Vice Mayor Scott and Councilmember Birdseye unseat two incumbents, form new progressive majority
By Roger Straw, November 11, 2022
The guesswork and waiting is over. There are more ballots to count, but concession phone calls have been made, and our local newspaper, The Benicia Herald, has called the race.
We congratulate and celebrate with Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye, our new Benicia City Council representatives.
The candidates and their campaigns worked hard, reaching out to voters throughout the city. And every candidate and residents from every camp called out the interference of Valero and labor PACs in our local election – a possible factor in a very close election.
With 5 candidates vying for the two open Council seats, Scott has a clear lead, and will become Benicia’s new Vice Mayor. Birdseye will claim the second seat as the only female voice on Council and a leader for environmental sensitivity and climate action.
A majority of Benicia Independent readers will join me in celebrating a new majority for industrial oversight, worker safety and security, climate justice and democratic (small d) values. I believe Benicia has a bright future under the leadership of Mayor Young and our four elected councilmembers, Scott, Birdseye, Campbell and Macenski.
Solano County won’t announce the final result until next week sometime, and the election won’t be certified until November 30 or thereabouts. County offices are closed today for Veteran’s Day and over the weekend, so counting of outstanding ballots will continue on Monday November 14. An update should appear on the Registrar of Voters website around 5pm on Monday.
Benicia officials and others who’ve worked with them the most back Kari and Terry over their opponents
By Stephen Golub, October 27, 2022
Stephen Golub, Benicia CA
If you were trying to find a good baby-sitter, doctor, financial advisor, contractor or employee, you’d value the advice of folks who’ve worked with these persons. You wouldn’t hire someone whom such folks wouldn’t endorse.
That’s why we should elect Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye to the Benicia City Council. The Benicia officials and others who’ve worked with them the most back Kari and Terry over their opponents.
Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott are the only two Benicia City Council candidates who have been endorsed by: Mayor Steve Young, Vice Mayor Tom Campbell, Former Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown (who represents Benicia) and, last but not least, the Democrat Party.
Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye are the only candidates that the Democratic Party has endorsed for the Benicia City Council.
These many endorsements mean even more because they come from folks with different perspectives. But they’re united in endorsing Terry and Kari.
They’re also united in not backing Kari’s and Terry’s opponents, two of whom sit on the Council. Please consider what it means that our two mayors and vice mayor have all worked with those two opponents for years. They know who’ll do the best job for Benicia.
Mayor Young, Vice Mayor Campbell and former Mayor Patterson have all declined to support those opponents. They are backing Birdseye and Scott instead.
There’s much more to recommend Kari and Terry. They’ve both received loads of other endorsements. And they have many more qualifications for City Council.
Terry Scott has owned many small businesses. He knows the challenge that Benicia’s many shop, restaurant and other small business owners and employees face. But he’s also been a Senior Vice President for the Hasbro toy and game company, managing a 700-member staff and a $1.7 billion budget. He’s well-equipped to understand and analyze city finances.
As Benicia Community Foundation Executive Director and Benicia Arts and Culture Commission Chairperson, Terry has done a great deal for the city’s economy, services and quality of life. He’s been a leader in creating all sorts of fun and recreational initiatives for the city’s kids and the rest of us.
Kari Birdseye chairs the Benicia Planning Commission, where she’s done a tremendous job seeking solutions for our city’s economic, housing and environmental challenges. As Matthew Turner Elementary School PTA President, she led a team that raised $100,000 annually for the school. She’s shone as an Emmy Award-winning producer and as the developer of award-winning economic and environmental programs, including being honored by the Governor. She’s been active in many other efforts that protect and improve our town.
Kari helped lead the successful fight to block the Texas-based Valero Energy Corporation’s “Crude-by-Rail” plan to bring through Benicia potential “oil bomb trains” – the kind that exploded and killed 47 people in another small city and that have derailed and frequently caught fire in at least 20 other places.
As parents, both Kari and Terry know how important it is that our City Council look out for Benicia’s kids. As a retiree, I can vouch for their dedication to the city’s retirees and elderly.
Our community is lucky to have two candidates so committed to making and keeping our Beautiful Benicia so special, by improving our roads, keeping our water bills under control, protecting our environment, helping local businesses to thrive and keeping our community safe and secure.
I started this letter likening our choice in this election to finding a good baby-sitter, doctor, financial advisor, contractor or employee. That’s what being City Council members is about, and more. We want people who’ll care and be supremely competent in looking out for Benicia’s kids, health, finances, businesses and entire community. Terry and Kari are best suited to wear these many hats.
I could go on, but don’t take my word for it.
Instead, take the word of Mayor Young, Vice Mayor Campbell, Former Mayor Patterson, the Democratic Party and so many others: Please vote for Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott for City Council.
Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott, both proven community leaders
By Marilyn Bardet, October 23, 2022
Marilyn Bardet, Benicia CA
Over my 35 years as a resident in Benicia, I’ve addressed many city councils on tough development issues, and I know it’s time for real change.
For Benicia, persistent issues of sustainability haunt my thoughts about the future and fate of the quality of life in our historic town. This year, in keeping with community values enshrined in our city’s forward-looking general plan, I will be voting for Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott, both proven community leaders, whose distinct experiences and and fresh ideas will inform and invigorate council debates, inspire public involvement, and lead toward decision-making that fairly and transparently aims for “the good of the whole”, not least, the environment.
Right now, owing to state laws and regional requirements, more and more housing development is being called for.
But will such housing be affordable? Who will really benefit? Who will pay the price? Where is new housing most appropriate to be located? How much more housing is sustainable, all things considered?
So much hangs on getting things right, proactively, anticipating a different future, since there’s no more time to waste preparing our city for predicted basic changes — owing to climate impacts and persistent drought— which conjure the urgent need for workable, feasible solutions with public understanding and buy-in.
I trust Kari and Terry to each be thoughtful leaders who will take reasoned, evidence-based action:
to improve air quality by reckoning with sources of pollution;
ensure water-saving and eco-friendly conservation;
preserve our precious historic resources as our legacy;
and seek diverse opportunities for economic development with attention to reducing our carbon footprint.
For all these reasons and more, please join me in voting for Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott!
The guesswork and waiting is over. There are more ballots to count, but concession phone calls have been made, and our local newspaper, The Benicia Herald, has called the race.
You must be logged in to post a comment.