Contra Costa Herald

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

CA Secretary of State denies Lt. Governor’s request to remove Trump from ballot

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“As California’s chief elections officer…I must place the sanctity of these elections above partisan politics.” – Secretary of State Shirley Weber

Issues list of candidates including the former president

By Allen D. Payton

Sacramento, CA – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. responded on Friday, Dec. 22 to the letter from California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis requesting the removal of former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot. (See related article)

In her letter, Weber reinforced that, because this is an issue of particular concern to the public, she is obligated to address it within legal parameters and in the best interests of all California voters.

“It is incumbent upon my office to ensure that any action undertaken regarding any candidate’s inclusion or omission from our ballots be grounded firmly in the laws and processes in place in California and our Constitution,” she wrote.

“As California’s chief elections officer, I am a steward of free and fair elections and the democratic process. I must place the sanctity of these elections above partisan politics,” Weber continued. “Removing a candidate from the ballot under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment is not something my office takes lightly and is not as simple as the requirement be at least 35 years old to be president.”

“I am guided by my commitment to follow the rule of law,” she added.

While Trump is on the March 5 primary election ballot, Weber concluded her letter with, “My office will continue to assess all our options, including those that may arise as a result of any action taken by the United States Supreme Court or other changing circumstances.”

The full text of her response letter can be found here.

On Thursday, Dec. 28, Weber issued the Certified List of Candidates for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election which included Trump as one of the nine Republicans on the state’s primary ballot. The list also includes eight Democrats, with President Biden at the top of the alphabetical list. Finally, the list of presidential candidates includes three Peace and Freedom party candidates, with Cornel West the most well-known among them, as well as one candidate each from the American Independent Party, Green Party and Libertarian Party.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s name will not appear on the state’s presidential primary ballot. When asked why not, his campaign explained, “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running as an independent candidate for the presidency and therefore will not be participating in any primary elections, including the California March 5 Presidential Primary. As an Independent, he will be working towards securing a place on the ballot for the general election in November 2024 by collecting the necessary signatures and meeting state requirements.”

CA Lt. Governor calls for Secretary of State to explore legal options to remove Trump from ballot 

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The state’s presidential primary is on March 5, 2024

By Allen D. Payton

Today, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis sent a letter to Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber, urging her to explore legal options to remove former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot following the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63). The Colorado Supreme Court held that Trump’s role in inciting the actions at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, disqualifies him from standing for presidential election under section three of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Lt. Governor claims the riot at the U.S. Capitol was an insurrection. However, as reported elsewhere, the former president has not been convicted of insurrection nor inciting one.

Copy of Lt. Gov . Kounalakis’ letter to Secretary of State Weber dated Dec. 20, 2023.

Kounalakis’ letter reads:

Dear Secretary Weber,

Based on the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63), I urge you to explore every legal option to remove former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.

I am prompted by the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s ballot as a Presidential Candidate due to his role in inciting an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy.

Specifically, the Colorado Supreme Court held in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63) that Trump’s insurrection disqualifies him under section three of the Fourteenth Amendment to stand for presidential re-election. Because the candidate is ineligible, the court ruled, it would be a “wrongful act” for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate on that state’s presidential primary ballot. Furthermore, Colorado’s Supreme Court cites conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch to make their case, saying the following, “As then-Judge Gorsuch recognized in Hassan, it is ‘a state’s legitimate interest in protecting the integrity and practical functioning of the political process’ that ‘permits it to exclude from the ballot candidates who are constitutionally prohibited from assuming office.’”

California must stand on the right side of history. California is obligated to determine if Trump is ineligible for the California ballot for the same reasons described in Anderson. The Colorado decision can be the basis for a similar decision here in our state. The constitution is clear: you must be 35 years old and not be an insurrectionist.

There will be the inevitable political punditry about a decision to remove Trump from the ballot, but this is not a matter of political gamesmanship. This is a dire matter that puts at stake the sanctity of our constitution and our democracy.

Time is of the essence as your announcement of the certified list of candidates for the March 5, 2024, primary election is coming up next week, on December 28, 2023.

Thank you for all your work to make our state’s elections a shining example across the country and world and for your time and consideration on this urgent matter.

————-

However, Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, said on Wednesday, she expects the Colorado state Supreme Court’s ruling will be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Grayson earns key endorsements in State Senate District 9 race

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Source: X (formerly Twitter)

Announces support from Planned Parenthood of Northern California, California Labor Federation, State Controller Malia Cohen, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and California Federation of Teachers in a growing list of state and local endorsers

The Christian minister won’t say why he would want the pro-abortion organization’s endorsement

Assemblyman Tim Grayson has announced new key endorsements from a wide array of organizations and elected officials from across the state in support of his campaign for State Senate District 9 which includes most of Contra Costa and portions of Alameda counties. His latest endorsers include Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund, California Labor Federation, State Controller Malia Cohen, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and California Federation of Teachers.

“In the Assembly, I’ve tried to work hard, be collaborative and never stop fighting for working people. I’m committed to continuing to create good paying jobs, standing behind our first responders and protecting women’s rights. I’m proud that so many organizations have acknowledged our work by signing on to support our campaign to keep up this fight in the State Senate,” said Assemblymember Grayson.

As previously reported, Grayson is a bi-vocational pastor of Lifepoint Church formerly, Calvary Apostolic Church, in Concord. In an email on Dec. 8, he was asked why, as a Christian minister, he would want the endorsement of the pro-abortion Planned Parenthood.

Then, in a December 18, 2023 post on X (formerly Twitter) he wrote, “Proud to have earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund in my campaign for State Senate.”

Grayson was asked again via email and X the same question. But neither the candidate nor anyone from his campaign responded.

A complete endorsement list is available at www.graysonforca.com/endorsements

Grayson currently represents more than half a million Contra Costa County residents in the California State Assembly. A small business owner and the former Mayor of Concord, Tim is focused on fighting for quality jobs and economic security for working families, addressing California’s housing crisis, and taking on predatory lenders and financial fraudsters across our state. Tim was the first in his family to earn a college degree. His father was a Teamster and his mother was a public transit worker. Tim has been a licensed general building contractor for nearly 30 years and operates his own small business. He is the Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee. Tim and his wife Tammy have been married for 35 years and have raised two adult children in Concord, CA.

Complete Endorsement List: 

Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund

California Labor Federation

State Building and Construction Trades Council of California

State Controller Malia Cohen

State Treasurer Fiona Ma

California Federation of Teachers

CAL FIRE Local 2881

California Association of Highway Patrolmen

Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council

Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County

Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association

Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104

Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 300

Housing Action Coalition

The Honorable Bob Hertzberg (former Speaker, Majority Leader and State Senator)

State Senator Bill Dodd

State Senator Melissa Hurtado

Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas

Assemblymember Evan Low

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris

Assemblymember Sharon Quirk Silva

Assemblymember Blanca Rubio

Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua

Assemblymember Jim Wood

Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes

Assemblymember Matt Haney

Assemblymember Chris Holden

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin

Assemblymember Laura Friedman

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Women’s Caucus Vice Chair

Assemblymember Mia Bonta

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks

Assemblymember Diane Papan

Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco

Contra Costa Supervisor Ken Carlson, District 4

Contra Costa Supervisor Diane Burgis, District 3

Contra Costa Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District 5

Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, District 1

Contra Costa Supervisor Candace Andersen, District 2

Pleasant Hill Vice Mayor Matt Rin

Pleasant Hill Councilmember Sue Noack

El Cerrito Councilmember Gabe Quinto

Sheet Metal Workers Local 104

Grayson faces fellow Democrat San Ramon Councilwoman Marisol Rubio in the March 5 primary election. With only two candidates in the race, they will face off again in the November general election.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Concord Realtor announces campaign for State Assembly

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Source: Ledo for Assembly campaign

Running to replace Tim Grayson, Sonia Ledo is the sole Republican in the race against three Democrats

Sonia Ledo, a resident of Concord and Realtor, has announced her candidacy for the California State Assembly. She aims to bring an improved quality of life for all residents of District 15.

“I’m excited to take this important step in seeking to represent much of Contra Costa County in the California State Assembly,” said Ledo. “I believe my professional and personal experiences give me a unique understanding of the needs of the district and the challenges we face. I will work to develop common sense solutions to improve the quality of life for not only Contra Costa residents, but all Californians.”

Through her professional experience in mortgage lending and real estate, Ledo has helped many first-time buyers purchase their dream homes utilizing various down payment assistance programs. Personally, she has raised four sons in the public education system in Contra Costa, including autistic twins who require special needs assistance.

The bi-lingual candidate who is fluent in Spanish and a first-generation American, has also volunteered locally over the years by coaching Challenger baseball for special needs players, sorting food at the Food Bank, feeding the needy on Christmas morning, and directly assisting families through personal donations. Ledo served as treasurer for the Women’s Council of Realtors Contra Costa and is also a longtime member of the One Hundred Club organization that supports families of fallen firefighters and police officers.

According to her webpage on the Compass, Inc. real estate website, she has been a licensed California Realtor® since 1991 and earned a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from JFK University and is a certified paralegal. In her free time, Ledo enjoys hiking the Contra Costa trails with her dog.

This blend of professional and personal experience has given her a deep understanding of the challenges faced in our communities by small businesses, families, seniors, disabled, people in crisis, and those with special needs.

If elected to the State Assembly, Ledo promises to work hard to bring fairness, transparency and a strong work ethic to Sacramento. Her priorities would include public safety, education, improved mental health services, increasing housing supply, and serving as a good steward of taxpayer money when faced with tough decisions regarding the looming state budget deficit of $68 billion.

Regarding housing, Ledo emphasizes that, “Building more housing alone won’t solve the issues of housing affordability. The underlying reasons for the high cost of housing must be addressed. We also need to better serve individuals with disabilities, mental health issues, and homelessness as a collaborative state effort.”

Assembly District 15 map. Source: Office of Assemblyman Tim Grayson

The seat being vacated by Assemblymember Tim Grayson includes all or parts of the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg and Pleasant Hill and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County including Bay Point, Crockett and Pacheco.

The only Republican in the race, Ledo is looking forward to the March 5th primary elections and will be ready on day one to begin with a strong commitment to working with all bay area and California elected leaders for the well-being of our communities, region and state.

She faces Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson, Contra Costa School Board Trustee Anamaria Avila Farias and former county Supervisor Karen Mitchoff in the primary. The top two vote-getters will continue on to face off in the general election in November.

For more information about Ledo’s campaign visit www.sonialedo.com.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Oakley woman runs for Congress “Putting People First”

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Katherine Piccinini challenges Mark DeSaulnier in District 10

Katherine Piccinnini

Katherine Piccinini, a long time Oakley resident, has successfully filed to run for Congress in District 10. As a mother of four and grandmother of five, she previously ran in 2022 as a write-in candidate for this position when contacted by some in the 11th hour to run. Piccinini secured 1,638 votes in a 20-day campaign—a record for Congressional Republican write-in votes since 2012, enough to get her name on the General election ballot.

Over the past four years, she has served as the President of East Contra Costa Republican Women and President and a founding member of Eastern Contra Costa Republican Assembly. Additionally, she has been a Central Committee Member for Contra Costa and Alameda Counties and a GOP Delegate.

Remaining true to her commitment to truth and transparency, Piccinini, coming from a law enforcement family, pledges to prioritize the protection of police, fire, and military. Her main concerns include the safety and security of children, families, parental rights, and borders. She criticizes the educational system as “indoctrination, not education,” and her motto is “Putting the People First.”

Passionate about the nation’s direction, she fears losing America if it continues down the path it is going and is determined to do her best to prevent this. Piccinini emphasizes there needs to be accountability and transparency to the citizens, expressing a lack of belief in current leaders following through on this.

Her agenda focuses on the needs of the people of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, with a dedication to representing their interests in Washington.

She believes we deserve clean air, pure water, safe food, freedom of speech and balanced budgets for citizens. She vows to stand for freedom, truth, and the flag.  She will not stand for tyranny, injustice, and lawlessness. With corruption at the highest levels in government and political parties, she invites others to join her in reclaiming the freedoms that are being taken from them and securing a future and hope for their children and grandchildren.

As a community advocate, Piccinini asserts that putting the people first involves prioritizing infants, children, law enforcement, workers, veterans and farmers. She advocates for rewriting laws to address those that perpetrate their crimes on society, businesses and the gender mutilation of children.

Katherine Piccinini pledges to be your voice in Congress, ensuring your trust to carry forth your message to Washington D.C.  She is interested in hearing from you and what your issues are.

Piccinini believes that together we can stand as communities dedicated to Putting People First.

Please contact Katherine Piccinini and share these thoughts with her. For more information visit piccinini4congress.com.

March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary: Notice to No Party Preference Voters

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No Party Preference (Nonpartisan, independent) voters, are receiving the No Party Preference “Cross-Over” Notice and Application in the mail. No Party Preference (NPP) voters are voters who are registered without a qualified political party and will be allowed to vote on one of three party ballots:  American Independent Party, Democratic Party, or Libertarian Party. The cross-over notice will list options to participate in the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election.

The March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary includes a partisan presidential contest, in which parties will vote to nominate their candidate to run in the November 2024 General Election. In addition to the partisan presidential contest, each ballot, regardless of voter’s party, will also include U.S. Senate, Congressional, state legislative, and local contests that are open to all voters. The Registrars of Voters from the Bay Area Elections Coalition issue a joint message: “While it is important to take action to vote each election, it is particularly important during a Presidential Primary. All voters should take action and check their voter information (address and party) before the election. In addition, No Party Preference voters, or those who are registered without a qualified political party, will also have to act to either cross-over to a party ballot, re-register if the party does not allow cross-over voting, or decide to vote the nonpartisan ballot without a presidential contest.”

This will be the first election in California in which party or No Party Preference ballots will be sent to every registered voter. Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration status to ensure the party affiliation or nonpartisan status so that they will receive the correct party ballot when Vote by Mail ballots are sent out on February 5th. Voters can do so by going to https://registertovote.ca.gov/ and clicking on “check your registration status.”

No Party Preference voters have options to participate in the presidential primary:

Option 1. Request a cross-over ballot for one of the following: American Independent Party, Democratic Party, or Libertarian Party. These parties allow NPP voters to cross-over without changing their party.

Option 2. Re-register with a political party if you want to vote on the presidential contest for the Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party, or Republican Party. These parties do not accept cross-over voters.

Option 3. Take no action. The ballot you receive will not include a presidential contest but will include all other applicable contests.

For more information, contact the Contra Costa County Registrar’s office at (925) 335-7800.

Federal Glover announces he won’t run for seventh term on Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

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Endorses Pittsburg councilwoman to replace him; filing period extended until Wednesday, Dec. 13

Contra Costa County District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover. Official photo

Supervisor Federal Glover has announced that he will not seek reelection in 2024, thus ending six consecutive terms as the District 5 supervisor. During his tenure, Supervisor Glover has been a tireless advocate for the people of Contra Costa County, working to improve the lives of residents in District 5 and beyond.

Supervisor Glover’s accomplishments are many and varied. Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, he served as a council member for the City of Pittsburg. During his tenure as a council member, and while serving as mayor of Pittsburg, Supervisor Glover led the council in its opening and dedication of its current municipal building for public service.

In 2000, Supervisor Glover began his tenure as a supervisor holding the distinction of being the only African American and only person of color to have been elected to and serve on the County’s Board of Supervisors since the County’s incorporation in 1850 as one of the first 27 counties when California gained statehood. Today, he remains the only African American to have served on the Board in the County’s 173 years.

In recognition of his leadership, Supervisor Glover was elected by his peers as chairman of the Board in 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2017. Over the years, he has also served as chair of the Public Protection Committee, Equity Committee, Los Medanos Healthcare Operations Committee, Sustainability Committee, Northern Waterfront Ad Hoc Committee, Industrial Safety Ordinance/Community Warning System Ad Hoc Committee, and on several joint/regional committees and commissions including, but not limited to, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Local Agency Formation Commission, Tri-Delta Transit Authority, Delta Diablo Sanitation District, Costa Health Plan Joint Conference Committee, and Medical Services Joint Conference Committee.

He has been a strong supporter of the urban limit line, which aims to rein in suburban sprawl and preserve open space. He has also been a champion of transportation initiatives, securing over $1 billion in funding for improvements to highways and public transit in the region.

In addition to his work on these important issues, Supervisor Glover has been a passionate advocate for youth-related services. He initiated County youth conferences which give young people a chance to air their views to community leaders and get valuable information about careers and education. He also convened our area’s first Youth Summit and Gang Task Force, both aimed at supporting youth and providing good role models, so they don’t join gangs.

In April 2015, Supervisor Federal Glover had a life-altering surgical procedure performed where he received a new heart and a new kidney. In spite of this, he continued to serve on the board of supervisors throughout his period of illness and subsequent recovery.

Source: Facebook

Earlier this week, Glover endorsed Pittsburg Councilwoman Shanelle Scales-Preston to replace him. In a Dec. 6 post on her campaign Facebook page, she touted the endorsement with a quote from Glover which reads, “She’s the candidate that gets things done.” Scales-Preston also wrote “I can’t wait to follow in the path of Supervisor Federal Glover and hit the ground running to GET THINGS DONE as Supervisor. Thank you, Federal, for your support.”

Supervisor Glover’s leadership will be missed, but his legacy will live on in the many lives he touched during his time in office. His retirement from the Board will come at the end of the current term in December 2024. And during the last year of his term, he will serve as chair of the board again. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

So far, Scales-Preston will face Pittsburg Vice Mayor Jelani Killings and Antioch Councilman Mike Barbanica in the March primary election. Because Glover is not running again, the filing period that would have ended Friday at 5:00 p.m. has been extended five days until next Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

ACA 1 going to voters in 2024 will make it easier to pass local special taxes, bonds if approved

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Source: MTC. Credit: Edmond Dantès photo via Pexels

Expected to boost Bay Area housing bond; Cal Chamber opposes; requires majority of voters to approve

By Allen D. Payton

MTC/ABAG-backed Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1, which would lower the vote threshold for local special taxes and bonds to fund affordable housing, transportation, resilience and other public infrastructure projects from two-thirds to 55%, will go to voters in November 2024.

The state Legislature in September approved sending the amendment, authored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, to voters with the backing of the entire Bay Area legislative delegation. MTC and ABAG sent letters of support to Sacramento and MTC/ABAG legislative staff actively lobbied the bill to help get it over the finish line.

Similar bills have been proposed over the past two decades but until now none were approved by the house of origin, a hurdle that itself requires a two-thirds vote. Other supporters included Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, Enterprise Community Partners, the California Professional Firefighters, and individual cities and counties.

The Bay Area is preparing to place a regional housing bond on the November 2024 ballot, with 80% of funds flowing to counties and several large cities and 20% designated for regionwide programs administered by the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA).

“While Bay Area voters have a long history of generously supporting taxes to fund transportation and housing improvements, measures in some parts of the region have repeatedly fallen short of the two-thirds margin,” MTC-ABAG Executive Director Andrew Fremier noted.  “ACA 1 would reinstate the ability of voting majorities to address vital community needs.”

The election of ACA 1 co-author Robert Rivas to the Assembly speakership helped build momentum for the proposed amendment, as did the nonprofit housing community’s raising of $10 million to gather signatures for a citizen’s initiative if the legislature didn’t approve the amendment.

California Chamber of Commerce Opposes

The constitutional amendment is opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce. In a report by policy advocate Preston Young before it passed, he claims ACA1 would increase costs for key sectors, will erode taxpayer safeguards and would harm California workers.

Preston wrote, “This would provide increased tax authority for many local government agencies in California—not just cities and counties, but thousands of potentially overlapping special districts.

In a letter sent to legislators recently, the CalChamber pointed out that while it’s important to improve infrastructure and increase housing availability, higher property, sales and parcel taxes on working Californians run counter to the goal of making the state more affordable for all.

Businesses engaged in manufacturing, research and development, teleproduction and post-production, and agriculture face a significant sales and use tax burden in California.

The sales and use tax is supposed to be a tax on the final point of sale of a product, yet many businesses—including businesses conducting research and development, manufacturing, filming activities, and agriculture—are taxed for equipment purchases.

Taxation of business inputs for these industries leads to a pyramiding effect throughout the production process, leading to higher costs for purchases made by consumers, the CalChamber explained in its letter. To counter this pyramiding effect and incentivize business growth in the state, California offers a partial state-level sales tax exemption for purchases made by these industries. However, purchases made by these businesses are still subject to local transactions and use taxes.

Equipment purchases represent a significant portion of capital investment for existing businesses and start-ups. Tax increases promoted by ACA 1 would defeat the purpose of the state-level exemption provided by the state and make it more cost-prohibitive to conduct these business activities in California, the CalChamber warned.

ACA 1 would allow local jurisdictions to approve Bradley-Burns sales tax increases with a 55% vote of the electorate, eliminating the uniformity and certainty provided by the Bradley-Burns sales tax.

This would represent a monumental change to sales and use tax policy in the state, the CalChamber said. Unlike the transactions and use tax—which is capped at 2% per county and requires statutory authority to exceed the cap—the local 1.25% sales tax (referred to as the Bradley-Burns sales tax) is uniformly applied across the state and voters are not authorized to approve increases to the rate.

“California already has the highest state-imposed sales tax in the country, and the combined sales tax rates in some jurisdictions are among the highest in the United States,” the CalChamber said. “Allowing localities to modify their Bradley-Burns sales tax rates, without a cap on rate increases, paves the way for excessive combined sales tax rates in parts of the state—increasing costs for residents and businesses.”

More than four decades ago, prompted by years of rising taxes, Californians resoundingly approved Proposition 13 to provide a check on local governments’ taxing authority, and to ensure a greater representative voice for those who would be taxed. Proposition 13 also limits taxes on property to 1% of the property’s assessed value.

Reducing the vote threshold would diminish the people’s voice on tax increases and would erode property tax safeguards. The CalChamber pointed out that a May 2022 Public Policy Institute of California poll found that 64% of registered voters believe Proposition 13 has benefitted taxpayers, and this support reaches across nearly every major demographic.

After comparing the costs of operating in California versus other states, many employers left the state in recent years. A Hoover Institution report found that from 2018 to 2022, at least 352 companies relocated their headquarters out of California—with many businesses citing the state’s tax burden as the deciding factor in their relocation.

The relocation of these companies and their employees to lower-cost states has a major impact on state and local tax revenue, causes unemployment for workers who cannot move to the new location, and is a sign that California must find ways to be more competitive, the CalChamber stressed.

“Tax increases such as those promoted in ACA 1 would be a step in the wrong direction and would encourage more companies to move workers and investments to other states,” the CalChamber said.

Indeed, Californians are sensitive to this problem. A 2020 Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll found that 78% of voters “agreed that taxes in California were already so high that they were driving many people and businesses out of the state.”

Majority Vote Needed to Pass

According to a report by the California Globe,  Article XVIII, Section 4 of the California Constitution, “requires a proposed amendment or revision to be submitted to the electors and, if approved by a majority of votes, takes effect on the fifth day after the Secretary of State files the statement of the vote for the election at which the measure is voted on, but the measure may provide that it becomes operative after its effective date.”

Former Contra Costa Supervisor enters race for Assembly

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Source: Mitchoff for Assembly

State Senator Glazer might also run

By Allen D. Payton

With the opening of the filing period for the March 4, 2024 primary election on Monday, Nov. 13, this week, former Contra Costa Supervisor Karen Mitchoff confirmed she is running for State Assembly District 15. Earlier this year a letter emailed to supporters that shared her intentions was obtained and published by other media. At that time, Mitchoff said she her campaign would be sending out a formal announcement later.

“Since it was out there, we decided not to send out a press release announcing my campaign,” she said in a brief interview with the Herald. “So, I’m definitely running.”

According to her campaign website, “Karen Mitchoff was elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors in 2010 and has twice been re-elected by substantial margins.

Karen has a long and varied career in public service and is known for her straightforward style and effective constituent service.  In her 12 years on the Board of Supervisors, Karen worked to improve water quality and save the Delta, championed aging issues, improved public safety, expanded access to County healthcare, and fought for transportation improvements.

As Supervisor, Karen served in leadership positions on regional bodies:  the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, the Delta Counties Coalition, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and the Association of Bay Area Governments.

Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, Karen served as Councilmember and Mayor of Pleasant Hill and was elected to the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District Board.

Karen began her career in the private sector as a Legal Secretary and Family Law Paralegal.  She transitioned to public service, working for former Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner Richard K. Rainey, as Chief of Staff to two former supervisors and as a fiscal and administrative analyst in the County’s social services department.

An avid reader, one of Karen’s proudest achievements was negotiating a complex land deal between the County and the City of Pleasant Hill to help finance and build a new library, which opened last year.”

According to her LinkedIn account, in 2002 Mitchoff earned a BA degree in Human Development from Cal State East Bay.

District 15 includes all of the following cities: Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill and a portion of Walnut Creek. It also includes the communities of Bay Point, Clyde, Crockett, Pacheco, Port Costa, and Vine Hill.

She will face Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson and Contra Costa Board of Education Trustee Anamarie Avila Farias in the March 2024 primary election.

But Mitchoff shared that State Senator Steve Glazer might also enter the race as he has two more years of eligibility under term limits.

On Friday, Glazer said he mentioned it on one of his recent podcasts. Regarding his State Senate seat he said, “I’m in a grey area with term limits. The previous law said if you served less than half a term, then it doesn’t count. But the new law is silent on the matter. I made the decision to not be the test case. There might be candidates who might not file if I did, and I could the case.”

“Under the term limits I could run for the Assembly. I’m currently in my ninth year of twelve and I could serve one more term in the Assembly,” Glazer explained. “I have not decided, yet. Filing closes on December 13.”

To learn more about Mitchoff and her campaign visit www.karenmitchoff.com

 

 

Contra Costa Education Board Trustee enters Assembly race

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Source: Avila Farias campaign.

By Allen D. Payton

On October 30, Contra Costa County Board of Education Trustee and former Martinez Councilwoman Anamarie Avila Farias announced on social media her campaign for State Assembly for the seat currently held by Tim Grayson, who is running for State Senate.

She wrote: “I’m incredibly honored to share that I’m running for California State Assembly District 15. My lifelong commitment to public service has been a true privilege, and now, upon reflecting on my journey during Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating another trip around the sun, I’m eager to give back even more.

I’m passionate about fighting for policies that uplift those who need it most, ensuring equal opportunity for all. Our community deserves strong leadership ready to tackle the biggest challenges our district has, and I’m ready to be that voice.

But I can’t do it alone.

I understand that the challenges you face are real, and they are urgent. I know that your dreams and aspirations for your families are just as important as anyone else’s. That’s why I’m asking you to join me to make sure I get to Sacramento, where I can fight for the changes our communities desperately need. I’m excited to announce that I’ve already gained the endorsement of the California Teachers Association, a testament to my commitment to education. CTA represents 300K teachers that stand with me! But to keep this momentum going, I need your support to make this vision a reality. Together, we can bring positive and necessary change to Assembly District 15.

Join me in this journey towards a brighter, more equitable future. Let’s work hand in hand to make our community even better. Every donation and every supporter brings us one step closer to our goals. Together, we can make a difference.

Donate today and let’s build a brighter tomorrow –> https://secure.actblue.com/…/avila-farias-for-state…

!Adelante con Anamarie!”

According to Avila Farias’ campaign website, “In 2012, she was the first Latina to be elected to the Martinez City Council, and in 2020 she was elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Education where she serves as one of only two Latinas elected to a state or county position in Contra Costa. She also chaired and served on the Martinez Planning Commission for nearly a decade and served on the Parks & Recreation and Marina Commission for 5-years.

In 2015, Anamarie was appointed by former Governor Brown to the Board of Directors of the California Housing Finance Agency” and re-appointed by Governor Newsom in 2021.

According to a Feb. 2021 press release by CalHFA, Avila Farias “has been Operations Director at Juvenile Hall Auxiliary of Contra Costa County since 2019. She held multiple positions at the Housing Authority of Contra Costa County from 1989 to 2018, including Housing Policy and Program Analyst and Central Waiting List Housing Manager. She was a City Councilmember for the City of Martinez from 2012 to 2016. Avila Farias was Program Manager of the Community Development Block Grant at the City of Concord from 2013 to 2014. She was Senior Management Analyst at Oakland Housing Authority in 2007. Avila Farias was Senior Community Development Specialist for the City and County of San Francisco at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development from 1998 to 2007. She was Housing Program and Healthcare Policy Facilitator at the Contra Costa County Public Health Services Department from 1997 to 1998. Avila Farias earned a Master of Science degree in Information Systems Management from the University of San Francisco.”

In 2016, she ran unsuccessfully for District 5 County Supervisor against incumbent Federal Glover.

The married mother of two currently represents Area 3 on the county Board of Education which includes Bay Point, Clyde, Crockett, Hercules, Martinez, Pacheco, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Port Costa, Rodeo and parts of El Sobrante.

District 15 includes the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, a portion of Walnut Creek and the unincorporated communities of Bay Point and Pacheco.

She will face Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson and former Supervisor Karen Mitchoff in the March primary election. Filing closes Dec. 13.

For more information about her background and campaign visit www.anamarie4assembly.com.