Category Archives: Christina Gilpin-Hayes

Benicia Mayor Steve Young, Christina Gilpin-Hayes, Solano County CA, Solano County Orderly Growth Committee, Solano Sierra Club

Solano County Orderly Growth Committee and Sierra Club Endorse Young, Gilpin-Hayes, and Other Local Candidates

Solano County Orderly Growth Committee and Sierra Club Endorse Local Candidates

Steve Young, Incumbent Mayoral Candidate
Christina Gilpin-Hayes, Benicia City Council Candidate

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Marilyn Farley and and Princess Washington for the Solano County Orderly Growth Committee and Solano Group of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club, on October 2, 2024

The Solano County Orderly Growth Committee (SCOGC) and the Solano Group of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club recently completed a joint endorsement process and are now recommending candidates for Mayor and Council positions in Solano’s Cities.

For Mayor, we endorse Steve Young, running for re-election as Mayor of Benicia and Steve Bird, running for re-election as Mayor of Dixon. We also endorse for Edwin Okamura, a sitting council member, for Mayor of Rio Vista, and Andrea Sorce, a newcomer to electoral politics, for Mayor of Vallejo.

For City Council, we endorse: Christina Gilpin-Hayes, Benicia; Mike Silva, a Vacaville incumbent from District 3; and Vallejo candidates incumbent Christina Arriola (District 6), Alexander Matias (District 1), and Tonia Lediju (District 3, no opposition).

Since 1984, SCOGC has advocated for protecting our farmlands and open spaces in Solano County. Sierra Club is one of the pre-eminent environmental groups in America and has many Solano members. Both were leaders in the fight against the California Forever aka East Solano Plan.

We support candidates who we believe will act positively to protect the environment and best represent their constituents.

Benicia Mayor Steve Young brings strong environmental credentials to his re-election bid. As a planning commissioner, he led the review of Valero’s Crude by Rail project. He opposed the California Forever project citing the deceptive tactics used and their reliance on groundwater. He supports growth in our cities, not on farmland and open space. He will continue his efforts to improve air quality in Benicia. He supports passage of Measures F, G and H to ensure Benicia’s financial well-being.

In terms of environmental issues, Dixon Mayor Steve Bird told us he will protect Dixon’s water and open space. He said he believes in keeping northeastern Solano County from blending into neighboring cities by protecting agriculture and farmland. He also supports more parks and outdoor recreation spaces within his community and region.

Rio Vista Mayor candidate Edwin Okamura became Vice Mayor earlier this year and serves on the Solano Land Trust Climate Committee. Regarding California Forever, he told us, “A new city in unincorporated areas would be economically devastating to surrounding cities and would have significant environmental impacts.”

Vallejo Mayor candidate Andrea Sorce will bring new insights and energy to Vallejo. While her key campaign issues are fiscal responsibility, public safety, economic development, housing justice and open government, we believe she will approach them through an environmental lens. For example, she opposes California Forever and told us she has a strong preference to see investment and development in our existing cities.

Benicia Council candidate Christina Gilpin-Hayes has an impressive resume, endorsements, and record of community service to bring to her campaign. It addresses Benicia’s budget crisis, growth that preserves Benicia’s character, support for local businesses and encouraging transparency and community involvement. We liked her overall philosophy and approach to avoiding sprawl and her support for Benicia’s Industrial Safety Ordinance.

Vacaville incumbent Councilmember Mike Silva deserves our continued support. His Council votes have supported clean energy, water conservation, and infill development. He told us, “I plan to provide the leadership to ensure we continue to focus on sustainable growth.” We also applaud is untiring advocacy for his low-income neighborhood and a new neighborhood park.

In Vallejo, likewise, incumbent Tina (Christinia) Arriola has done a yeowoman job of representing her low-income district 6. She opposes proposed tolls on highway 37, the commute for many of her low-income constituents. She also wants a long-term solution to the Mare Island Preserve and opposes “…dictates from the Mare Island Co. which hasn’t provided any good faith efforts to show their commitment to open space, recreation and local participation.”

Vallejo district 1 candidate Alex Matias has a long record of community service as the Chair of the Vallejo Economic Vitality Commission and is on the board of Fresh Air Vallejo. We liked his advocacy on issues important to Vallejoans, including the hiring of police officers and public safety, solving homelessness, creating jobs, and supporting transparent and inclusive government.

Last, but not least, we endorse powerhouse Tonia Lediju for district 3. A 15-year Vallejo resident, she was the City of San Francisco’s chief auditor and brought in by Mayor London Breed to clean up a failing housing authority. For the past five years, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of the S.F. Housing Authority. As a council member, she plans to focus on safety issues for Vallejoans, affordable, equitable and inclusive housing, a bustling downtown, and economic opportunity for residents. We were impressed by her commitment to sustainable development and her support for city-centered growth. Like many other endorsed candidates, she opposes the California Forever project.

Princess Washington, Chair, Solano Group, Sierra Club, Suisun City
Marilyn Farley, Political Director, SCOGC, Fairfield

Images and emphasis added by BenIndy.

Benicia City Council, Benicia elections, Christina Gilpin-Hayes, LGBTQ+

Christina Gilpin-Hayes vies to be first out Benicia council member

Christina Gilpin-Hayes. | Campaign photo.

Bay Area Reporter, by Matthew S. Bajko, September 25, 2024

In the Solano County city of Benicia, Christina Gilpin-Hayes is vying to become its first known LGBTQ city councilmember. She is one of four candidates running for two council seats on the November 5 ballot.

It would be just the latest civic role she has taken on since moving to Benicia in 2021 from Oakland with her wife, Donna. The couple, who identify as both lesbian and queer, founded the Benicia LGBTQIA Network in 2022 to foster connections and host gatherings for the local LGBTQ community.

Gilpin-Hayes, 54, co-administers the local Buy Nothing Benicia group, aimed at reducing waste and helping its more than 1,300 members share resources with a “give where you live” motto. This month, she was given a mayoral appointment to the planning commission for the city of roughly 27,000 people.

Christina Gilpin-Hayes. | Campaign photo.

“Politics was never my goal. I always have been politically active, but I never planned on running for office. That was never my life’s goal,” said Gilpin-Hayes, a former paralegal who now works remotely as the operations manager of the Innovations Department at international law firm Wilson Sonsini.

Growing up she was a fan of the political drama “The West Wing” and, in her early 20s, was often on the local news being interviewed as the spokesperson for the Sacramento Area Coalition for Reproductive Rights. She also helped voters having issues casting ballots as part of the Legal Election Protection team for Democratic former U.S. senators John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008.

“It was a fun way to volunteer,” recalled Gilpin-Hayes. “A lot of times only lawyers volunteer for those teams, but you don’t have to be a lawyer. It just helped I had some legal background.”

She decided to enter her town’s council race this year when it appeared only two people would be running for the two seats on the ballot. It didn’t feel right that there wouldn’t be a contested race, Gilpin-Hayes told the Bay Area Reporter during a phone interview about her candidacy.

“I don’t feel people should win an election because no one else is willing to challenge them,” said Gilpin-Hayes, who received encouragement from her neighbors to pull papers. “As far as I know, I am the first out candidate and definitely, if elected, will be the first out queer person on council or even in any city government position, as far as I know.”

City Councilmember Trevor Macenski is running for a second four-year term, while former councilmember Lionel Largaespada is vying for a seat after losing reelection in 2022. Also on the ballot is Franz Rosenthal, a former engineer with the Valero Energy Corporation who now works for Genentech.

Retiring Benicia Council Member Tom Campbell has endorsed Gilpin-Hayes for City Council, along with Mayor Steve Young, Vice Mayor Terry Scott, and Council Member Kari Birdseye. | City of Benicia.

Councilmember Tom Campbell is stepping down after first winning election in 1999. He has endorsed Gilpin-Hayes, as have Councilmembers Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye, and Benicia Mayor Steve Young, who is running for reelection this fall.

Gay former West Sacramento mayor Christopher Cabaldon also endorsed Gilpin-Hayes in the council race and is backing Young in the mayoral race. He is expected to be elected November 5 to represent the sprawling state Senate District 3, which includes Benicia.

“Christina is a very fresh candidate who is focused on the basics in the city,” said Cabaldon, who would be the first out legislator to represent Solano County. “We got to fix the roads and get the city’s fiscal house strong. That’s exactly what Benicia needs right now.”

He told the B.A.R. he first met Gilpin-Hayes over the summer at a community event and was immediately impressed by her and the impact she has been able to make in her new hometown in such a short period of time. With her candidacy having the potential to bring much needed LGBTQ elected representation to her city and to Solano County, Cabaldon said he decided to support her council bid, something he hasn’t done for every city council contest in the legislative district this year.

“Even though she is a transplant that is true for a lot of Benicians,” said Cabaldon, who described Gilpin-Hayes as having “the utmost integrity and character.”

He added, “She also brings a sharp mind and a humility around her; she doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but she knows how to get them.”

State Senate District 3 Candidate and former West Sacramento mayor Chris Cabaldon has endorsed Gilpin-Hayes.  | Sacramento State / Andrea Price.

Gilpin-Hayes was born in Baltimore, Maryland and moved at age 3 with her family to Citrus Heights, California, outside of Sacramento. She first met her wife in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania roughly two decades ago.

She had moved there in 1998 after landing a job and two years later enrolled in Duquesne University, graduating in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in business communication and organizational behavior. She relocated to Chicago and then to Oakland in 2007.

Seven years ago, she reconnected with Donna, an operations supervisor at FedEx, and they began a long-distance relationship. Their marriage on Leap Day in 2020 was featured in Pittsburgh Magazine.

With their home in Oakland a bit small for two people, not to mention the rescue dogs Gilpin-Hayes fosters via West Coast Boxer Rescue, the women looked at buying a bigger place a bit farther away where they could afford to purchase a home with more square footage. By chance they happened to see a home for sale in Benicia, and although outbid for it, they fell in love with the town and its artsy downtown.

“We looked at this house and drove around downtown. Benicia is an adorable Hallmark town,” noted Gilpin-Hayes.

They ended up buying a split-level house built in the 1970s with French doors and enough yard space to add chickens to their brood.

“It is super cute, and we love it here,” said Gilpin-Hayes, who has fostered more than 100 dogs and, after having lost this summer her nearly 12-year-old Gemma, who was deaf and blind in one eye, is holding off on getting a new dog until after the election.

She began following the City Council meetings and getting to know her neighbors. She also saw how local politics were influenced by Valero, as it operates the Benicia Refinery and financially supports the campaigns of its preferred council candidates.

“My stated position is they are our neighbor and contribute a large amount to our tax base here. Could they be better neighbors? Of course. Could we do a better job communicating to them? Yes,” said Gilpin-Hayes. “The current mayor has done a good job on that, and I want to expand on that.”

Her sense is there is a desire to elect new leadership to the council and is optimistic about winning a seat.

“I do feel there is an opportunity here for a new voice and a fresh perspective. I feel the community is open to that,” said Gilpin-Hayes. “We are having some budget issues here in Benicia, and I do feel the community is looking for something different.”

It would mean a very brief tenure for her being a Benicia planning commissioner.

“If I win the election, I will have to resign. If I don’t win then I will be on the planning commission. Either way I am going to be involved in city politics,” noted Gilpin-Hayes. “But I am hoping I win and get to resign.”

To learn more about Gilpin-Hayes’s candidacy, visit her campaign website at christinaforbenicia.com.

[Note from BenIndy: The BenIndy added photos to this article to improve readability. Only the top feature image is original to the original article.]

Benicia City Council, Benicia elections, Christina Gilpin-Hayes

Vice Mayor Terry Scott: Vote for Christina Gilpin-Hayes and build a brighter future for Benicia!

Christina Gilpin-Hayes, endorsed candidate for Benicia City Council. | Photo supplied by campaign.

By Vice Mayor Terry Scott, September 10, 2024

Benicia Vice Mayor Terry Scott.

I am very pleased to endorse Christina Gilpin-Hayes for Benicia City Council.

Christina has the skills to be a dedicated, tough, articulate, and highly committed new voice on our City Council.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Christina several times. During these in-depth conversations, she has expressed her overall vision and long-term goals for Benicia.

I believe Christina possesses:

Character: The ability to take the moral and right path, even when it is strewn with hazards and obstacles. Christina has great personal strength and strong moral character, enabling her to make the right decisions on many of the complex issues we face as a city and as City Council members.

Conviction: The determination to continue the fight to meet objectives despite the odds, by taking a path that may be unpopular but is in the best interest of the entire community. Christina is a person of strong conviction, an advocate for diversity, and will dedicate herself to the common good.

Leadership: The capability to provide a new perspective to problem-solving and lead the council and community through consensus-building and educating the community as we create new opportunities.

Financial Understanding: The city has taken significant steps forward to solve the financial cliff we face. Christina has the experience and training in financial management and exhibits a strong understanding of how finances work. She recognizes that we must work towards a balanced budget while ensuring the quality of life in our community is maintained.

Clearly, Christina, in her business and personal life, has exhibited leadership skills that will add to the depth and understanding of how the Council will manage Benicia’s future.

I have seen how Christina understands how government works, recognizes the roadblocks that need to be overcome, and embraces opportunities, facing the future with excitement and passion.

I appreciate her ability to read the handwriting on the wall and:

    • Interpret it differently,
    • Think differently,
    • Act with resolve,
    • And look after the best interests of all Benicians.

That is why I strongly support and enthusiastically endorse Christina for City Council.

Together, let’s support a leader who will bring fresh, new perspectives and unwavering dedication to our community.

Vote for Christina and continue to build a brighter future for Benicia!

Terry Scott
Vice Mayor
City of Benicia

2024 General Election, Christina Gilpin-Hayes, Endorsements, Trevor Macenski

Stephen Golub Interviews Council Candidate Christina Gilpin-Hayes (Pt. 2): “I really love Benicia.”

[BenIndy: This post was first published in the Benicia Herald (to subscribe to the Herald, scroll to the end to find instructions). You can find more from Steve not only on the BenIndy but also at A Promised Land: America as a Developing Country, where he blogs about domestic and international politics and policy, including lessons that the United States can learn from other nations. If interested, you may sign up for future posts by subscribing to the blog.]

 

By Stephen Golub, originally published in the August 25, 2024 Benicia Herald

Benicia resident and author Stephen Golub, A Promised Land

I recently interviewed Christina Gilpin-Hayes, who’s running for Benicia City Council. Part One of the interview, published last Sunday, focused on her background, life, work and engagement with community service. Today, Part Two addresses why she’s seeking office and her priorities and aims if elected.

More information on Christina can be found at her campaign website,  https://www.christinaforbenicia.com/

Now, on to the interview…

SG: What made you decide to run for City Council?

CGH: I really love Benicia. The community is passionate about maintaining the culture and charm that Benicia offers, and I believe I can contribute to preserving that while addressing the issues we currently face. Benicia is dealing with a budget crisis many years in the making, and difficult decisions will need to be made in the coming years to get us back on track. Additionally, we need to do a better job of engaging more community members in discussions.

I’ve always been politically active. I volunteered for an Election Protection team, ensuring voters had access to the polls for two presidential campaigns. I’ve been involved in community organizing and political activism for years, though I’ve always considered myself a “behind the scenes” person. I follow the City Council, watch the meetings online, and stay informed about the issues facing our city government.

I also believe that a fresh set of eyes is needed on the Council. The current challenges the city is facing aren’t new, and I don’t believe anyone should win an election simply because no one else was willing to challenge them. That’s not how democracy should work, even at the local level.

Finally, my fellow community members asked me to consider running because of my active involvement in Benicia since moving here.

SG: In what ways have your personal or professional backgrounds prepared you to serve on the Council?

CGH: I have a long history of diving into issues, even when they’re difficult or unpopular. With nearly 30 years in the legal industry, I have experience in contract negotiation and management, as well as working with vendors, businesses, and people, giving me a unique perspective. Even in government, we don’t have to accept the status quo of “how it’s always been done.” Benicia has untapped opportunities, and everything should be on the table for revisiting and renegotiating if needed.

I also genuinely enjoy talking to people. I want to hear all the different opinions from Benicians. I may not agree with everyone, but I truly want to listen and consider all perspectives.

SG: What will be your priorities, if elected to the Council?

CGH: The budget. I’ll say it again, the budget. The current council has a five-year plan to address the budget shortfall. It’s a great start, but I believe there are even more ways we can generate revenue and do our very best to avoid cutting services. 

I also believe the city needs to do better in communicating with constituents in more ways. Not everyone understands state law requirements, local ordinances, and why some things must happen while others can’t. We need to make information more accessible and even make City Council members more accessible for discussions.

SG: One issue that demands a lot of attention in Benicia is water charges. What might you do or look into regarding that matter, if elected?

CGH: Benicia’s water fees and rates are high. My water bill is more than double what it was in Oakland. Unfortunately, there’s no easy solution because of the size of our city and the fact that we have our own water and wastewater treatment facilities. We don’t have enough subscribers to offset costs significantly. Our neighboring communities, like Martinez,  are wrestling with water rate hikes now. I am proud of our City for addressing the infrastructure issues before our access to clean, drinkable water was at risk. In the coming years, water will become more scarce and expensive so I’m studying the options for keeping water affordable and accessible for our community. To be perfectly transparent, I don’t have the solution yet, but I know something has to be done. Our seniors and families trying to make ends meet are struggling with staggering water bills, and as a Council, we have to address it.

SG: In December, the City Council unanimously authorized a process that is producing a draft Industrial Safety Ordinance, slated for a Council vote this autumn and aiming to protect Benicians’ health and safety. What are your thoughts on this?

CGH: I fully support the implementation of the ISO. It will enhance oversight, increase visibility, and equip the city with the necessary tools to enforce compliance with both current and future safety standards. The public has a great opportunity to review and comment on the draft ordinance before it is finalized and voted on by the City Council, and I hope more community members participate. Even if the City’s site for the draft  (https://engagebenicia.com/en/folders/iso) is now closed for comments, we can still make our feelings known through attending or Zooming into upcoming City Council meetings considering the ordinance, emailing our Council representatives and participating in online discussions.

SG: Other major issues for Benicians include road repair and housing. Would you care to share any thoughts on these or other challenges?

CGH: The roads are a mess. Are they the worst I’ve ever seen? No, but they need a lot of work. Benicians take pride in their city. We want visitors to see a well-maintained town, and no one wants to navigate potholes on their way home from work. This is another budget issue that has been kicked down the road for too long and can no longer be ignored. There is a community-driven “Save Our Streets” initiative on the ballot this November, and I hope residents will strongly consider voting in favor of it.

California is also facing a housing crisis, particularly affordable housing, and Benicia is not immune. We have a lack of affordable housing. We must comply with state housing requirements, but I would also like to see housing that is affordable for our young people and seniors. When young people leave Benicia for college, I want to ensure there is housing they can afford so they can move back home after graduation. Additionally, as our population ages, some of our seniors want to move out of their homes and into assisted living or senior housing, but doing so often means leaving Benicia. We need more affordable senior housing in Benicia.

SG: Are there any other thoughts you’d like to share at this time?

CGH: I’ve been asked, “What makes you a community leader?” For me, engaging in my community is extremely important. It means stepping up when no one else is, being willing to help when you see a need, and supporting your neighbors. There’s no magic formula for becoming a leader—you just have to lead.

I hope Benicians will take the time to get to know me, learn who I am and what I stand for, and after they do, trust me with their vote.

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