Contra Costa Herald

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

Bay Area: Tax the Ultra-Rich Now launches bus tour across California supporting Props 40 & 3

By Leave a Comment

The Tax the Ultra-Rich Now campaign bus will start its week-long tour on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2026. Photo: TURN

Kicks off at Bernie Sanders rally in SF on Saturday, Oct. 3, with stops in Oakland, Berkeley, Bakersfield and LA

Week-long tour makes the case for reducing the wealth and power of the ultra-wealthy through a wealth tax

By Ryan Thomas, Tax the Ultra-Rich Now, Yes on 3 & 40, No on 41 & 42

SAN FRANCISCO — Tax the Ultra-Rich Now (TURN) kicks off a week-long, statewide bus tour tomorrow in support of Proposition 40 and Proposition 3, hosting events with advocates, experts, and policymakers across California. Running from October 3 to October 11, the tour builds on TURN’s six-figure campaign to rein in the outsized wealth and power California’s billionaires hold over working families, the economy, and our democracy.

On November 3, 2026, California voters will vote on Proposition 40, a one-time 5 percent tax on the net worth of billionaires who were California residents on January 1, 2026. Ninety percent of the revenue would fund health care programs, with the remainder for food assistance and education. This analysis examines how the Forbes-estimated wealth of 22 billionaires who have publicly opposed the measure has changed since January 2025 and compares that growth with the measure’s tax rate.

Prop 3 permanently protects roughly $15 billion a year in school and health care funding by again extending an existing high-income tax.

The tour comes at a time when Americans clearly see unchecked billionaire wealth as an existential threat to democratic governance. A new poll released by Tax the Greedy Billionaires showed that 79 percent of Americans say billionaires have more power than they should in a democracy, while seven in ten Americans also favor increased tax enforcement on the wealthiest households.

The tour launches with a rally hosted by Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Ro Khanna in San Francisco on October 3, and closes with a comedy show hosted by Heather Gardner featuring Franchesca Ramsey, Kylie Vincent, and Moses Storm in Los Angeles on October 11. Stops include:

  • October 3: Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders in San Francisco
  • October 4: Canvas Kickoff in Livermore with Rep. Aisha Wahab
  • October 6: “Server for an Hour” in Oakland with Local Electeds
  • October 7: AI Roundtable in San Francisco
  • October 8: Media Avail, On-Campus Organizing at UC-Berkeley
  • October 9: Media Avail, On-Campus Organizing at CSU-Bakersfield
  • October 10: Canvas Kickoffs with UTLA and Angela Gonzales-Torres in Los Angeles
  • October 11: Comedy Show in Los Angeles

Source: TURN website

The tour will connect some of the most important issues to California voters—from health care and education to wages and affordable housing—into a single statewide campaign supporting Props 40 and 3 while building political momentum toward a national conversation about billionaire power. Partners joining TURN on the road include:

  • California Working Families Party
  • Courage California
  • One Fair Wage/One Fair Wage Action
  • People’s Action
  • United Healthcare Workers West (UHW)
  • Senator Bernie Sanders
  • Reps. Ro Khanna and Aisha Wahab
  • Congressional candidate Angela Gonzales-Torres
  • Oakland School Board Members Valarie Bachelor and Patrice Berry
  • City Councilmembers Igor Tregub (Berkeley) and Kalimah Priforce (Emeryville)

“For far too long, the ultra-wealthy have gotten wealthier while working families pay the price—in higher health care costs, crowded classrooms, and skyrocketing rent. We believe working families should determine our future, not a handful of billionaires exploiting unchecked power built from fortunes that grow year after year,” said Igor Volsky, TURN’s Campaign Manager. “The vast majority of California voters understand what’s at stake. That’s why we’re taking the fight against billionaire greed and power directly to the people impacted most. From the Bay to the Valley, we’re building a movement that will show California and the rest of the country what’s possible when we tax wealth and invest in working people.”

In addition to rallying support for Props 40 and 3, TURN is actively organizing against Props 41 and 42—two billionaire-backed measures on the ballot this November that would nullify Prop 40 if either receives more “yes” votes. So far, despite the poison bills and the ultra-wealthy spending more than $150 million into outright deceiving voters, recent polling shows that 52 percent of likely voters support Prop 40 while 58 percent of likely voters support Prop 3.

About TURN

TURN (Tax the Ultra-Rich Now) is a coalition of working families, health care workers, educators, and everyday Californians fighting to shrink the power billionaires hold over our economy, our democracy, and our future. Taxation is our tool: It funds our schools, health care, and communities while cutting excessive wealth down to size so the rest of us can thrive.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

California’s top land use attorneys agree: Prop 45 would speed data center construction

By Leave a Comment

3

No on 45 campaign responds to Yes campaign’s claims

By No on 45

SACRAMENTO – In response to the Yes on 45 campaign’s recent press release claiming a No on 45 ad spreads “blatant lies” about data centers, the No on 45 campaign issued the following:

In a column in the legal publication The Daily Journal, two of the state’s leading land use attorneys today confirmed that Proposition 45 will fast track the construction of controversial data centers in California. Proposition 45 is the California Chamber of Commerce’s 41-page ballot initiative that would roll back state environmental protections and weaken the state’s defense against President Trump’s attack on state clean air, water, and public health laws.

Richard Frank, Senior Fellow at the California Environmental Law & Policy Center at the UC Davis School of Law, and Matthew McKerley, a land use attorney specializing in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), note “as they did for other projects, the proponents could have expressly excluded data centers in the text of the initiative. They didn’t.”

“The drafters of Prop. 45 explicitly excluded a long list of controversial projects. The measure expressly carves out high-speed rail, the Delta Conveyance Project, nuclear generation, jails, immigration detention facilities, prisons and oil and gas facilities. Data centers are conspicuously absent from this list. Under bedrock principles of statutory interpretation, a California court will read that silence not as an oversight, but rather as deliberate intent to include data centers in Prop. 45’s coverage. As they did for other projects, the proponents could have expressly excluded data centers in the text of the initiative. They didn’t.

“Tellingly, while publicly proclaiming that Prop. 45 has nothing to do with data centers, the Yes Campaign has quietly taken in $2 million from three companies that are actively building them. Prologis, a builder of two San Jose data center campuses, has given $250,000. California Resources Corporation, which is co-developing a 275 MW data center on its Elk Hills oil field, routed $500,000 into a Chamber-controlled committee four days after the measure cleared for circulation, and contributed another $500,000 directly to support Prop. 45 just two weeks ago. And PG&E has given $750,000, a $500,000 direct contribution and $250,000 to the Chamber-controlled committee, while collaborating with a Canadian mega developer to incorporate data centers into three San Jose housing developments.

“Meanwhile, existing environmental law is protecting communities from data centers’ most significant impacts,” they wrote.

The full article can be found here: https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/394431-prop-45-will-speed-data-center-construction

Learn more at www.noprop45ca.com.

See videos about Prop 45 by the League of Women Voters of Marin and Sonoma Counties and about CEQA by the Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego.

No on 45 campaign ad spreads “blatant lies” about data centers says Yes campaign

By 5 Comments

Claim “defenders of the unaffordable status quo are resorting to scare tactics to distract from the costly delays driving up California’s cost of living”

By Yes on 45

Sacramento, CA — A new ad from the No on 45 campaign are intentionally misrepresenting Proposition 45, relying on blatant lies that are easily refuted by the plain language of the ballot measure.

Prop 45 streamlines approvals for eight defined categories of essential projects Californians need to lower costs and improve our quality of life: housing, water infrastructure, clean energy, transportation, hospitals and health care facilities, schools, broadband, and wildfire prevention.

Data centers, warehouses, and other heavy industrial projects are not included in any of the measure’s eight essential project categories. Yet the No on 45 campaign is attempting to deceive voters into believing they are. Here are the facts:

  • Data Centers are NOT Included in Prop 45: There isn’t a single reference to data centers in the proposed ballot measure nor the Legislative Analyst’s Office analysis. Opponents instead try to shoehorn them into the measure’s definition of “essential broadband Internet access projects” as evidence, but that language is borrowed almost verbatim from existing California law defines broadband Internet access as a “mass-market retail service” provided to customers. (Gov. Code § 53167(a)) Simply put, broadband Internet access is a service provided to customers, not a facility that merely uses or relies on the Internet. The fact that a data center — or any other facility — uses Internet access doesn’t make it a broadband Internet access provider any more than a hospital becomes an electric utility because it uses the power grid.

Rachelle Chong, a former Commissioner of both the Federal Communications Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission, reviewed the measure and concluded unequivocally that “Proposition 45 does not cover a conventional data center merely because the data center is connected to, uses, stores information from, or helps support the Internet. That distinction is both technologically sensible and consistent with the language regulators have used for broadband Internet access for more than fifteen years.”

Her conclusion is shared by the Data Center Coalition, the industry’s own trade group, and by other outside experts who have reviewed the measure and definitively concluded data centers are not included.

  • “Industrial Warehouses” are NOT included in Prop 45: No on 45’s claims about industrial development are just as misleading. Industrial warehouses are not among Prop 45’s eight categories of essential projects, and the measure expressly excludes heavy industrial, extractive, port, refinery and hazardous-materials uses. Section 21028(y)(2) of Prop 45 clearly states: “nonresidential uses shall not include any heavy industrial, extractive, port, refinery, or hazardous materials uses or designations.”

“Prop 45 opponents are lying to voters, plain and simple,” said Amelia Matier of the Yes on 45 campaign. “They know Californians are fed up with an unaffordable status quo that makes it too slow and too expensive to build the basics, driving up our cost of living. Instead of defending years of costly delays, they’re resorting to scare tactics about projects that aren’t even included in Prop 45. The measure is right there in black and white: Prop 45 streamlines essential projects like housing, water, clean energy, hospitals, schools and wildfire prevention so we can build faster, lower costs and improve our quality of life.”

Prop 45 streamlines approvals for housing, water infrastructure, clean energy, transportation, hospitals and health care facilities, schools, broadband, and wildfire prevention. It sets clear, enforceable timelines and greater accountability so California can build faster and more affordably while maintaining strong environmental, labor, and tribal cultural resource protections and preserving local decision-making.

California’s affordability crisis is tied directly to how long and how much it costs to build essential projects. Years of unnecessary delays drive up the cost of housing, energy, water, transportation and other essentials, costs ultimately passed on to families, ratepayers and taxpayers. Experts estimate Prop 45 could cut costly delays by 2 to 10+ years, lowering costs, getting critical projects built sooner, and improving quality of life for Californians.

BACKGROUND: Prop 45, the Building an Affordable California Act, modernizes California’s project approval and permitting process for essential projects — including housing, water infrastructure, clean energy, transportation infrastructure, hospitals and health care facilities, schools, broadband, and wildfire prevention projects — by establishing clear timelines, improving accountability, and reducing unnecessary delays, while preserving strong environmental, labor, and tribal cultural resource protections. Prop 45 is supported by a broad and growing coalition of 160+ organizations, including affordable housing advocates, civil rights leaders, clean energy builders, water providers, agricultural groups, and business organizations statewide. Learn more at YESonProp45.com 

See videos about Prop 45 by the League of Women Voters of Marin and Sonoma Counties and about CEQA by the Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego.

Richmond Mayoral Candidate Debate Sept. 21

By 2 Comments

It’s Councilwoman Claudia Jimenez vs. Ahmad Anderson in the November run-off

By Allen D. Payton

The League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County is holding a Richmond Mayoral Candidate Debate “A Community Conversation” between Richmond Councilwoman Claudia Jimenez and Ahmad Anderson on Monday, Sept. 21st in the Richmond Council Chambers.

Jiminez placed first and Anderson placed second, beating incumbent Mayor Martinez in June. Source: Contra Costa Elections

Richmond’s current mayor, Eduardo Martinez, placed third in the June 2nd primary behind Jimenez, the District 6 councilmember, who placed first, and Anderson who placed second. They top two are now competing in the November General Election run-off.

The Richmond City Council elections were also held in June, and all three incumbents were re-elected, Cesar Zepeda who run unopposed in District 2, Doria Robinson in District 3 with 68.94% of the vote, and Soheila Bana in District 4 with 67.74% of the vote. Jiminez is not up for re-election this year and if elected mayor will have to step down from her seat and either her replacement will be appointed by the other council members or another, special election will be held to fill it for the remaining two years of the term.

District 6 Richmond Councilwoman Claudia Jiminez. Photo source: campaign

About Jiminez

According to her bio on the City’s website, Jiminez, whose campaign claims she will be, “The Next Progressive Mayor of Richmond,” is “a trained architect who has worked to design and build affordable housing and watershed management projects in Colombia. She received her Master’s degree in Environmental Planning from U.C. Berkeley. She lives in District 6 of Richmond with her husband and two children.”

She says she’s “Rooted in Colombia, Growing in Richmond” and claims, “More than one-third of Richmond residents were born in another country. Claudia Jimenéz is an immigrant who has chosen to make Richmond her home.”

According to her LinkedIn Profile, since June 2015 Jiminez has worked as a Consultant to The California Endowment, “a private, statewide foundation dedicated to improving health and racial equity across California,” to “Strengthen the infrastructure to support women of color in political leadership positions.”

Her endorsements include a variety of organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America East Bay and another Democratic group, two fellow Richmond council members, the Richmond Firefighters, the Contra Costa Labor Council and other unions.

Ahmad Anderson. Photo source: campaign

About Anderson

According to his campaign website, Anderson, who offers “A Vision for One Richmond,” says he’s “Rooted in Richmond” because he was born and raised in the city. Anderson is a longtime community volunteer for over 40 years and city committee member, and former vice president of the Richmond NAACP, whose father and mother both served as mayor of Richmond. On his Facebook page Anderson shows two other campaign slogans, including one on a button that reads, “A Voice for You” and another on a shirt which reads, “For a Safer Richmond.” His campaign also has an Instagram account.

Anderson “has worked as a Human Resources Director at an international company that employs 380,000 people,” the National Pacifica Foundation, and is also a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and attended Columbia University’s Teachers College from 1996-2003.

According to his LinkedIn profile, since Aug. 2020, Anderson has been the Founder and Managing Partner of Designing Effective Organizations. Previously, he worked as Vice President for Human Resources at Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay from Dec. 2010 to Nov. 2013; as Senior Human Resources Business Partner for the U.S. Western Region of DHL Express from May 2014 to Sept. 2018; as Senior Human Resources Business Partner in the Northern California Operations Sales Division of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits from Nov. 2018 to Jul 2020; as Director, People & Culture for SFJAZZ from June 2021 to Aug. 2022; and as Director, People & Culture for Gardens of Golden Gate Park from Aug. 2022 until Apr. 2026.

Anderson has endorsements from most of the Democratic leaders and organizations covering the county, including the California Democratic Party, Contra Costa Democratic Party and the West County Democratic Club, as well as the other three Richmond council members, three former Richmond mayors (not including his parents), DA Diana Becton, plus, the Richmond Police Officers, Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council and other unions.

Neither candidate offers their phone number or email address to contact them, only online forms on their websites, and Jiminez’s city council email address, Claudia_Jimenez@ci.richmond.ca.us.

The debate can also be viewed on KCRT TV on Comcast cable Channel 28.

Pleasant Hill City Council Candidate Forum Sept. 23

By Leave a Comment

Hear directly from the candidates.

By Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce

The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2026 City Council Candidate Forum on Wednesday, September 23 at 6 PM at Pleasant Hill City Hall.

Candidates will participate in a moderated forum, with questions submitted by the community, including current Mayor and District 3 incumbent Zac Shess and challenger Jason Seto, and Councilmember At Large Sue Noack and challenger Dr. Quy Tran running in District 4.  Noack was elected in 2022 before the City switched to district elections in 2023 and which took effect in the November 2024 General Election.

  • Pleasant Hill City Council Chamber inside City Hall at 100 Gregory Lane
  • Doors open around 5:40 PM | Forum begins at 6 PM
  • The forum will also be available on the City of Pleasant Hill’s YouTube channel.

Have a question for the candidates? Submit it in advance to candidateforum@pleasanthillchamber.com.

Join us, September 23 and hear directly from those seeking to serve on our City Council.

Presented by the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Get the Nuts and Bolts of Voting Safety and Security during Sept. 24 webinar

By Leave a Comment

By Gail Murray, League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley

How secure are our elections? On September 24 at 2:00 p.m., join a Community Conversations informative webinar exploring the safeguards that protect our voting systems and ensure every eligible vote is counted accurately.

Panelists will describe election security, ballot protection, and the processes that help maintain public confidence in our democracy. Whether you’re a new voter or a longtime election volunteer, you’ll leave with a better understanding of how safe and secure our elections really are.

Panelists:

  • Kristin Connelly, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters

Reelected in June; focus is on voter access, election transparency and battling election misinformation.

  • Helen Hutchison, past president of the League of Women Voters of California

Serving at the state League, worked on initiative and referendum reform, ballot measures and redistricting.

Register here to join: https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a849254bf1aec09082b6699

Information on how to access the Zoom webinar will be sent to your email address 24 hours before the program.

The webinar will have simultaneous Spanish interpretation and the Contra Costa County Library will provide closed captioning. This program will be recorded and uploaded to the Library’s YouTube and the LWVDV YouTube channels after the event. For special accommodations, please contact the Library with 72 hours’ notice.

Sponsors include the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, the League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Library and Contra Costa TV.

Contact programs@lwvdv.org for more information.

DUI Checkpoint in Brentwood Friday, Sept. 18

By Leave a Comment

Photo source: Brentwood PD

First-time offenders face average of $13,500 in fines & penalties, and a suspended license

By Brentwood Police Department

The Brentwood Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint on Friday, September 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in Downtown Brentwood.

Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Brentwood PD reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or “operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Discussion on how much power the president should have Sept. 17

By Leave a Comment

Source: League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley

Hear from U.S. Constitutional scholars on Constitution Day in-person or online

By Gail Murray, League of Women Voters Diablo Valley

On Constitution Day, September 17, two eminent U.S. Constitutional scholars will discuss the challenges of maintaining effective presidential leadership while preventing abuse of power. Their conversation will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.at St. Mary’s College in Moraga in the Claeys Room of the Soda Center and will be available simultaneously on Zoom.

Speakers will be:

  • Vikram Amar, the Daniel J. Dykstra Distinguished Professor of Law at UC Davis Law School. Amar is one of the most eminent and frequently cited authorities in constitutional law.
  • Dan Farber, the Sho Sato Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Edley Center on Law & Democracy at UC Berkeley Law School. Farber is the author of Contested Ground: How to Understand the Limits on Presidential Power.

Recent public debates have renewed longstanding constitutional questions about the proper scope of executive power. The speakers will engage in a discussion about perennial questions:

  • How should we balance the need for effective leadership with the need to prevent abuse of power?
  • Have we achieved that balance?
  • What would the founders think about the powers of the modern presidency?

Professor Barbara McGraw, Director of the Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism and professor of Social Ethics, Law, and Public Life at Saint Mary’s College will moderate the discussion.

Register on Zoom here:

https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a848feabe14820029882727

Professor Steve Woolpert of St. Mary’s College, an organizer of the event, is available for interviews. Contact woolpert@stmarys-ca.edu He can speak about this panel and other activities around the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and the Declaration of Independence.

The Contra Costa County Library will provide closed captioning for this event, and the Library and the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley (LWVDV) are underwriting simultaneous Spanish translation. This program will be recorded and uploaded to the Library and LWVDV YouTube channels after the event.

For more information, contact Diane Bianchi of the LWVDV at programs@lwvdv.org

Sponsors of the event are St. Mary’s College, The Disney Forum, the League of Women Voters Diablo Valley, the League of Women Voters West Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Library and CCTV.

 

San Ramon City Council incumbents each face one challenger in November election

By Leave a Comment

In the San Ramon City Council District 2 race incumbent Councilman Richard Adler faces Chirag Kathrani and in the race for Council District 4 incumbent and current Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio faces Jeffrey Joh. Campaign photos.

By Allen D. Payton

The incumbents facing re-election this year for San Ramon city council will run again and face opponents. Two other candidates have filed to run, one in each of the two council districts, in the November 3, 2026 Municipal Election.

In Council District 2 election incumbent Richard J. Adler faces Chirag Kathrani and in the race for Council District 4 incumbent and current Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio faces Jeffrey Joh.

District 2 Race

According to his bio on the City’s website, Adler has been a San Ramon resident since 1997. He worked for State Farm Insurance for 30 years primarily in the Auto Claims and Litigation unit.

Adler has been married to Melinda McDonald since 1981 and they have two sons, Matthew and Cameron who attended Neil Armstrong Elementary School, Pine Valley Middle School and Cal High.

He is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science in 1975 and earned a J.D. degree from Peninsula University College of Law, now Lincoln Law School in San Jose in 1985.

According to his LinkedIn profile, since May 2008 Adler has served as a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement in San Jose.

His ballot designation is Appointed Incumbent and in Adler’s candidate statement he wrote, “My top priority is to ensure the public safety of our growing and diverse community.” He is “also committed to ensuring our residents have access to mental health resources and support services that promote the well-being of our community members, especially to our children who are exposed to negative social media influence.”

Adler’s other issue is “providing the city services that our residents expect by maintaining our 63 beautiful parks, trails, community centers, libraries, recreational centers, and art and cultural programs.”

His campaign Facebook page so far only has a photo of the councilman, the phone number he has listed has one too many digits and Adler’s campaign website, https://adlerforsanramon.com currently shows his logo and just the message, “Coming Soon.”  For more information email him at rickeagle@comcast.com.

Challenger Kathrani’s ballot designation is Founder / Entrepreneur. According to his candidate statement, Kathrani ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2024 in which he received 11,000 votes or 31%, and has since then, he founded and has written articles for OpGov.news, 57 as an author and two as a co-author, about city council and school board meetings and matters and also founded OpGov.ai, which links to the same website.

In the June primary election, he ran unsuccessfully as an independent for State Assembly in the 16th District, placing a distant third out of three candidates with 3.68% of the vote.

According to his LinkedIn profile, since January he has been a full-time Community Organizer for the State of California. A self-described serial entrepreneur, Kathrani has been the self-employed President of Mangalm LLC since Feb. 2022 which works “with brands to expand in (the) United States and Canada with complete visibility of their overseas operational activities from marketing, product availability and competitors’ strategy.” He has also been the CEO of Enterprise Mobility, Inc., a software Development and consulting company, in San Ramon since August 2013.

In 2021, Kathrani founded Lead For Earth, described as a non-profit dedicated to environmental sustainability and youth empowerment.

He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computers from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 1997.

On his campaign website, Kathrani writes several slogans including, “It’s time for Change, Checks and Balances are fundamental part of American democracy, San Ramon Council needs Checks and Balances. Your voice shouldn’t be shut, period, and Community First – Dedicated to listening and acting on behalf of District 2.”

His “Platform Priorities – My commitment to the residents of District 2 include, Your Voice Value, Restore Open Space Protection, Traffic Mitigation, Revive Local Economy and Responsive Representation. His “Key Priorities – Focused solutions for the challenges that matter most to our community” are Energy Costs & AI Industry, Small Business Protection, Democracy & Transparency, Affordable Housing & Integration, Plastic Reduction, Public Transportation and Appeal Fee Reform.

District 4 Race

According to her bio on the City’s website, Rubio served as Director and Vice President of the Dublin San Ramon Services District prior to winning her election for San Ramon City Council District 4 on November 8, 2022. She is running for a second term after having run unsuccessfully for State Senate against Tim Grayson in 2024.

Rubio earned a B.A. degree from the U.C. Berkeley with a major in Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology emphasis. She also has a certificate in Spanish and Trauma and Resilience Training and three Associate Degrees in German, French, and Italian.

She has a daughter who is attending college.

Rubio’s ballot designation is Councilwoman / In-Home Provider and her candidate statement says during her four years on the council she has served on 19 “regional, six city advisory, three council and three city foundation committees.” Rubio also points out she’s the only woman on the council and is a “trained scientist, former educator, and longtime environmental, disability, labor, small business and foster care advocate.” She also lists her accomplishments and ends with, “While much has been accomplished, work remains to ensure that San Ramon continues to be a safe, vibrant, and innovated model city with a strong economy.”

She includes her campaign website, www.marisolforsanramon.com, but it is not currently working but Rubio can be followed on her Facebook page.

Challenger Joh’s ballot designation is Technology Strategist. In his candidate statement the challenger writes, San Ramon has been his “home since childhood…and growing up here and attending local schools gave him a deep commitment to the community.”

He has worked in technology start-ups and while attending U.C. Berkeley, where he earned a B.A. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology in 2015, Joh served on the City of Berkeley Transportation Commission. According to his LinkedIn profile, he describes himself as, “Web3 hacker, investor, and community builder” and “Fixing science in my spare time.” His most recent job was as an Investment Manager with tokentus investment AG in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany from 2021-22.

He lists his priorities as, “First, balancing growth with preservation; Second, protecting local schools;. Third, making government fair and accessible; and Fourth, creating a connected community.”

Joh’s statement ends with “Jeffrey offers independent leadership free from special interest influence. With deep local roots and a global mindset, he will work every day to keep San Ramon vibrant and prosperous.”

On his campaign website Joh describes himself as “San Ramon-raised. Globally experienced. Community-First.” He offers, “Practical leadership for a thriving local economy, well-kept neighborhoods, and the everyday services that make San Ramon feel like home.”

Joh offers five priorities which he describes as “A practical local agenda for managed growth, strong families, responsive government, reliable infrastructure, and a civic life that brings neighbors together.” They are “Balancing Growth with Preservation, Investing in Youth & Families, Fair & Accessible Government, Infrastructure & Fiscal Discipline, and Culture & Local Vibrance”

For more information email Joh at sanramon@jeffreyjoh.com.

In race for San Ramon mayor incumbent faces two challengers

By Leave a Comment

Mayor Mark Armstrong (center) faces challengers Emma Chigbu (left) and Paschalis Ntatsos in the 2026 election. Sources: City of San Ramon and campaigns.

19-year-old runs to be “the youngest mayor in California history.”

By Allen D. Payton

The incumbent facing re-election this year for San Ramon mayor will run again for another two-year term and face two opponents in the November 3, 2026 Municipal Election. Mayor Mark H. Armstrong is being challenged by 19-year-old student Emma Chigbu and local non-profit organization leader and swim coach Paschalis Ntatsos.

Armstrong Again

According to his bio on the City’s website, Armstrong was initially appointed to the City Council following the 2020 election and elected to his second term in 2022, then elected Mayor in 2024. A California and San Francisco Bay Area native, he has been a resident of San Ramon since 2004.

Armstrong is a Retired Colonel, having served for 30 years as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer in a variety of Army, multi-service, and interagency command and staff assignments in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Caribbean.

He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Armstrong later worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX based in Oakland in a variety of response and recovery senior leadership positions including as a Presidentially-appointed Federal Coordinating Officer Cadre.

He has received numerous military awards and decorations including the U.S. Army MacArthur Leadership Award and was also selected as the Military Emergency Manager of the Year by the International Association of Emergency Managers.

Locally, Armstrong has participated in numerous volunteer and speaking activities in San Ramon and the surrounding area. An Eagle Scout himself, he served as an adult leader and Assistant Scoutmaster as his sons progressed through Scouting to earn their Eagle Scout rank.

Armstrong and his wife Brenda have four children who are all graduates of California High School.

His priorities as a councilmember have included Public Safety, Protection (of) Neighborhoods and Open Space, Fiscal Responsibility and Quality of Life.

According to Armstrong’s Candidate Statement, he says, “I support policies that strengthen public safety, preserve our parks and open spaces, support local businesses, and ensure that new development is accompanied by appropriate infrastructure and city services.”

On his campaign website, he shares his platform writing, “As your mayor I will prioritize: Public Safety, Protecting our Neighborhoods and Preserving Open Spaces, Quality of Life (and) Fiscal Accountability.” Armstrong “supports ensuring our Police Department is fully funded, well-trained, and properly equipped” as well as “the city’s plan to focus new housing in the City Center and transit areas.” He is “committed to maintaining…63 parks, miles of trails, community centers, libraries, recreational facilities, and vibrant arts and cultural programs…and ensuring city programs, parks, and facilities continue to serve our growing and diverse community.” Finally, Armstrong says he is “committed to responsible budgeting, long-term planning, and protecting taxpayer dollars.”

Challenger Chigbu

According to her candidate filing documents, Chigbu’s ballot designation is “Student”, and she marked the box that reads, “I do not wish to file a Candidate Statement.” But on her campaign website, Chigbu shared some information about her background writing, “San Ramon has always been my home. When my parents first immigrated from Nigeria to California, they knew San Ramon would be the city that would give their children a strong quality of life. I’ve benefitted first-hand from our exceptional schools, beautiful parks and open spaces, and safe community.

“As a young professional still living in San Ramon, I have witnessed how young families are struggling to live in our beautiful city. City council is not representative of the younger residents of San Ramon. I feel it is my duty to give back to the city that made me who I am. Young families and professionals should have the same opportunities to live here that my family was blessed to have.”

Chigbu’s platform posted on her campaign’s Instagram account includes: preventing overdevelopment, fiscal stability, community engagement and wildfire prevention.

Another Instagram post reads, “Kind of chic to help elect California’s youngest mayor” and written on her website includes the message, “help elect the youngest mayor in California history.” Nowhere on her website or social media does it show Chigbu’s age, what she does for work or her educational information. However, according to fastpeoplesearch.com, she is 19 years old.

San Ramon City Hall. Photo: City of San Ramon

New Ntatsos

Paschalis Ntatsos lists his ballot designation as a Nonprofit Director / CEO and his Candidate Statement shows he moved to San Ramon in 2009. His platform includes a balanced budget, a connected community with “a responsible, accountable and transparent City Hall”, wellness for children and households, and smart, local economic growth and says, “We must keep San Ramon affordable, safe, and financially sound.”

On his campaign website Ntatsos says he “was born and raised in Greece” and offers more of why he’s running writing, “streamlining City Hall and cutting waste…balance a budget…fix our infrastructure, keep our streets safe, and protect the multicultural character.” His Five Priorities are listed as, Put Residents First, Smarter Budgets, Invest in Our Youth, Local Business & New Investment and Support for Our Seniors. His campaign slogan is “People over politics. Accountable to you.”

Ntatsos also shares, “I’m proud of what I’ve built in our sports community and in business.”

According to his LinkedIn profile, he is Founder and CEO of EliteSwim, DBA ElitSwim in San Ramon since 2013 and since Dec. 2022, Founder and Executive Director of ElitSwim Club a year-round competitive USA Swimming Club, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Ntatsos previously worked as an Age Group Swim Coach for San Ramon Valley Aquatics.

He also served in the Greek Navy, was a member of the Greek National team as a 23-year swimmer and has several honors and awards including: National Record Holder of Greece – 100m Free, 200m Free, Seniors (1996-1999); Gold Medalist in 200m Free, Silver 100m Free, Military World Championship, St. Petersburg, Russia (1995); National Swimmer of the Year, Greece (1996); Olympic Games Torch runner, (1996); and Open Water, Alcatraz Invitational Event, overall 7th place in 2009, and 4th place in 2011 out of 600+ swimmers.

Ntatsos’ education includes a B.A. in Physical Education and Sport Science (BSS) with a major in swimming from the University of Athens, Greece in 1999 and Certified by the American Swimming Coaches Association as a level 5 International Senior coach.

He has also completed three City programs including San Ramon Government 101, and Community / Police and Planning academies.

The election is Tuesday, November 3.