Tag Archives: Benicia elections

2020 elections, Benicia elections, Benicia Mayor Steve Young, Cannabis, Solano County Registrar of Voters, Terry Scott, Tom Campbell

Benicia election results – winners Steve Young, Tom Campbell, Terry Scott, and the Cannabis Referendum

By Roger Straw, November 4, 2020  [See also: UPDATED details and analysis (Nov. 5).]

Here are Benicia election results as of 8:15 a.m. on November 4, from the Solano County Registrar of Voters website.  This count includes in-person votes from all 10 precincts, and most but not all mail-in ballots.  Considered unofficial, there will be additional mail-in  ballots and provisional ballots, but for practical purposes, these results can be considered conclusive.

Steve Young is our new Mayor, and Terry Scott has squeaked by as the second of two new City Council members.   Congratulations, Steve and Terry!

SOLANO COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

VOTER TURNOUT: 63.3%.  Ballots Cast 163,746.  Registered Voters 258,850.

Candidate Name Total Votes Percentage
7,266 51.93%
4,287 30.64%
2,409 17.22%
Candidate Name Total Votes Percentage
7,245 36.56%
6,269 31.63%
6,177 31.17%
Candidate Name Total Votes Percentage
7,175 51.44%
6,772 48.56%
2020 elections, Benicia elections, Benicia Mayor, Benicia Mayor Steve Young

Benicia election results – Steve Young handily defeats Strawbridge and the Valero PAC

STEVE YOUNG, BENICIA’S NEW MAYOR!

(Ok… Mayor-Elect)
By Roger Straw, November 4, 2020
Benicia Mayor-elect Steve Young

I called it at 10:48pm last night.  It wasn’t even close.  Steve Young is Benicia’s Mayor-elect.

This morning, with all mail-in, early and precinct votes counted, Steve won by a wide margin – 51.9% to 30.6%, a spread of over 21 points!

Benicia voters returned a resounding win for Steve and his campaign workers – and a huge defeat for Valero’s big money effort to buy Benicia’s election.

CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR STEVE YOUNG!!

2020 elections, Benicia elections, Campaign finance, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero PAC

Valero’s pet labor union kicks in another $24,000 on Nov. 2 to help buy Benicia’s next Mayor

Total Independent Expenditure funding for 2020 now at $249,000

By Roger Straw, November 3, 2020

Reporting on forms required by Benicia ordinance, the Valero PAC that is attempting to buy the Benicia Mayor race detailed a new contribution of $24,000 on  November 2.

The new money comes from an independent expenditure committee (PAC) formed by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, forgers & Helpers Local 549.  It is interesting that this ultra-conservative labor group has been convinced to jump in with Valero, which is a non-union corporation.  It’s not the first time – this PAC contributed heavily to Valero’s 2018 smear campaign against Kari Birdseye.

I wonder how many of the Sacramento-based Brotherhood PAC decision-makers live in Benicia or even work at Valero?  I’d guess the decision was made by a small group of highly-paid executives who have rarely if ever set foot in Benicia.  And one might wonder where and who their FUNDING comes from??

Cumulative Valero PAC contributions to date: over $249,000.  (COMPARE: All candidates running for Benicia mayor and Council who pledge to run fair campaigns may not spend over $34,200 on their own campaigns.)

Cumulative Valero PAC spending to date: over $214,000.  (AGAIN COMPARE: All candidates running for Benicia mayor and Council who pledge to run fair campaigns may not spend over $34,200 on their own campaigns.)

REFERENCE: Valero PAC Financial Disclosures – City of Benicia website

Source: from the City of Benicia website, 2020 Campaign Finance Reports

FURTHER REFERENCE: BENICIA MUNICIPAL CODE ORDINANCES ON FAIR ELECTIONS

2020 elections, Benicia elections, Benicia Mayor, Campaign finance, Steve Young, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero PAC

Valero spends another $5,000 for last minute live calls in effort to buy Benicia Mayor race

Total now over $214,000 to buy Benicia’s 2020 Mayor’s race

On Saturday, October 31, The Valero PAC reported another payment of $5,000 to the Washington, D.C. based company Winning Connections for scripted live phone calls to Benicia residents to get out the vote for Valero’s chosen candidate.

The report, filed according to law with the City of Benicia and posted on the City’s website, shows the $5,000 expenditure and a 3-page script.  The script includes proper pronunciation of “Benicia” for the out-of -state callers, (ben-ee-sh-a).

Benicia  residents have largely been outraged and outspoken about the huge influx of outside money from the massive Texas-based corporation and a local labor union that is considered to be in the pocket of it’s primary employer, Valero.

All local candidates have expressed disapproval of Valero’s attempt to influence our election, including the candidate Valero hopes to buy.

Valero’s primary purpose is to defeat current City Council member and Mayoral candidate Steve Young.  Young has been endorsed by the Benicia Independent and many other local individuals and groups.  See SteveYoungForMayor.org.