Category Archives: Kari Birdseye

Endorsements, Josh Harder, Kari Birdseye, Meeting notices, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

PDB Oct. 9 meeting cancelled: WORK PARTY A SUCCESS!

On Tuesday, on October 9, instead of our monthly meeting, the Progressive Democrats of Benicia invited Benicians to come to a work party for our endorsed City Council candidate, Kari Birdseye.

We changed the location from the Library to 1215 West Second Street for this phone/postcard make-a-difference party!

This was an opportunity to put words and support into action. We made phone calls on behalf of our endorsed candidate for Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye and wrote postcards to Democrats in districts that the Democrats hope to flip. Kari was present for a brief campaign update.

To help with the phone banking everyone was asked to bring a cell phone and a laptop along with necessary chargers. Training was provided. Those without laptops sent postcards to help flip a District.

There was also a brief summary of the propositions on the state ballot with the PDB Steering Committee recommendations and an update on our endorsed and recommended candidates.

Progressive Democrats of Benicia ENDORSEMENTS

Benicia City Council, Christina Strawbridge, Endorsements, Kari Birdseye, November election, Solano County Board of Education

Vallejo Times-Herald on Progressive Dems endorsements

Repost from the Vallejo Times-Herald

Birdseye gets nod from Progressive Dems of Benicia

Staff report, 08/15/18, 4:55 PM PDT 

BENICIA >> The Progressive Democrats of Benicia have endorsed Kari Birdseye in her bid for a seat on the Benicia City Council.

The group’s membership voted on the endorsement during a membership meeting Tuesday night.

Birdseye is current chair of the city’s Planning Commission.

Fellow candidate and former Councilwoman Christina Strawbridge failed to secure the endorsement of the Progressive Democrats, group officials said.

Strawbridge, who served on the council from 2011 to 2016, is also a member of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia.

Two seats are open on the Benicia City Council this fall. Incumbents Mark Hughes and Alan Schwartzman are leaving the council after their terms end this year. Current Economic Development Board Chair Lionel Largaespada is also a candidate for a council seat.

Members further endorsed Dana Dean for the Solano County Board of Education Trustee Area 3. Dean was the only person to pull and submit candidacy paperwork prior to the Aug. 10 deadline. Thus, her contest was removed from the ballot and she was automatically re-elected to a new four-year term.

The election is Nov. 6.

For more information, visit progressivedemocratsofbenicia.com.

Benicia City Council, Christina Strawbridge, Kari Birdseye, November election

Benicia City Council race: Hughes & Schwartzman not running, Birdseye & Strawbridge official

[NOTE: The Progressive Democrats of Benicia have not yet endorsed any candidate for the November election.  Posting of this article does not constitute endorsement.]

City Clerk posts only 3 candidates for City Council at deadline

At close of business on Friday, August 10, City Clerk Lisa Wolfe listed only three candidates who filed to run for the two open seats on Benicia’s City Council in November’s election.

Rumors had been circulating that both incumbents had decided against running again.  But until Friday, no one was sure.  Now it’s certain: Councilmembers Mark Hughes and Alan Schwartzman will not run.  City Council will definitely have a different look after this November’s election – including at least one more woman.

Christina Strawbridge, candidate for Benicia City Council

Both Christina Strawbridge (a Democrat and member of Progressive Democrats of Benicia) and Lionel Largaespada (a Republican) declared as candidates soon after their defeat in the 2016 election that they would run again in 2018.  Both have filed and are in the race.

Progressive Democrats of Benicia will strongly oppose Largaespada, who is on record in favor of Crude by Rail.

(NOTE: the PDB mistakenly stated that Mr. Largaespada opposes a Benicia Industrial Safety Ordinance, and for that we apologize. We do not know what his position on an ISO is, and we hope he discloses it to the community before the election.  In his own words, “On ISO, I’m keeping an open mind.”)

Kari Birdseye, candidate for Benicia City Council

The new face on the ballot will be Kari Birdseye, currently chair of Benicia’s Planning Commission and a member of Progressive Democrats of Benicia.*

* Note that Kari has stepped down from the Progressive Democrats of Benicia Steering Committee for the duration of the campaign to avoid any conflict of interest.