Editor:

An ad hominen attack is the lowest form of argument. So it doesn’t reflect well on someone running for office that he insults people who dare to disagree with him. Unfortunately, that’s the case with Mike Burkholder, who is running for a seat on the Antioch School Board.

A few days ago I posted on the Oakley Politics Facebook site my concern about the Oakley fire tax that too much of it would go to retirement expenses instead of providing fire protection. Burkholder responded, “Back to lying about fire service to cause voter confusion yet again.”

First, that’s a violation of the site’s civility policy which specifies that posters “be civil, no profanity, no bullying.” Secondly and more importantly, it tells voters in the Antioch School District something about how Burkholder might conduct himself in office. Namely, that if you dare disagree with him, he might publicly insult you, which is a form of bullying intended to silence you.

This is not the first time he’s trashed me — he did it often when I opposed the previous East Contra Costa fire tax hikes. And I’m not his only victim. He’s insulted journalists at the East Bay Times and Antioch Herald and at least one member of the Oakley City Council.

The description for the Oakley Politics site states that it is “a way for local candidates to meet and interact with Oakley, California voters.” Voters should be concerned that Burkholder chooses to interact with them by publicly hurling insults, disparaging their character and attempting to bully them into silence if he disagrees with them.

This is especially ironic given that Burkholder at an AUSD candidates forum said this in response to a board member pointing out the district’s dismal academic performance: “That kind of language is so negative, that is not my style. Our job is to promote the district, talk good about the district and find ways to engage the community in a positive light.”

Dave Roberts

Oakley

Dear Editor:

My husband, Gary Agopian, proudly served on the Antioch City Council until he passed away in 2014 after a long battle with brain cancer. I don’t usually get involved in politics, as that was always Gary’s passion. But this election is different. The decision we make on November 8th to elect a new mayor for Antioch will define the future of our city for years to come.

I am writing you to ask you to join me in voting for Dr. Sean Wright for Mayor.

Sean Wright has three qualities I strongly value in a leader, and I know my late husband, Gary, would have agreed with me: character to do the right thing; a desire to be transparent with citizens on all decisions made; and the courage to stand up and make the tough decisions that will move Antioch forward in a positive fashion.

Antioch is short on the kind of leadership our community needs to turn our city around. Sean Wright will be a mayor we can count on – he will stand up on the important issues that matter. Thank you for reading this letter.

Robin Agopian

Antioch resident and local teacher

Dear Editor:

Public education is my passion.  I’ve had the privilege of serving on a local school board and as chair of the State Assembly Education Committee.  I’ve worked with leaders from throughout the state and visited schools in many districts.  I’m honored to support Diane Gibson-Gray and Joy Motts for Antioch School Board.  I believe they have the knowledge, skill, and leadership qualities to continue to move Antioch schools forward.

They are two active women with deep roots in the community, having lived in Antioch for many years and graduated from Antioch High School, as did their children.  Joy’s daughter is now a well-respected teacher at Antioch High School.  Both care deeply about our children and understand the profound impact a quality education has on their lives.

Diane and Joy also understand the need to work with the entire education family – students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders – to build strong schools.  They know that the focus has to be the students in the classrooms and programs that support learning.  They know that the quality of life and economic growth of the city also depends on the success of our schools.

Antioch schools, despite challenges, are moving forward in the right direction.  Antioch High is the first comprehensive high school with wall to wall academies. I have witnessed the success of its academies and talked to many very articulate, engaged high school students.  These students are very impressive, as impressive as any I’ve seen throughout the state.  I also witnessed the in-house program started by the principal to ensure all students complete their college applications and financial reporting requirements, eliminating a significant barrier to admission for many students. Dozier Libbey Medical High School was AUSD’s first full-site academy. Deer Valley High School now has four academy choices.

Progress does not happen by accident.  It happens through strong leadership.  It happens with leaders like Diane Gibson-Gray and Joy Motts.  I urge you to vote for Diane and Joy on November 8^th.

Joan Buchanan

Alamo

He campaigns with a little help from his friends

By Allen Payton

Antioch Mayor Wade Harper reported two large, late contributions of $1,000 each from the iron workers union for his re-election campaign, over the weekend. On Friday, October 21^st, the District Council of Iron Workers Political Action League contributed $1,000 to his campaign. That same day Harper also received $1,000 from the Iron Workers Union Local 378, according to the form 497 campaign finance reports he filed with City Clerk Arne Simonson’s office.

Contributions of $1,000 or more received by a campaign must be reported within 24 hours during the 90-day period before an election. That started on August 10th, this year. Campaigns must use a form 497 to report the contributions. Please see Harper’s latest 497 forms, below.

The latest reporting period for all contributions and expenses, with specifics for those of $100 or more ended on Saturday, October 22nd and reports are due on Thursday, October 27^th. The election is Tuesday, November 8th.

form-497-report-3-harper-rcvd-10-24-16

form-497-report-4-harper-rcvd-10-22-16

Dear Editor:

You have probably received a lot of fancy mailers saying very different things. I wanted to take a moment to talk to you all directly about someone who I have worked with for years – Diane Burgis. Diane’s environmental credentials are unparalleled. She has a long history of fighting for our local waterways, parks, farms, ranches and natural lands. By electing her to the Board of Supervisors I know we can count on her to defend the Delta and our open space while also responsively developing the county’s economy so that our children and grandchildren will be able to live in and enjoy the land we love.

I am confident that Diane has the unique skill set that a leader needs to balance strong fiscal discipline with our universal desire to protect our environment, invigorate and enhance our historic agricultural lands, create high paying jobs, expand transportation options to ease congestion, revitalize each of our city’s downtown areas and to strengthen the safety net for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Please join me in supporting Diane Burgis for County Supervisor. She will be an energetic and effective advocate for all of East County, not just for the big developers and special interests that pay for her opponent’s campaign.

Ron Brown

Retired Executive Director, Save Mount Diablo

Walnut Creek

Dear Editor:

Nothing has a greater impact on the quality of life in a community than the quality of the schools.  As a former Real Estate Agent, I can attest that the performance of the local schools is the number one priority of young families when they are looking to purchase a home.  This is only one of many reasons that our local school board election is vitally important.

In the current election, we are presented with a very clear choice.

On the one hand, we have four candidates who are running to be ‘cheerleaders’ for the school district…despite the horrendous outcomes.  State test results show that thousands of students in the Antioch Unified system can’t read at grade level, don’t achieve basic proficiency in math, and haven’t passed the fifteen courses required to enter a California State College or University upon graduation.  These candidates, and their supporters, are suggesting everything will be fine if we only say good things about the schools, stand behind the Superintendent regardless of outcomes, and, of course, give them more of our tax dollars.

The other three candidates, Fernando Navarro, Crystal Sawyer-White, and Alonzo Terry, have a real plan to turn things around.  In their joint opinion piece posted online with the Antioch Herald (see: http://antiochherald.com/2016/10/p24135/), they detail how they’ll improve literacy and math skills, create a college-bound culture, and advocate for transparency and honesty in discussing the problems in the district…so that we can, together, come to viable solutions.

I hope you’ll join me in voting for these three candidates, Navarro, Sawyer-White, and Terry, who will bring about the much-needed course change to put Antioch schools on the right path.

John Crowder

Director, Math Intensive

Antioch

Dear Editor:

I have lived my entire life In East County, my 34 year teaching/counseling career was in the Brentwood Union School District.

I have known Steve Barr for all 34 years: he is a trustworthy man of integrity, and dedicated to bringing the resources we need to East County.

Steve is truly qualified to be our next District 3 County Supervisor. In the past 11 years he has finished a four-year and a two-year (appointed) term on the Liberty Union High School Board, a four-year term on the Brentwood City Council and is now in his second term. When Steve starts something, he sees it through. On the other hand let’s look at Diane Burgis’ record: in less than four years she was on the Oakley City Council for two years, then left that position to run for East County Regional Park District Board, is in her second year, and is now willing to leave that position to run for County Supervisor. What next?

I am a member of the Contra Costa County Transportation Authority Citizens Advisory Committee. Starting in March of this year I attended every Transportation Authority Board meeting advocating for the need to have funds appropriated for the airport connector (SR 239) to be put on this November ballot (Measure X). Steve Barr was at every meeting advocating as well and also spoke up for the funds that were needed in Brentwood and Oakley. I do not recall seeing Diane Burgis at of any these meetings or speaking up on the behalf of East County.

It is extremely important that we elect someone to be our County Supervisor who has true leadership experience and is willing to spend the time needed to get the job done.

In my professional opinion, longevity counts. Please join me in this election and vote for Steve Barr, the most qualified to be our District 3 County Supervisor.

Patricia Mantelli Bristow

Brentwood

Today, Monday, October 24, 2016, 19 environmental groups and community leaders, including the League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay and the Sierra Club, collectively representing more than 30,000 members fighting the Delta Tunnels, announced their support for Diane Burgis for Contra Costa County Supervisor in District 3.

“The Sierra Club proudly endorses Diane Burgis for the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors,” said Norman La Force of the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter. “She will be a strong voice for protecting the urban limit line and promoting smart growth in our county. She will also add to the elected officials opposed to the destruction of the Delta with the ill-conceived tunnels that will not only be destructive to the environment but also harm future economic development that relies on our water staying where it belongs, with us.”

Diane, a former Delta Protection Commission member and advocate for the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, is the Executive Director of the Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed and an elected member of the East Bay Regional Parks District Board representing most of District 3. She was recently inducted into the Contra Costa County Women’s Commission Hall of Fame for her work protecting county natural resources.

In addition to the League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay and the Sierra Club, Diane earned the endorsement of the following environmental champions and regional leaders:

Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho, District 3 Contra Costa County Supervisor & Chair of the Delta Protection Commission; Erik Vink, Delta Protection Commission Executive Director; Joan Buchanan, President of Restore the Delta & Former State Assemblymember; Congressman Jerry McNerney, Member of the House Subcommittee on Environment and Economy; Ron Brown, Former Save Mount Diablo Executive Director; Seth Adams, Save Mount Diablo Land Conservation Director;  Lori Cook, Fmr. Antioch Parks & Recreation Commissioner; Sandra Myers, Brentwood Parks and Recreation Commissioner; Ayn Weiskamp, East Bay Regional Park District Director; Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Park District Director;  Doug Siden, East Bay Regional Park District Director; Dennis Waespi, East Bay Regional Park District Director; John Sutter, East Bay Regional Park District Director; Whitney Dodson, East Bay Regional Park District Director; Bette Boatmun, Contra Costa Water District Director; Constance Holdaway, Contra Costa Water District Director; John Coleman, East Bay Municipal Utility District Director; Andy Katz, East Bay Municipal Utility District Director

“Diane’s environmental credentials are unparalleled,” said Ron Brown, Retired Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo. “She has a long history of fighting for our local waterways, parks, farms, ranches and natural lands.  I know we can count on her to defend the Delta and our open space on the County Board of Supervisors, while also developing the county responsibly so that our grandchildren can enjoy the land we love.”

Before joining the parks board in 2014, Diane Burgis served for two years as an Oakley City Councilmember and spent over ten years as a small business owner. She highlights four priorities for her candidacy: improving public safety, attracting economic development, ensuring fiscal accountability and preserving the delta for future generations.

Voters can learn more about her and her platform at www.dianeburgis.com.