William Emes Jr., the newest candidate to enter the Benicia City Council race, sees his experience as different from anyone on the council. The 25-year resident and retired journeyman carpenter hopes to use that to his advantage to bring new ideas to the elected body. “What we’re witnessing in the world today is an incredible […]
Local labor group announces council, school board endorsements
The Napa/Solano Central Labor Council (NSLC), a labor collective representing Napa and Solano counties, announced its endorsements in local races via a Facebook post. According to the post, the NSCLC held 53 interviews with candidates in races throughout Solano and Napa counties over several days with a panel of more than 30 affiliate leaders. The […]
Wait wait, there’s one more council candidate; William Emes files in City Council race
Staff Report By Aug. 13, it appeared the Benicia City Council election would be a three-person race between Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye, Economic Development Board Chair Lionel Largaespada and former Councilmember Christina Strawbridge. However, an 11th hour filing by William Emes, Jr. during the nomination period extension has turned it into a four-person race. […]
Benicia Democrats endorse Birdseye, Dean in local races
Staff Report At its Tuesday meeting, the Progressive Democrats of Benicia interviewed candidates for the Benicia City Council and Solano County Board of Education. Club members cast their votes and announced the results on Wednesday. Of the three candidates running for City Council, Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye and former Councilmember Christina Strawbridge. Ultimately, Birdseye […]
Schwartzman will not seek re-election; no incumbents in City Council race
For the first time since 2007, no incumbents will be running in the Benicia City Council election. Councilmember Mark Hughes announced on Friday that he would not seek re-election, and Alan Schwartzman told the Herald today that he would not be running either. After 13 years on the council preceded by six […]
Councilmember Mark Hughes will not seek re-election
After 13 years on the Benicia City Council, Mark Hughes announced Friday that he would not seek re-election in November. In an email sent out Friday, the councilmember said he had given a lot of thought to the decision but ultimately decided to focus on his family. “Spending more time with […]
Local candidates emerge as filing deadline nears
(This post has been updated from the print edition.) The last day for candidates to declare their candidacies and submit nomination papers is Friday, but some fields are emerging in Benicia’s City Council and school board races. The Benicia City Council has two seats open in this year’s race, those belonging to councilmembers Mark Hughes […]
Photos: Election season begins in Benicia
Planning Commissioner Kari Birdseye announces council bid
The race for Benicia’s City Council is getting into shape, with Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye the latest candidate to throw her hat into the growing ring. She announced her bid Wednesday. “The Benicia City Council is the natural next step in my service to the city of Benicia,” Birdseye wrote in a news […]
Gizzi elected to judgeship; Newsom, Feinstein, Thompson advance, plus how Solano voted in other races
With all precincts in Solano County reporting as of Wednesday, Benicia practicing attorney Steve Gizzi has won a victory over prosecutor John Coffer in the race for judge on the Solano Superior Court. Gizzi, who had served on the Benicia City Council from 1996 to 2002, had received 54 percent of the vote to Coffer’s […]