delta waterway safety. While this was considered controversial by a few, it has made an enormous impact on saving lives and raising awareness in a very dangerous and congested area of the Delta.
• Lead the successful efforts for greater funding and treatment to fight invasive aquatic weeds in the Delta (egeria dense, water hyacinth, etc.).
• Acquired property in Brentwood for an East County Government Center to deliver County services locally for East Contra Costa County citizens.
• Leading policy and economic development efforts for the Byron Airport to grow jobs and economic development in East County.
• Leading the effort to study Route 239/TriLink connecting Brentwood and Tracy with a proposed expressway, particularly a Vasco Road to J4 connector.
• Fought for improved Veteran support services Countywide; supported funding for improvement to the Brentwood VFW Hall and lead the effort to transfer the Danville Veterans Hall to the Town of Danville.
• Lead the ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.
• Implemented Laura’s Law, a California state law that allows for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment for those with serious mental illness.
• Lead efforts to create an opportunity for a more viable and sustainable East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

Goals for 2016:

• Continue my advocacy for the Delta to preserve and protect Delta resources and fight against CalWaterFix
• Design and fund the East County Government Center in Brentwood
• Phase II of Vasco Road Safety Project, funding and construction
• Continue to work with local farmers in amending land uses within agriculturally zoned lands for greater flexibility and economic opportunity
• Market and promote Northern Waterfront Initiative (NWI) as a location to build green energy projects and other economic opportunities
• Short-term treatment and long-term management for invasive species and aquatic weeds in the Delta
• State Route 239/TriLink defined alignment and plan for development”

By Allen Payton

The November 9th court date for Contra Costa County School Board Trustee Jeff Belle at which he was to be arraigned for lying on his ballot statement in last year’s election, was postponed due to a motion filed by Belle’s attorney.

Belle filed a demure to dismiss the charge against him, claiming the District Attorney’s office did not adequately state the crime that he committed, Deputy District Attorney Steve Moawad explained.

The DA’s office responded and the hearing on Belle’s motion, which would dismiss the case, is set for this Friday, December 4 at 1:30 PM in Department 29 in Martinez.

In his candidate statement Belle stated he had a college degree, but had not yet obtained one, at that time. He faces a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine.

Stockton, Antioch and Lodi Police Officers Associations, along with Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs and San Joaquin County Probation Officers all endorse Nance for Congress

In a strong show of support, the Kathryn Nance for Congress campaign announced, today, the endorsements of five law enforcement groups: the Stockton Police Officers Association, Antioch Police Officers Association, Lodi Police Officers Association, Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Association and San Joaquin County Probation Officers Association.

“Kathryn Nance is exactly the kind of leader we need in Congress,” said Travis Rowe Jr., President of the San Joaquin County Probation Officers Association. “Her 19 years of experience as a member of the Stockton Police Department gives her the insight and toughness to fight for us back in Washington.”

“I am both honored and humbled to receive the support of my fellow peers in the law enforcement community,” said Nance. “They, like me, are sick of the politics-as-usual games that people like Jerry McNerney play on a daily basis back in Congress. The people of the 9th Congressional District are ready for a leader, not a career politician, as their Congressperson.”

The 9th Congressional District encompasses part of Antioch, far East Contra Costa County, the majority of San Joaquin County, the City of Galt in Sacramento County.

Born and raised in the Stockton area, Kathryn Nance is a 19 year veteran of the Stockton Police Department, currently serving as a Sergeant with the Department’s AB109 Task Force and as President of the Stockton Police Officers Association. She has previously served as a Field Training Officer and as a member of the Department’s Gang and Homicide units. She is married to her husband of 10 years, James Nance, who also serves as an officer with the Stockton Police Department. Together, they have a blended family of four children, ranging in ages of 16 to 23. Kathryn is an avid outdoors enthusiast and enjoys activities such as hiking, cycling, kayaking and CrossFit. Kathryn also serves as the Chairwoman of Stockton’s annual “Strides Against Cancer” relay.

To learn more about Kathryn Nance for Congress, visit us online at www.Nance2016.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @Nance2016.

By John Crowder

Oakley Mayor Doug Hardcastle has decided to run for Supervisor in District 3, the seat currently held by Supervisor Mary Piepho. He sat down with Herald Staff this past week to answer questions about his candidacy.

Why are you running for Supervisor?

“As a taxpaying citizen, I’m very concerned about what is going on financially in Contra Costa County, right now. Over the last few months we’ve seen tremendous controversy generated with some of the Supervisors voting themselves large raises, a decision that was only rescinded after intense public pressure was brought to bear. On top of that, there have been questions concerning the car allowance. Controversies like these cause people to lose faith in their government. We need people of integrity to lead our county, and people who know me, and have worked with me, know that is a quality that I possess.

At the same time, these issues, voting raises for themselves and such, have been distracting from more serious, and very pressing matters. The East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District is one example. We’re down to a handful of firefighters responsible for hundreds of square miles, now. There doesn’t seem to be any solution in sight.

Yet, the County has a budget of $3.6 billion. Imagine if you were able to cut back only 1%. That would free up $36 million, money that could be used, for example, to ensure adequate fire protection.”

What philosophy would guide your legislative decisions?

“I’ve already mentioned integrity. That means putting the good of the citizens of the county above other concerns. It means that, as Supervisors, we can’t be guided by the latest polls, or worries about how our personal, political futures will be impacted. We have to be willing to takes stands, and to do what is right.

Equally important is using common sense. When an issue is brought forward, we need to weigh the costs and the benefits, and think about the unintended consequences of our decisions.”

What do you believe are the most important issues facing the County at present?

“The biggest issues all revolve around financial matters. It’s all about the money. Unfunded retirements is probably the most important of these that needs to be faced.

The safety of our citizens is another concern. As I mentioned earlier, the fact that we are not adequately funding what is needed for public safety is a major concern. We need to make sure that we have enough firefighters and police officers to do the difficult, and often dangerous, jobs that we ask them to do. We need to make sure that they have the right resources, the equipment they need, to do their jobs.

We also need to make sure that we are maintaining our transportation infrastructure. In Oakley, where I’m currently on the City Council, we’re spending a good deal of money on street maintenance at the moment. This is money that’s well spent. It’s a lot cheaper to maintain our infrastructure on a regular basis, than it is to let it go and then have to replace it.”

What is your previous political experience?

“I served on the board of the Ironhouse Sanitary District for twelve years. During that time I was involved with the building of a new water treatment center. It was a long process. As board members, we had to ensure that state regulations would be met, and we had to obtain funding. We lobbied Sacramento on behalf of the District. I’m proud to say that the treatment center came in ahead of schedule, and under budget.

More recently, I’ve been a member of the Oakley City Council. Here, I’ve continued to watch out for how taxpayer’s money is being spent. One example is the construction of the fountain. Staff originally came in with cost projections of well over a million dollars, but we sent them back to take another look, to consider other bids, and ended up saving over half-a-million dollars on that project alone.

Also in Oakley, we’re transitioning from a contract with the Sheriff to our own police department, a move expected to save the city about $800,000 per year.

One of the things that I think is very important is accessibility. Once a month I set up a table in front of one of our local supermarkets, Raley’s, Lucky, or Grocery Outlet, and spend Saturday morning meeting with members of the public. I call it, ‘Mayor at the Market.’

People in town also know that, as a local businessman, they can find me here at my business, whenever we’re open. I’m always happy to speak with my constituents about their concerns. If they raise a question, or have an idea, I go to the city staff member responsible for the area they’ve addressed, and make sure they get an answer.

I do my best to be accessible, approachable and accountable.

I also serve on the East County transportation boards including Transplan, the State Route 4 Bypass Authority and the East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority, for which I am currently Vice Chair. I also serve on the county Mayor’s Conference.

What else have you been involved with in your community?

“I was involved with the local chapter of the Lion’s Club for twelve years, having served both as President, and as Chaplain. I’ve helped out at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for the last ten years. I’m also active in the local Chamber of Commerce and served as Vice President for two years. Most recently, I volunteered at Stand Down on the Delta, an event held to help homeless veterans in need.”

Is there anything else you’d like the voters to know about you?

“I’ve been in Contra Costa County my entire life. I was born in Martinez, and lived there and in Concord, while growing up. I graduated from Ygnacio Valley High School. I spent two-and-a-half years in the army as the crew chief of a Chinook helicopter.

I’ve been married to my wife, Lyn, for 43 years, and together we’ve raised two children, a son and a daughter. We have four grandchildren. We’ve been in Oakley for 35 years.

I attend Golden Hills Community Church, and have been in their choir for fourteen years. Really, I’m the most blessed man I know.”

Fairfield, CA – Former Solano County Republican 2nd Vice Chairman Dave Miller, announced, Friday, that he will be running for the position of State Assemblyman to represent the 11th District to replace incumbent Jim Frazier (D – Oakley). Miller has a good knowledge of the district, having lived in Discovery Bay as well as Fairfield for the last five years. His wife, Amy is Director of Advanced Practice Services at NorthBay Hospital in Fairfield.

Miller retired from a 28-year career in social services finance and fraud investigation. In addition to working in New York political circles, Dave was active on the campaigns of former Governor and 2016 presidential candidate George Pataki, for the 12 years he was Governor of New York State.

Since moving to California in 2011, he has started, with the help of his associates, a nationwide premier political consulting and strategy firm, with clients in California, Wisconsin, Tennessee, New York and Nevada. He also served as California Field Coordinator to Governor Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential campaign and Chief of Staff to USAF Col. Rick Tubbs’ congressional campaign in Contra Costa and Solano Counties.

“We are 465 days out, and 465 days from releasing ourselves from the tax and spend policies of Jim Frazier and his associates in Sacramento,” Miller said. “The policies Jim Frazier believes in, like introducing a constitutional amendment to raise property taxes on both homeowners and businesses, overriding Proposition 13, a ballot initiative overwhelmingly passed by California voters, signifies that the time for super majorities in Sacramento must end, and it’s time to return a more compassionate and conservative form of government to the people.”

“Speaking of ballot initiatives, in less than three years in office, Jim Frazier has voted to increase the fees to file such ballot initiatives from a simple $200 and to a staggering $8,000,” he added. “That’s a 3,900% increase, and a sure fire way to limit, if not freeze altogether, public debate and comment on issues pertinent to all Californians.”

“It recently learned that the I-10 bridge on the California/Arizona border had collapsed,” Miller stated. “You’re probably wondering: how does a bridge collapse hundreds of miles away have anything to do with the 11th Assembly District? Because Jim Frazier is Chairman of the Assembly Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It’s his job to provide legislative oversight of Cal Trans. Last year, Cal Trans inspected the same bridge mentioned earlier, and according to the report, they gave it a 95% safety score.”

“Looking deeper, in the 800+ page report, I discovered there are nearly 400 bridges and overpasses in the 11th Assembly District alone, that had worse safety scores than the I-10 bridge which collapsed,” Miller continued. “Mr. Frazier cited ‘deferred maintenance’ as the cause for the bridge collapse, but if it scored 95% on its last safety inspection, one year ago, and Cal Trans stated in its report, it required no maintenance at all, how could you now claim it required ‘deferred maintenance’?”

“Just knowing that Assemblyman Frazier seems to have forgotten how important bridges and overpasses are key to our very way of life here in the Bay Area, (and all across California) is of great concern to me, not only as a Candidate, but as a Taxpayer as well,” he added. “It’s just proof that he and his Democratic associates in Sacramento are completely happy with the status quo.”

Miller offered his campaign platform

“If elected I will push for big bold reforms in Sacramento that effect you every day. I will:

•Cut my own personal salary and give that back money to hard working high school graduates in our district who excel in Math and Science. My only caveat: that they seek work upon graduation in the State of California I want to help your kids be successful – in California, and keep them here for generations to come. I will dole it out in the form of a scholarship program, to help offset college costs.

•I will propose the first Electronic Legislature in the nation. Should drastically help California see relief in legislature costs, such as per diems, staff payroll, and greatly cripple the influence of special interests prior to a crucial vote.

•Propose the California Sacred Trust Act. This amendment would greatly restore public confidence in how government operates in the future. Let’s remember we are one of the largest states in the “United States of America,” not the “Divided States of America” let’s set the standard.

•Propose sweeping massive regulatory reform, including tangible prison reforms.

•Get serious about our Water Crisis, but not with the current proposals being thrown around today, but with Desalination Plants up and down the coast, with the water storage to protect it.

•Opposition to High Speed Rail. I’ve seen firsthand, grandiose, wide-eyed, government-funded transportation projects that looked great on paper, but crash and burn inside two years’ time. See Rochester Business Journal.com and search “Flawed Business Plan sank Fast Ferry.”

•Improving the Business Climate in California. We were once the world’s 5th largest economy, we’ve dropped to 12th. It all goes back to the Regulations this Government feels the need to lump on your everyday life. The good news is: “we can’t get any worse!” We are 50th in the Nation in Economic Growth, and states to succeed in business.

•Propose a Guest Worker ID program. If it can be done in Kuwait, a country of 8 million people, which has 20 million Saudis working in their nation’s oil fields, it can be done here in California. Use an E-Verify system to sort out the law-abiding illegal immigrants from the ones who feel the need to survive by committing violent crimes, who harm or kill American citizens. Give these law abiding illegals the opportunity for citizenship.

•Phased in Voter ID Program. Program phased in over four-year period. As a social service provider, I’ve seen what not having a photo ID can do for a person, it can keep them from doing simple things we take for granted like cashing a check or getting documents notarized. If, after four years, you haven’t applied, you must get a DMV license to conduct business.

•Study the possibility of a Trimester School System, and its effects on hard working families.

•Implement a two year vehicle registration cycle on all vehicles registered at DMV. Study the effects of how that impacts the work flow at the agency.”

“With the advent of an electronic legislature on the horizon, I, along with all my colleagues, can be in their Assembly and Senate District offices and more responsive to the needs of its citizens more,” Miller said. “As a former social services provider, who used to see as many as 200 clients a day, that is what I look most forward too – working with my constituency, as should every elected official.”

“These are just some of the sweeping changes I plan to make when elected to become your next Assemblyman. I know I can do a better job, because I have nearly 28 years of government service backing me up. I look forward to meeting as many folks as I can in the months ahead, as well as re-engaging with some old friends from East Bay,” he added. “And folks…..that’s how I roll.”

The 11th Assembly District includes Antioch. Frazier was first elected to the position in 2012.