Contra Costa Herald

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

Pleasant Hill City Council Candidate Forum Sept. 23

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Local teacher Isaiah Mateas runs for Oakley Union Elementary School District Board of Education, Area 4

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Isaiah Mateas and campaign art. Source: Mateas campaign

23-year-old “is among the youngest candidates seeking elected office in the region.”

OAKLEY, Calif. — Local educator and lifelong Oakley community member Isaiah Mateas is a candidate for the Oakley Union Elementary School District Board of Education, Area 4, pledging to bring the perspective of a classroom teacher and community advocate to the Board.

Mateas has spent more than nine years working with students in a variety of educational settings, including public schools and juvenile detention programs. Since Aug. 2025, he has been employed as an elementary theatre teacher in Pittsburg Unified School District, where he works with students from pre-school through fifth grade. According to his Linkedin profile, previously Mateas worked as a Staff Supervisor for UCLA Student Affairs full-time from April 2024 to Jan. 2025, Director and Coordinator for UCLA Recreation full-time from June 2023 to July 2024 and from Oct. 2023 to Jan. 2025 he worked part-time as a Visionary Trainer for The Advot Project, which according to the organization’s Facebook page, “prepares youth for success by teaching them communication and relationship skills through the arts.”

Throughout his career, he has focused on creating engaging learning environments, supporting diverse learners and advocating for equitable educational opportunities.

He received a B.A. in Theatre for Directing from UCLA in 2024 with his graduate studies in the Single Subject Credential in 2026 and his M.S. in Education for Curriculum and Instruction at Cal State East Bay in 2027.

“I’ve seen firsthand how the decisions made by a school board directly impact students, teachers, and families,” said Mateas. “I’m running because I want to ensure every student has access to a safe, supportive, and high-quality education while giving educators the tools they need to succeed.”

As the sibling of a student who has received Special Education services within Oakley Union Elementary School District, Mateas says he understands the importance of ensuring every child receives the support they need to thrive. He wants to not only support these populations, but also the teachers and families that help make Oakley shine.

His campaign will focus on four priorities:

  • Expanding student safety and wellness initiatives.
  • Strengthening Special Education programs and outreach to diverse communities.
  • Supporting and retaining high-quality teachers through competitive compensation and professional support.
  • Expanding access to arts education and creative learning opportunities.

At 23 years old, Mateas is among the youngest candidates seeking elected office in the region. He believes that combining fresh perspectives with firsthand classroom experience can help address the evolving needs of today’s students and families.

“Public education is changing rapidly, and our leadership should reflect both experience in today’s classrooms and a genuine commitment to our community,” Mateas said. “I am running to serve, not to build a résumé and to ensure Oakley’s schools continue preparing every child for success.”

The Oakley Union Elementary School District Board of Education election will be held on November 3, 2026.

For more information about Mateas’s campaign email isaiah4ouesd@gmail.com, call (925) 384-0751 or visit campaign Facebook page.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

City of Clayton to hold first of two Town Hall meetings Aug. 26

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Source: City of Clayton

Learn about finances, Landscape and Maintenance District

After council placed one-percent sales tax, landscape maintenance assessment measures on November ballot

By City of Clayton

We have a couple of Town Hall meetings coming soon. On August 26 and October 7 (both are Wednesdays), join us from 6-8 pm to learn more about the City of Clayton’s financial picture and the Landscape and Maintenance District.

In June, the Clayton City Council voted unanimously to place a one percent (1%) local sales tax measure on the November ballot as Measure M.

The language reads, “CITY OF CLAYTON SALES TAX MEASURE. To provide local funding to maintain City of Clayton programs, services, and facilities, including: police services, traffic enforcement and road safety, road and sidewalk improvements, enhance library and recreation opportunities, park maintenance, recruitment and retention of city employees and other city services, shall the City of Clayton levy a 1% sales tax until ended by voters generating approximately $1,000,000 annually, subject to public review, the annual audit and all funds benefitting Clayton?”

On July 7, the Council voted unanimously to also place on the November ballot a renewal of the Landscape and Maintenance District as Measure N. The language reads: “CITYWIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE EXTENSION AND ALTERATION OF RATE OF EXISTING SPECIAL TAX. Shall the measure to fund on-going trail system operations and maintenance, roadway landscaping, open space weed abatement, and related services of the Clayton Community Facility District No. 2007-1 (Citywide Landscape Maintenance) by extending the special tax for ten years and amending its rate and method of apportionment of the special tax to $354.54/year per residential and $354.54/acre per non-residential parcels, for FYs 2027-2037, including annual inflationary adjustments to the special tax rates not to exceed 3% per year, and subject to continued citizen’s committee oversight, be approved?”

In City Manager Kris Loftus’ August Newsletter he wrote, “Like many California communities, Clayton faces rising costs, aging infrastructure, increasing service demands, and limited revenue growth. These challenges require responsible financial decisions and careful stewardship of public resources. Our focus remains on maintaining essential services, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring the City’s long-term financial sustainability.”

To learn more before the meeting, check out the City Manager’s Newsletters on our website – https://www.claytonca.gov/317/City-Manager-Newsletter.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Only one challenger in Martinez council races

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Martinez incumbent District 1 Councilman Jay Howard will face challenger Nakenya Allen in the November election. Photos: City of Martinez and Allen for Council campaign website.

Mayor, one councilmember face no opposition

By City of Martinez

The nomination period for the November 2026 City election has officially closed. The following candidates have qualified:

Mayor: Brianne Zorn (incumbent)

District 1: Jay Howard (incumbent) and Nakenya Allen

District 4: Debbie McKillop (incumbent)

With the Mayor and District 4 seats uncontested, the City Council will discuss election options for these two offices at the next City Council meeting. The Council may either appoint the nominated candidates in lieu of holding an election, or have the election proceed as scheduled, in accordance with California Elections Code Section 10229. Savings associated with appointment rather than an election for these two seats are between $55,000 – $80,000 of City funds. The District 1 race will continue as planned on November 3, 2026, regardless of how the Mayor and District 4 seats are handled.

Community members are encouraged to attend and share feedback at the meeting on Wednesday, August 19th at 7:00 pm.

Martinz Mayor Brianne Zorn and District 4 Councilwoman Debbie McKillip face no opposition for re-election. Photos: City of Martinez

About the Incumbents and Challenger

According to her bio on the City’s website, Zorn is currently serving in her first term as mayor and “was elected to the Martinez City Council as Councilmember for District 3 in November 2020, and as Mayor in November 2022.”

According to her bio, McKillop is currently serving in her third term and “was elected to the Martinez City Council in 2014 and served as Vice Mayor in 2017, 2021, and 2024.”

According to his official bio, Howard is running for re-elect and “was elected Councilmember in November 2022. He is the third generation of his family to be born and raised in the Alhambra Valley. Since 2014, Jay has been the Superintendent for G Swanson Construction. He is very active in the community where he serves as a board member for the Nor Cal Carpenters Regional Council, Union Local 152, Loaves and Fishes, the Historical Society, and serves as a delegate to the Carpenter’s Regional Council (spanning 46 counties). Jay lives in Martinez with his lovely wife and two children. When he has some downtime, he is an avid hiker and enjoys extreme skiing.”

According to her campaign website, Allen says about herself, “I am a longtime Martinez resident, community organizer, proud mother, and dedicated advocate for a safer, more inclusive city. I hold a degree in Veterinary Technology and loved the time I spent working in animal hospitals and shelters, rescuing and rehoming pets. When I became a mother to a son who is medically sensitive with severe special needs, my priorities shifted profoundly. I now focus on his health and well-being, while working to build a community where every resident is valued, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive. In my rare moments of free time, I enjoy practicing Muay Thai and making my own holistic hair products.”

Allen is Vice President and District 5 Ambassador for the Contra Costa County Commission for Women and Girls, a member of the County’s Family and Children’s Trust (FACT) Committee, and a member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) of Contra Costa County.

The election is Nov. 3rd.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Coalition opposing November Bay Area transit tax files lawsuit claiming bias in ballot language, impartial analysis

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Left graphic source: CABAT

Says “the District Board wrote the RTM Ballot Question…in a way that is intentionally confusing or misleading to voters.”

By Allen D. Payton

The Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit (CABAT) organized to oppose the Regional Transit Measure (RTM) on the November ballot filed a lawsuit, Monday, against Election Officials in the five included counties and Kimberly Ward, the Public Transit Revenue Measure District Elections Official. If approved by voters, the tax measure, known as Connect Bay Area Transit, will raise a half-cent in four of the five counties, including Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo and one-cent in San Francisco County for 14 years and raise an estimated $17 billion.

Labeled a VERIFIED PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDATE AND PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION, the lawsuit was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by 10 petitioners including former State Senator Quentin L. Kopp, Gregg A. Diéguez, President of CABAT and Director of Sustainability for SHIFT Bay Area, and Marc Joffe, President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, as well as Brian Holtz, Thomas Rubin and five others listed as individuals and electors in the Public Transit Revenue Measure District.

Kopp is also President of the San Francisco Taxpayers Association; Holtz is President of the Purissima Hills Water District Board of Directors in Santa Clara County and Secretary and Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County; and Rubin is Vice President of the Alameda County Taxpayers Association, Inc.

Attorney Jason Bezis of Lafayette is representing them.

The District was formed to oversee the process for the transit tax measure. (See related article) According to the Fact Sheet for SB 63: Connect Bay Area Act, a separate oversight committee will be formed “to confirm money distribution follows the SB 63 expenditure plan” should the measure pass.

The lawsuit was filed before “the final printing deadline date” of “Friday, August 28, 2026, by which all ballot language and County Voter Information Guides (CVIG) materials must be finalized, including resolving any legal challenges in court.”

Transit Officials Were Warned But Did It Anyway

According to Joffe, “Transit officials cannot claim they were blindsided. On the night of July 23, 2026, the eve of the board’s special meeting, attorney Bezis sent a detailed pre-litigation demand letter urging the board not to approve the question as drafted.  The letter was acknowledged multiple times and the measure was placed on the ballot with the slanted wording anyway.”

Lawsuit cover page. Source: CABAT

Legal Claims

The lawsuit “challenges biased, not neutral, untrue, partial, argumentative, and/or prejudicial wording in the RTM Ballot Question (also called ‘ballot label’ or ‘statement of the measure’) in violation of the Elections Code sections 9051(e) and 13119(c) standards and false and/or misleading wording in the RTM Ballot Question under the Elections Code section 9380/McDonough v. Superior Court (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 1169 (‘McDonough’) standard. This lawsuit also challenges the Impartial Analysis authored by real party in interest DISTRICT Counsel KATHLEEN KANE as false, misleading, and/or not impartial in violation of Elections Code section 9380.”

The petitioners “seek a writ of mandate to compel amendment of the ballot question (also known as ‘ballot label’ or ‘statement of the measure’) and the impartial analysis that Respondents COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICIALS and Ms. WARD are preparing for voter use in the Regional Transit Measure (‘RTM’) election to be held on November 3, 2026.”

Further, the lawsuit claims, “Petitioners assert that the DISTRICT and DISTRICT BOARD wrote the RTM Ballot Question…in a way that is intentionally confusing or misleading to voters.”

Current Ballot Language

The lawsuit explains, “As approved by the PTRMD BOARD at its July 24, 2026 meeting, the RTM Ballot Question (see District Resolution No. 2 Page 7) currently reads:

‘To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit, avoid increased traffic, and reduce pollution by: Preserving BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, other transit for everyone, including workers, students, seniors, persons with disabilities; Supporting transit safety, cleanliness, affordability, reliability; Repairing targeted roads/potholes; Requiring financial transparency, oversight, accountability; shall the measure enacting a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties), and 1% (San Francisco) sales tax for 14 years generating approximately $980,000,000 annually, be adopted?’”

Challenges & Proposed Changes

However, the petitioners claim the adopted ballot language does not comply with state Elections Code and the amount is incorrect and should instead be $1.2 million per year. They claim the statement of the measure is not “a true and impartial synopsis of the purpose of the proposed measure,” is “argumentative” and “likely to create prejudice for or against the measure,” and that the “RTM Ballot question is inherently prejudicial” based on a survey MTC conducted last year. Furthermore, the petitioners “argue that components of the RTM Ballot Question are false and/or misleading.”

They want to make the following changes:

  • Amend the phrase “Preserving BART …” to read “Funding BART …”
  • Delete the phrase “for everyone, including workers, students, seniors, persons with disabilities”.
  • Delete the phrase “To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit”.
  • Alternatively, strike the word “major” in the phrase “To prevent major service cuts …”
  • Delete the phrase “avoid increased traffic”.
  • Delete the phrase “reduce pollution”.
  • Strike the phrase “/potholes”.
  • Amend “Repairing targeted roads” to read “Repaving transit-served roads”.
  • Strike the words “affordability, reliability”.
  • Amend “enacting” to read “imposing”.
  • Amend the phrase “sales tax” to read “sales and use tax”.
  • Strike the word “oversight” in the phrase “Requiring … oversight”.
  • Strike the word “accountability” in the phrase “Requiring … accountability”.
  • Amend “$980,000,000 annually” (September 2025 estimate) to an updated number (an August 2026 estimate) or “$1,200,000,000 annually” (September 2025 estimates, averaged over 14 years).

Alternative Ballot Language

The lawsuit offers the following ballot language alternatives:

“If the Court were to order all of the amendments and corrections suggested by Petitioners supra, the RTM Ballot Question would read:

‘Funding BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, other transit; Supporting transit safety, cleanliness; Repaving transit-serving roads; Requiring financial transparency; shall the measure imposing a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties) and 1% (San Francisco) sales and use tax for 14 years generating approximately $1,200,000,000 annually, be adopted?’”

The lawsuit further reads, “If the Court were to order all of the amendments and corrections suggested by Petitioners supra, including use of the ‘Shall the measure … be adopted?’ format, the RTM Ballot Question would read:

‘Shall the measure imposing a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties) and 1% (San Francisco) sales and use tax for 14 years generating approximately $1,200,000,000 annually; Funding BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, other transit; Supporting transit safety, cleanliness; Repaving transit-serving roads; Requiring financial transparency; be adopted?’”

The petitioners also claim the “RTM Impartial Analysis is partial, false, and/or misleading” and that it should be written by either the California Attorney General, a county counsel or district attorney instead of Kathleen Kane who is he legal counsel for the District.

“Supporters of the Transit Measure need to use misleading advertising because voters won’t pass the measure if they have the real story that it is a regressive tax falling hardest on seniors and low-income families for 14 years,” Dieguez stated.

“Voters deserve the honest description the law guarantees them, and if the district won’t provide it, a court should,” Joffe added.

See the Public Transit Revenue Measure District’s Legal Counsel RTM Impartial Analysis.

See RTM Ballot Question Lawsuit Aug 17

For more information about CABAT visit Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit.

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.