Category Archives: Endorsements

Benicia City Council, Endorsements, Kari Birdseye, Lori Wilson

Assemblywoman Lori Wilson Endorses Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council

Wilson joins a list of elected and city leaders in support of the current Chair of Benicia’s Planning Commission

Birdseye 2022 media advisory, October 21, 2022

Lori Wilson, California Assemblywoman representing District 11, including Benicia

(Solano County) – Lori Wilson, California Assemblywoman representing District 11, including Benicia, shared her endorsement of Benicia City Council Candidate Kari Birdseye at a meeting of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia yesterday.

“I’m endorsing Kari Birdseye because I know she places community service first and has the track record to prove it,” said Assemblywoman Lori Wilson. “Benicia deserves smart, independent thinkers like Kari Birdseye.”

Assemblywoman Wilson is also running in this election to remain our Assembly representative in Sacramento. She replaced Jim Frazier after he stepped down and she won a special election.

Assemblywoman Wilson’s endorsement joins a list of elected officials who support the longtime Chair of Benicia’s Planning Commission. U.S. Representative John Garamendi and Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown, representing Benicia and parts of Vallejo, were both early supporters of Ms. Birdseye’s candidacy.

“Smart women endorse smart women,” said Candidate Birdseye. “I’m honored to have garnered the trust and support of so many elected and community leaders who place a priority on community service and the health and safety of our residents.”

Benicia’s Mayor Steve Young and Vice Mayor Tom Campbell also support Birdseye’s run for the leadership seat. “Kari is among the most qualified people we have ever had run for this position” said Mayor Young. “I trust Kari to make the right decisions for our community over the next four years.”

Other community leaders who support her candidacy include former Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and Vice Chair of Benicia’s Planning Commission Terry Mollica. Birdseye also has the endorsement of the Solano County Democrats and local Democratic clubs. For more information and endorsement information visit https://karibirdseyeforbenicia.com/endorsements/.

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

And best of all – Kari’s website!

Electoral politics, Endorsements, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

Vallejo Times-Herald: Benicia Progressive Democrats pick endorsements

Repost from the Vallejo Times-Herald
[Editor: A similar article ran in the print edition of the Benicia Herald on May 17, 2018, but has not appeared online.  – RS]

Candidates, measures for June 5 election

Times-Herald staff report, online 05/15/18, print 05/26/18

BENICIA >> The Progressive Democrats of Benicia have announced their endorsements for the June 5 primary. The organization presented its research on each issue and candidate to the steering committee and then the committee took a final vote on who or what to endorse.

P.D.B. supports the following candidates: U.S. Senate, Kevin de Leon; U.S. Congress District 5, Mike Thompson; Governor, Delaine Eastin; Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis; State Assembly District 14, Tim Grayson; Attorney General, Dave Jones; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond; State Controller, Betty Yee; Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara; Secretary of State, Alex Padilla; State Treasurer, Fiona Ma; and Solano County Superior Court Judge, Steve Gizzi.

As for measures and propositions, here is where they stand:

Proposition 68 — Support

Parks, Environment, and Water Bond: Authorizes bonds for funding parks, natural resource protection, climate adaptation, water quality and supply, and flood protection.

“The committee finds this to be in alignment with the organization’s policies regarding the environment.”

Proposition 69 — Support

Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox and Appropriations Limit Exemption Amendment: Requires that certain revenues generated by a 2017 transportation funding law be used only for transportation purposes and generally prohibits legislature from diverting funds to other purposes.

“This measure protects any diversion of transportation revenues for other purposes. There’s an estimated $16.1 million per year for local street and road maintenance, and $6 million per year for the state.”

Proposition 70 — Oppose

Vote Requirement to Use Cap-And-Trade Revenue Amendment: Requires a legislative supermajority vote to approve the use of the cap-and-trade reserve fund. It is a legislative constitutional amendment.

“This proposition … would seriously jeopardize future progress on pollution reduction and climate change mitigation.”

Proposition 71 — Support

Effective Date of Ballot Measures Amendment: Sets up an effective date for ballot measures. Legislative constitutional amendment. Provides that a ballot measure approved by a majority of voters shall take effect five days after the Secretary of State certifies the results of the election.

Proposition 72 — Support

Rainwater Capture Systems Excluded from Property Tax Assessments Amendment: Rainwater capture systems would not be counted as new construction after Jan. 1, 2019.

“The potential for this proposition to encourage rainwater capture systems to reduce potable water consumption can ease some of the severe water consumption issues cities face.”

Regional Measure 3 — Oppose

Bay Area Traffic Relief Plan: Building major roadway and public transit improvements via an increase in bridge tolls on all Bay Area toll bridges except the Golden Gate. “Residents of Solano County would shoulder the burden of paying this toll without any future relief of a public transit solution. More benefits will go to larger urban areas, and not equal benefits to Solano County.”

Learn more about the Progressive Democrats of Benicia and their stands at progressivedemocratsofbenicia.com