Category Archives: Benicia City Council

Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye

Bart Sullivan: Kari Birdseye has an incredible track record

…watch Kari in action as the chair of the planning commission, and then look at the results over these last five years.

By Bart Sullivan, October 9, 2022

Bart Sullivan, Benicia CA

After thoroughly looking at the candidates for Benicia City Council, I’d like to focus today on one candidate, Kari Birdseye, and why I believe she would make an excellent city council member.

When voting for a particular candidate, I look to the candidate’s commitment to serving the community, honesty, fairness, and integrity as pillars for who they are, and how they will represent their constituents. While many candidates offer some of these attributes, a great candidate, such as Kari, has all these pillars.

For example, when it comes to commitment to serving the community, Kari has an incredible track record of volunteering and civic engagement such as serving on the Human Services Board and working as president of the PTA. These volunteer activities alone while working full time and raising a family demonstrate Kari’s dedication to serving the community. But Kari did not stop there! Over the last five years I have had the opportunity to marvel at Kari Birdseye’s ability to lead the planning commission while treating members of the commission and community honestly, fairly, and with integrity.

If you have had the opportunity to watch Kari in action as the chair of the planning commission, and then look at the results from the planning commission over these last five year, I think you will find Kari has demonstrated her ability to deftly navigate different inputs from the community, business, and the city, then masterfully work with everyone to find solutions, all while maintaining her commitment to maintain Benicia’s small-town historic charm.

Kari has committed to tackle some of our most complex issues such as diversifying our economic tax base and making sure that we have clean air and clean water. While these issues sound simple enough, they are very complex with competing economic, business, and community interests. Given Kari’s background and track record as a proven problem solver and masterful negotiator, I believe Kari as part of our city council will user her skills and fierce dedication to our community to navigate such complex issues and much more!

Bart Sullivan
Benicia, CA

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

And best of all – Kari’s website!

Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye, Terry Scott

Pat Toth-Smith: Vote for the endorsed Democrats for Benicia City Council

Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council

By Pat Toth-Smith, October 9, 2022

Pat Toth-Smith, Benicia CA

Of the Democratic Party candidates running for the two open seats on Benicia’s City Council this election season, Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye won the endorsement vote of the California Democratic Party by way of the Solano County Democratic Central Committee on August 27.

Note that candidate Lionel Largaespada is a registered Republican and so was not eligible for an endorsement by the Democratic Party.

Both Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye have many innovative ideas which will help Benicia flourish.

Terry Scott views Benicia as an economically vibrant community that preserves its small-town status and place in California history, celebrates inclusivity and diversity, embraces the arts, and demands a high level of safety, including clean air and clean water. Terry’s long employment history includes being an innovative strategist as the Senior Vice President and global head of creative services for Hasbro. He also was a small business owner, which included owning and operating a successful restaurant. More recently he was the chair of the Benicia Arts and Culture Commission. Terry’s extensive work history and proven problem-solving abilities make him uniquely qualified to fulfill the position of City Council member.

Kari Birdseye has for years contributed to our town and its residents. She has a long history of working on the Benicia Planning Commission and was voted by her fellow members to lead the Commission. Kari was an early “no” vote on the Crude by Rail project and her innovative strategies regarding the environment will help Benicia navigate flooding, drought, and other potential effects of climate change. She is a good choice for Benicia.

I encourage you to follow the California Democratic Party’s lead and vote for Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council.

Pat Toth-Smith
Benicia Resident

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

And best of all – Kari’s website!

Benicia City Council, Candidate forums

Benicia City Council Candidates’ Forum on Wednesday, Oct 12

Benicia City Council Candidate Forum
Wednesday, October 12th from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M.
Benicia Senior Citizen’s Center, 187 East L St., Benicia

SOLANO LEAGUE & CO-SPONSORS ANNOUNCE A NON-PARTISAN BENICIA CANDIDATE FORUM

Your Vote/Your Voice: Make an Informed Choice

As part of its mission to provide non-partisan political information, the League of Women Voters of Solano County (LWVSC) and co-sponsors provide forums that allow voters an opportunity to hear candidates, discuss issues face-to-face, and provide candidates an opportunity to answer questions from constituents. All candidates are invited to participate to stimulate public interest in their campaigns. For details please check LWVSolano.org.

The League of Women Voters Solano County (LWVSC) and American Association of University Women (AAUW), sponsors:
Benicia City Council Candidate Forum
Wednesday, October 12th from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M.
Benicia Senior Citizen’s Center, 187 East L St., Benicia

This is an in-person event, a recording will be available a few days after the event on the LWV Solano YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsWzzfO8WOe8GB1HCn6FvQ.

The LWVSC and the AAUW do not support or oppose any political party or candidate.

For more Solano forums check https://my.lwv.org/california/solano-county/ and for unbiased voter and election resources visit: https://my.lwv.org/california/solano-county/voting. For information about the League, its partnerships and programs, contact us at LWVSolano@gmail.com or visit our website at http://lwvsolanocounty.org/

Click to download poster
League of Women Voters Solano County P.O. Box 83 Benicia, CA 94510 LWVSolanoCounty.org
Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye

Mayor Steve Young: Endorsement for Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council

She is, in my opinion, the single most qualified candidate for Council we have seen in the last dozen years.

By Benicia Mayor Steve Young, October 7, 2022

Benicia Mayor Steve Young

I want to issue my strongest possible endorsement for Kari Birdseye in her campaign for Benicia City Council. She is, in my opinion, the single most qualified candidate for Council we have seen in the last dozen years.

I got to know Kari in 2014 when we served together on the Planning Commission. Among the most contentious projects we reviewed and acted upon was Valero’s Crude by Rail project which would have changed how the refinery receives crude oil from tanker ships to train cars. We spent more than two years on that project, and listened to dozens of speakers, both for (including current council member Largaespada) and against (many Benicia residents as well as representatives of other governmental entities including California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ office, CalTrans, and a variety of environmental organizations).

During this time, Kari was studious, thoughtful, and respectful of all sides before finally voting along with the entire Planning Commission to reject the Valero proposal.

Kari ran for City Council once before, in 2018, when the Valero funded PAC (“Working Families for a Strong Benicia; a coalition of Labor, Industrial Services Companies, Public Safety and Local Leaders Supporting Christina Strawbridge and Lionel Largaespada and Opposing Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council”) spent more than $200,000 to defeat her.

These characteristics of independent thought, doing her homework, and respectful listening and consideration of all viewpoints have also marked her role on the Planning Commission, where her colleagues have elected her Chair five times. These are skills needed on the City Council.

She has a long history of service to our community ranging from her leadership in the Matthew Turner PTA and Benicia Stingrays Swim Club, to her appointment to the Benicia Human Services Board before being appointed to the Planning Commission. I appreciate that in our 2022 election, Kari supports measures K and R.

Please join me in voting for Kari Birdseye for City Council.

Steve Young
Benicia Mayor

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

And best of all – Kari’s website!