Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye

Elizabeth Patterson: Kari Birdseye is the most qualified candidate for City Council

 I cannot think of anyone more suited to the job.

By Elizabeth Patterson, October 2, 2022

Elizabeth Patterson, Benicia Mayor 2007-2020

It is with great pleasure and honor that I throw my full political support behind Kari Birdseye – candidate for Benicia city council election this November.

Kari Birdseye is a native Californian who treasures Benicia, the place we call home, for its history and its small town qualities as part of the Bay Area of water, open space, and an unmatched environment. She is a Californian who went east to learn and practice the trade of television news broadcasting. She learned to listen and ask questions and follow up questions. Coming back to California was to further her interest and career in the environment and raise her children in Benicia.

Kari dedicated herself to supporting our schools and set a record for fundraising at Matthew Turner Elementary. She is able to help her parents and grandparents in her busy life of job, children and school interests. She walks Olive her boxer dog and values our trails and open space.

I had the opportunity to appoint her to the Planning Commission where she has served as chair for five years. I like to watch her for pointers on how to engage the commissioners, pursue a line of questioning of staff and shepherd decisions to conclusion.

Her loyalty to her community is unfailing.

Now she wants to serve our fair city as a council member. I for one cannot think of anyone more suited to the job.

Elections are only a month away, and you deserve a say in who runs our city. Voting for Kari Birdseye is a vote for a person who I consider the most qualified candidate to run for city council and I support her with unqualified enthusiasm.

Elizabeth Patterson
Benicia Mayor 2007-2020

More letters, news & links about Kari here on the BenIndy

And best of all – Kari’s website!

Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye

Bob Berman: Not just words but actions

Kari is dedicated to making Benicia better

By Bob Berman, September 25, 2022

Bob Berman, Benicia CA

I support Kari Birdseye for the Benicia City Council.

In my opinion Kari is dedicated to making Benicia better. This has been shown not just by Kari’s words but by her actions.

As a Benicia planning commissioner, and more recently as its chairperson, Kari has sought public input on the various issues that come to the commission. But she does not just solicit input she carefully listens to what is said and considers the information before deciding on the project the commission is considering.

In considering the public input, and all the other factors that go into her decision making, first and foremost is – what is best for Benicia

Kari will not only bring new ideas and fresh leadership to the City Council, but she will make sure that public input is not only sought but fully considered before making a decision.

In addition, Kari supports Measure K – the renewal of the City’s Urban Growth Boundary.

Join me in voting for Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council.

Bob Berman
Benicia

More letters, news & links about Kari here on the BenIndy

And best of all – Kari’s website!

Kari Birdseye For Benicia City Council 2022
https://karibirdseyeforbenicia.com
Benicia elections, Valero PAC

Benicians for Clean Elections

Join the movement to oppose Valero’s big money effort to control the Benicia City Council

By Roger Straw, September 29, 2022

Smoke from the Valero Benicia refinery during a 2017 incident. Photo: Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

I’ve added my name to a growing group of Benicia residents who are asking Valero to play fair in our elections Benicians For Clean Elections.  Their website is packed with information, and you can get involved here.

Background

For too long, the Texas-based Valero Energy Corporation has used the “Working Families” VALERO PAC to spend massive amounts of money, and often used unfair campaign tactics, to get its preferred City Council and mayoral candidates elected. The PAC has refused to sign on to Benicia’s voluntary campaign pledge that limits how much it can spend and that require certain standards of honesty, decency and fairness in political ads, calls and mailers.  Go to BeniciansforCleanElections.org for more information.

We’ve had enough of Valero’s toxic tactics and are taking a stand. Join us by adding your name, getting a yard sign, volunteering, and more at beniciansforcleanelections.org.

Benicians for Clean Elections
https://www.beniciansforcleanelections.org/

See also: 

Valero’s 2018-2022 Big-Money Effort to Control Benicia City Council, The Benicia Independent, Sept 28, 2022

Benicia elections, Valero PAC

Valero’s 2018-2022 Big-Money Effort to Control Benicia City Council

Check out the numbers – The Valero PAC spent nearly a half-million dollars in 2018-2020 – what’s next for this year?

By Roger Straw, September 28, 2022

Roger Straw, The Benicia Independent

The Valero Political Action Committee (“Working Families” PAC) has amassed nearly a quarter-million dollars this year to influence Benicia’s November election.  A new report, due on September 29 and likely to be made public sometime next week, will surely add to the $232,387 the PAC reported earlier this year.

The new report will also give some ideas as to how the Big Oil and Valero-based labor groups are spending their fortune this year. Stay tuned.

The Valero PAC’s August 1 financial disclosure form shows cash of over a quarter-million dollars to influence Benicia elections.

A friend asked me how much the PAC spent to buy seats on Benicia’s City Council in our 2018 and 2020 elections, so I went back over the City of Benicia’s archive of mandatory campaign finance reports.

As you read these massive Big Oil numbers, keep in mind that individual real-live Benicia candidates for election – our neighbors and community leaders – have all signed onto the City’s voluntary spending limit of $34,790.

2018 – the Valero PAC spent $192,347
2020 – the Valero PAC spent $253,878
2022 – the Valero PAC has on hand $232,387
Total in these 3 small town elections $678,612

I think this stinks.  A Texas corporation has no business exercising a vise grip and invasive control over its host village.

As of today, it’s too soon to know if and how Valero will spend its campaign cash.  We can be sure they will back the same candidates they backed in 2018 and 2020: Christina Strawbridge and Lionel Largaespada. Whether the PAC has learned to play nice is still a question. Either way, it is simply not right that they stick their noses into our local election.

I have endorsed and spent time and finances this summer and fall supporting the following candidates – I hope you will, too!

Roger Straw
Benicia

See also:

Join the movement to oppose Valero’s big money effort to control the Benicia City Council, The Benicia Independent, Sept 29, 2022

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