Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Challenger Motts catches incumbent Torres-Walker in tied-up Antioch City Council District 1 race

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Joy Motts (left) and Tamisha Torres-Walker are tied in the Antioch City Council District 1 race as of Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.

19 challenged ballots remain to be counted; if remains a tie the candidates would decide the tie breaker

By Allen D. Payton

As of Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, at 3:12:59 PM, the Contra Costa Elections Division website shows incumbent Antioch District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker and challenger Joy Motts are tied with 1,462 votes each. While the website shows there are still 1,900 ballots remaining to be counted in the county, according to Assistant Registrar of Voters Helen Nolan, “now, there are 19 challenged votes in the Antioch City Council District 1 race.”

“They’re either unsigned or the signatures don’t match,” she explained. “Every single person who has a challenged ballot has received a letter in order to cure that signature, either to provide a signature or provide their signature that matches what we have on file.”

“The important thing to remember is what we have on file is most likely what is on their driver’s license,” Nolan added.

“What the campaigns can do, and I believe are doing, are get copies of the challenged voters list and contact those voters,” she stated. The list is available but “it either has to be for education purposes or for elections purposes.”

Of the 1,900 ballots remaining in the county, 217 are listed as Provisional, which are described as “CVR (Conditional Voter Registration) Ballots In Review” and 1,683 listed as Other, meaning “Challenged VBM (Vote By Mail) Ballots” in which there was “No Signature” or the “Signature Does Not Match” what the Elections Division has on file. The challenged ballots in the Antioch race are among both types of remaining ballots.

According to the California Secretary of State’s website, “A ‘CVR voter’ is a person who, on Election Day or the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding Election Day, does both of the following:

  1. Delivers an executed affidavit of registration to the county elections official in order to register to vote in California for the first time, or re-register to vote in the same or a different county in California. The executed affidavit of registration can be submitted either in person at any permanent office of the county elections official, at any vote center or polling place, or at any satellite office designated by the county elections official or online through the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State.
  2. Requests a CVR ballot at any permanent office of the county elections official, at any vote center or polling place, or at any satellite office designated by the county elections official.”

Voters with challenged ballots have until Wednesday, Nov. 30 to cure their ballot with the county Elections Division office.

Tie-Breaker Decided by Candidates

Asked what happens if there’s a tie vote Nolan said the election would be decided by “whatever tie breaker the candidates agree to. It could be a flip of a coin, roll of the dice or rock, paper, scissors.”

Contra Costa County Elections Division named Center for Elections Excellence

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Nonpartisan program supports and celebrates excellence in U.S. election administration

By Dawn Kruger, Civic Outreach/Engagement Specialist, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department

The Contra Costa County Elections Division has been selected by the nonpartisan U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence as a Center for Election Excellence.  This is recognition that Contra Costa County Elections is committed to leadership in election administration and focused on developing even more resilient, trustworthy, and voter-centric election administration practices.

As a Center for Election Excellence, the Contra Costa County Elections Division will have an opportunity to work together with a bipartisan group of election officials to support each other and improve their skills. The diverse inaugural 2023 cohort of Centers for Election Excellence include:

  • Contra Costa County, CA
  • Shasta County, CA
  • Greenwich, CT
  • Kane County, IL
  • Macoupin County, IL
  • Ottawa County, MI
  • Clark County, NV
  • Brunswick County, NC
  • Forsyth County, NC
  • Madison, WI

According to a recent study from MIT, public spending on election services ranks near the bottom, about the same as what local governments spend on parking facilities. This means professional development opportunities for election department staff can be extremely limited. The Alliance will provide Contra Costa Elections staff opportunities to collaborate with and share best practices with their colleagues from around the country, creating a national community of learning and support.

“I am thrilled we have chosen the Contra Costa County Elections Division as a Center for Election Excellence,” said Tiana Epps-Johnson, executive director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life. “Contra Costa Elections is a leader in safe, secure, and inclusive elections that put voters first. This program will take their election administration work to the next level.”

“While I have always known that staff at the Contra Costa County Elections Division are expert at what they do, incredibly innovative, and provide an exceptionally high level of service to the Contra Costa Community, I am excited and proud that this department and our staff are being recognized nationally for the hard work we do.” said Debi Cooper, Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Contra Costa County.

The U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence launched in 2022 and is a five-year, $80 million nonpartisan program that brings together election officials, designers, technologists, and other experts to envision, support, and celebrate excellence in U.S. election administration. Launch partners include:

  • Center for Tech and Civic Life:  connects Americans with the information to become and remain civically engaged and ensure that elections are inclusive and secure.
  • Center for Civic Design: works with elections offices and advocates across the country, using research, design, accessibility, and plain language to remove barriers and invite participation in democracy.
  • The Elections Group: partners with state and local election officials to implement new programs or improve processes for voters and stakeholders by providing guidance, resources, and management support.
  • U.S. Digital Response: is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization provides election officials with simple, effective digital tools and rapid response.
  • Institute for Responsive Government & Center for Secure and Modern Elections: aligns bipartisan, pro-voter campaigns, making elections more efficient and secure.
  • Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (the d.school) at Stanford University: referred to as the d.school, the institute brings students and faculty from radically different backgrounds together to develop innovative, human-centered solutions to real world challenges.
  • Prototyping Systems Lab: utilizes elements of design thinking, participatory design, and critical making to create change within complex systems.

West County: Work along San Pablo Dam Road Nov. 28 through Dec. 1

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Source: CCCPWD

Between Tri Lane and Wildcat Canyon Road/Bear Creek Road

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, Public Information Officer, CCC Public Works Dep’t.

A Contra Costa County Public Works Department crew will be performing work along San Pablo Dam Road starting on Monday, November 28, 2022, through Thursday, December 1, 2022, barring unforeseen circumstances.  Work will occur between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm daily, weather permitting. Work will take place on San Pablo Dam Road, between Tri Lane in El Sobrante and Wildcat Canyon Road/Bear Creek Road in Orinda.  The work will consist of clearing slides and cleaning drainage ditches for winter storm preparation and safety.

Message boards will be posted to advise drivers the week before scheduled work begins. Traffic control, including lane and shoulder closures, will be used. Drivers should expect delays up to 15 minutes near the work area.

About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and other drainage and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.  CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport

CHP boosts patrol for Thanksgiving holiday travel

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A CHP Golden Gate Division officer conducts a traffic stop for a suspected seat belt violation. Photo courtesy of CHP

Maximum Enforcement Period runs Wednesday through Sunday

By California Highway Patrol

As millions of people venture out for the Thanksgiving holiday, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is preparing for one of the busiest travel weekends in the nation.

To help motorists arrive at their destinations safely, the CHP will implement a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) and deploy all available officers through the holiday weekend.  The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 27.

“As with every holiday, the CHP will work to keep motorists safe as they travel to gatherings with friends and family,” said Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Our officers will be on patrol to take enforcement action as necessary and to provide assistance to motorists who are stranded or in need of help on the side of the road.”

During the MEP, CHP officers will be working to assist and educate motorists and enforce traffic safety laws throughout the state, actively looking for unsafe driving behaviors, including impaired or distracted driving, unsafe speed, and people not wearing seat belts.

According to the CHP’s MEP data, 42 people, including 16 pedestrians and one bicyclist, were killed in crashes in CHP’s jurisdiction during the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  CHP officers issued more than 5,600 citations for speed and seat belt violations.  Additionally, CHP officers made 1,033 arrests for driving under the influence during the four-day period. 

“Enjoy your Thanksgiving festivities, but please celebrate responsibly, wear your seat belt, and always designate a sober, nondrinking driver,” said Commissioner Ray.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

 

Man dies in big rig solo vehicle crash on Hwy 4 near Martinez Monday morning

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By CHP – Contra Costa

Monday morning Nov. 21, 2022, at about 5:24am, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a solo vehicle collision on Hwy 4 westbound, east of McEwen Road. The vehicle (a tractor trailer combination) was traveling westbound on Hwy 4 when it left the roadway, traveling up the right-side embankment, then veered across the lanes and collided with the center median.

CHP and emergency personnel arrived on scene and the driver (male) was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. His identity has not yet been released by the Contra Costa Coroner’s office.

This crash is still under investigation, if anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.

Please check back later for any updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Antioch woman dies in solo vehicle crash in Bethel Island Sunday morning

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By CHP – Contra Costa

Sunday morning Nov. 20, 2022, at about 2:10am, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a single vehicle crash on Sugar Barge Road in Bethel Island. Our preliminary investigation indicates a Toyota truck left the roadway and collided with a tree.

CHP and emergency personnel arrived on scene and the driver was pronounced deceased. According to the Contra Costa Coroner’s office the driver was Lilith Guentert, age 47 of Antioch.

This crash is still under investigation, if anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle on Hwy 4 near Bay Point

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By CHP – Contra Costa

Wednesday morning, Nov. 16, 2022, at about 3:55 am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on Highway 4 westbound west of Bailey Road. At the time of the crash, a pedestrian was within the roadway of Hwy 4 westbound.

A Toyota Tacoma traveling westbound was unable to avoid the pedestrian and struck the person. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the Tacoma was not injured.

Efforts to obtain the identity of the deceased pedestrian were unsuccessful prior to publication time.

This crash is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.

Please check back later for any updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Pittsburg: 5 die including 3 children in wrong way driver crash on Hwy 4

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One from Vacaville, four from Vallejo

By CHP – Contra Costa

Early Thursday morning, Nov 17, 2022, at about 12:10 am, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a wrong way driver traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 4 near Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg. The wrong way vehicle, a Hyundai Elantra, continued eastbound in the westbound lanes and collided head on into a Ford Flex traveling in the westbound lanes of Hwy 4, west of Loveridge Road. Both vehicles sustained major damage and came to rest within the westbound lanes.

The driver and sole occupant of the Ford sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The Hyundai was occupied by one adult driver and three juvenile passengers, all occupants sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office PIO Jimmy Lee, the victims were Lasaundra Goode age 44 of Vacaville and the driver of the Elantra was Tiara Tucker age 27 of Vallejo. The three children in one of the cars was Mariah Mihailovic age 5, Keilani Johnson-Ochoa age 4 and Kaliyah Johnson-Ochoa age 9, all also from Vallejo.

At this time, it is undetermined if drugs and/or alcohol were a factor. For more details see the CBS News Bay Area report about the crash.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this crash, the wrong way vehicle prior to the crash, or the events leading up to the crash, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Contra Costa DA Report: Use of force justified in 2021 Pittsburg officer involved shooting of Patrick Watkins

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Video screenshot from Pittsburg Police Officer John Odell’s body camera at the 6:55 mark showing suspect Patrick Watkins with a gun in his right hand on Thursday night, May 20, 2021.

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, Calif. – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office report concludes that officers who were involved in the shooting death of Patrick Watkins in Pittsburg were justified in their actions.

Since 1984, Contra Costa County has a protocol in place for law enforcement agencies to investigate Officer Involved Shootings. The District Attorney’s Office conducts its own independent investigation of such incidents and releases its findings in a Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident (LEIFI) report. The document summarizes the investigative report of the incident, contains a legal analysis, and concludes with a charging decision.

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said that she and her executive team review the evidence, officer and witness statements, and other facts related to the incident “to independently determine if there is any criminal liability in fatal incidents when law enforcement is involved.” If criminal liability does exist, the District Attorney – which represents The People of the State of California – has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a death was not justified.

The incident involving Patrick Watkins took place on May 20, 2021, around 9:20 pm in the City of Pittsburg. Peace Officers from Pittsburg Police Department responded to a 911 call that Watkins was at the front door of his ex-girlfriend’s residence with a firearm and was refusing to leave the premises.

When officers arrived at the location, they saw a man who matched Watkins’s description at the ground floor level of the residential complex. After attempts by police to get Watkins to comply with orders, Watkins ignored the commands and proceeded to walk up a stairwell toward his ex-girlfriend’s home. Multiple officers followed him to the second story, ordering him to get on the ground. Watkins was facing away from the officers but then turned toward them with a semi-automatic firearm in his right hand. Watkins then pointed the weapon at one officer – who fired three shots at Watkins. After the officer’s service weapon malfunctioned, he dropped to a prone position. Another officer, who thought his fellow peace officer had been shot, fired twice at Watkins. Watkins died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. (See related articles here and here)

An autopsy by the Contra Costa County Coroner was conducted on May 24, 2021, by Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Ikechi Ogan. Dr. Ogan’s summary of the autopsy concluded that Watkins had two gunshot wounds, one on his left calf, and one on the left side of his chest that pierced his heart, liver, and fractured a rib. A toxicology report noted Watkins had the presence of Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, and Delta 9 THC – a chemical found in cannabis that produces an intoxicating effect when consumed.

In a legal analysis of the case, the District Attorney’s Office applied the applicable laws and the California District Attorney’s Uniform Crime Charging Standards to review the evidence of the incident. The concluding opinion determined the actions by the peace officers against Patrick Watkins was justified in the use of lethal force. Both officers acted with an actual and reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary in this incident to defend against an imminent threat of death or great bodily injury.

As such, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office will take no further action in this case.

The family members of Patrick Watkins and the Attorney General of the State of California have been notified of the Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident report – which can be viewed on the Contra Costa District Attorney’s website.

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office overwhelmed by concealed carry weapon permit applications

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Photo by CCC Sheriff’s Office

By CCC Office of the Sheriff

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has recently approved additional sergeant and specialist positions for the Office of the Sheriff. They will be used to help handle the backlog of requests for concealed carry weapon (CCW) permits.

Since the Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen on June 23, 2022, the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office has been inundated by requests for CCW permits. The ruling struck down New York’s restrictions on applicants for CCW’s to show a compelling need to carry a concealed weapon in public. That meant that similar restrictions requiring applicants to demonstrate “good cause” in some states, like California, were unconstitutional.

Prior to the Bruen decision, the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office would typically receive about 20 CCW applications each month which would be processed by one employee. Since the decision, the Sheriff’s Office has been receiving several hundred applications a month and now has a backlog of over 1,000 CCW applications.

Obtaining a CCW is a multi-step process that requires a detailed application, California Department of Justice fingerprints, background check, interview, and training class. There is also a fee of $160 that is paid after the applicant completes the training class. In addition to new applications, the Sheriff’s Office handles the ongoing renewals for about 500 current CCW holders.

The Sheriff’s Office is now in the process of filling the new positions. We regret the delay and are processing applications as quickly as possible.

Click here to Apply for a CCW Permit | Contra Costa Sheriff, CA (cocosheriff.org)