Jourdan Duncan (Center) received a bike from the Benicia Police Officers Association. Duncan lives in Vallejo and works at Pro-Form Laboratories in the Industrial Park, which he used to walk to every night following the breakdown of his car. (Photo courtesy of Benicia Police Department)

(Over the next few days, the Benicia Herald will close out 2016 by revisiting the big local news stories of the year. Today’s edition will focus on news that took place within the city.)

The year 2016 is coming to a close. With the presidential election, big national and international stories, and long championship droughts for the Chicago Cubs and the city of Cleveland coming to an end, it is one that will be remembered for a long time, for better and worse. That eventfulness was certainly felt in Benicia, which saw several big news stories of its own.

City Hall changes

In May, City Manager Brad Kilger left for a new job as the city manager of Martinez. A permanent successor has not been named, but former Visalia City Manager Steve Salomon has been serving as the interim city manager since July. Additionally, Principal Planner Amy Million left for a new position as the principal planner for Dublin in September, and Assistant Planner Amy Iungerich left in August. Ann Welsh was appointed as interim principal planner, but the assistant position has not yet been filled.

Election

Due to a change in election scheduling, 2016 was the first year that a Benicia election coincided with the presidential one. It turned out to be just as inescapable within its city limits as Trump and Clinton were in the rest of the world. Mayor Elizabeth Patterson sought a third term with her only real challenge coming from Vice Mayor Mark Hughes. Patterson narrowly defeated Hughes to get re-elected, with the final percentage being 50.96 percent for Patterson and 48.72 percent for Hughes.

The City Council elections were also very interesting. Tom Campbell and Christina Strawbridge sought to keep their seats, and they faced opposition from three newcomers: planning commissioners George Oakes and Steve Young, and Economic Development Board Vice Chair Lionel Largaespada. Young ended up receiving more votes than any other candidate, earning him not only a council seat but also a position as vice mayor. Campbell came in second place, which was enough to unseat Strawbridge, although she has announced her intention to run in 2018. Largaespada and Oakes came in fourth and fifth place, respectively, and they returned to their boards, where Largaespada was named the new chair.

Continuing Measure C work

Several projects funded by Measure C— a revenue initiative that set aside $4 million for projects aimed at improving life for Benicians— were completed this year, including the replacement of in-car cameras in police vehicles, a pothole and resurfacing project and the replacement of the promenade railing along the First Street waterfront. Projects expected to be completed in 2017 include improving roads in the Industrial Park and near Benicia Middle School, repairing the downtown sidewalks and fixing the pool deck and restrooms at James Lemos Pool. For more information on Measure C, visit ci.benicia.ca.us/measurec.

Poetry

Benicia’s vibrant poetry scene saw some sadness and gladness in 2016. Sadly, two of Benicia’s past poets laureate died this year. Robert Shelby, Benicia’s second poet laureate from 2008 to 2010, died in March and a celebration of his life was held in April. Joel Fallon, Benicia’s first poet laureate from 2006 to 2008, died in August and a celebration of his life was held in December. Both men actively promoted poetry to the community, and tributes from their peers were published in their honor.

Benicia also gained a new poet laureate, as Johanna Ely was named to the position in July. A former Pittsburg elementary school teacher, Ely has been an active member of Benicia’s First Tuesday Poetry Group and has been the chairwoman of the Benicia Love Poetry Contest for the last two years.

Tragedies and loss

On Dec. 2, a fire broke out at the Ghost Ship warehouse and art collective during an electronic music concert, killing 36 people. One of those who died was Travis Hough, a 1999 Benicia High School graduate who had worked as an elementary school expressive arts therapist and also was a member of the electronica band Ghost of Lightning, where he performed under the name Travis Blitzen. Hough’s loss was deeply felt in Benicia, where his parents still reside. A celebration of his life is planned for January.

In February, Christine Joens, the manager of the Benicia Safeway was assaulted with a hammer in the parking lot of a Wells Fargo in Vallejo and sent to the hospital with critical injuries. William David King, a 2015 Benicia High School graduate, was arrested on suspicion of having committed the crime as well as robbing and murdering a woman in the Solano Town Center parking lot. At last report, King had confessed to the crimes and his preliminary hearing was delayed. A fundraiser for Joens, who survived the incident, was held at Safeway.

Shortly after midnight on Nov. 27, a Vallejo man named Daniel Lopez had aimed a gun at a bartender at Bottom of the Fifth as well as other targets. Jeff Ainsworth, a Marine and Texas resident who was visiting his hometown, noticed the incident and tackled Lopez to the ground. Ainsworth’s friend, Doug Everhart, tried to grab him when he and Ainsworth were shot. Lopez took off, and he was arrested by the Benicia Police Department. Ainsworth and Everhart were treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to local hospitals. They were later honored by the police department for their bravery.

An act of kindness

A Benicia police officer’s gift for a Vallejo resident and Pro Form Laboratories employee made media waves in 2016. Jourdan Duncan, a 19-year-old whose car broke down in the spring, would walk each day to and back from his job— a journey that would total four hours. In September, Cpl. Kirk Keffer, who was working a night shift, saw Duncan walking and offered to give him a ride. The two had talked about his trek and Duncan’s desire to become a California Highway Patrol officer, and after dropping him off, Keffer decided to do something nice for him. He purchased a bike at Wheels in Motion and presented it to Duncan after he got off work as something he could ride to and from his place of employment. The gesture was covered by local media as well as national outlets like the Palm Beach Post, The Washington Post and CNN.com.

The Benicia Police Officers Association is working to raise money toward buying Duncan an economical vehicle. This campaign can be accessed at https://www.gofundme.com/jourdanduncan.

Crude by rail

The city’s decision over Valero’s Crude-By-Rail Project was such a big story that it deserves its own article. Look for a recap in Sunday’s paper.

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