The City of Benicia released its City Council agenda for January 5, including an important discussion of air monitoring in our refinery town.
Local environmental activists (including me) are hailing this effort on the part of City staff as a show of responsiveness to years of citizen requests for more and better access to real-time air quality information.
Your thoughts are being sought by Benicia elected officials and staff. Please read the staff report, and plan to attend the zoom Council meeting on January 5.
Congratulations to our endorsed candidates, Mayor-elect Steve Young and Councilmember-elect Terry Scott!
Here are links to an important KQED report by Ted Goldberg, and other Benicia election details and analysis by Roger Straw on the Benicia Independent:
KQED: Candidate Targeted by Valero Wins Benicia Mayoral RaceNovember 5, 2020 Significant quote: “The fact that Young withstood the Valero PAC’s campaign is hugely significant, according to Matto Mildenberger, an assistant professor of political science at UC Santa Barbara, who focuses on oil politics. ‘It means that Benicia voters are willing to take their climate future into their own hands and are going to resist efforts by oil companies to control local politics.’” (continued)
For additional incoming Benicia updates and information on our local vote totals for California races and propositions and the US Presidential race, go to the Solano County Registrar of Voters ELECTION RESULTS PAGE.
In this age of pandemic distancing, the Progressive Democrats of Benicia convened about 50 members and interested parties in a digital ZOOM Candidate Forum on August 11.
Candidate for Mayor Steve Young and candidates for City Council Trevor Macenski and Terry Scott gave opening statements, answered prepared questions and audience questions, and finished with brief closing statements.
Members of the Progressive Democrats voted whether and whom to endorse by an online poll on the PDB website. Voting was open for a week following the Forum.
For endorsement, PDB bylaws require a vote of 50% plus one of those present and voting.
For Mayor of Benicia – Councilmember Steve Young
Results were overwhelming in the Mayoral race. 100% of the 43 members voting chose to endorse Steve Young for Mayor in 2020. Congratulations, Steve! Christina Strawbridge, who declined to attend, received no votes.
For Benicia City Council – Arts and Culture Commissioner Terry Scott
The race for City Council presented members with a wider choice. Members could vote for up to two to fill the two vacant seats. Incumbent Tom Campbell, who also declined to attend, received only 5 votes, or 11.6% of those voting. Planning Commissioner Trevor Macenski received 13 votes, or 30.2% of those voting. Arts and Culture Commissioner Terry Scott received support from 40 members, or 93.0% of those voting, and snagged our only endorsement for City Council. Congratulations, Terry!
For more information or to order yard signs, volunteer or contribute, visit:
The City of Benicia released its City Council agenda for January 5, including an important discussion of air monitoring in our refinery town.
