After three years on the Planning Commission, including a year and a half as its chair, Kari Birdseye is ready to continue serving the city in a bigger way, hence why she is running for the City Council. “(It’s) the natural next step in my service to Benicia,” she said. Birdseye received a bachelor’s […]
Bob Livesay: Not all endorsements are necessarily equal
By Bob Livesay Special to the Herald As we approach the Labor Day holiday, the City Council election scramble starts to move very fast. Signs will be out all over town and residents can expect in-home endorsement meetings, venue meetings, mailers, newspaper ads, social media overtaken by comments and more. For this article, I will […]
Birdseye nets endorsements from Rep. Thompson, local Democratic groups
Staff Report Kari Birdseye, chair of the Benicia Planning Commission and a candidate in the City Council election, garnered four endorsements over the last two weeks, including one from Benicia’s representative in Congress, Rep. Mike Thompson. “I’ve endorsed Kari because she shares our vision of serving the community to make Benicia the best that it […]
Candidate Spotlight: Retired carpenter William Emes hopes to unify City Council
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 […]
Letter: Strawbridge puts people over politics
Strawbridge puts people over politics The Benicia City Council race is supposed to be nonpartisan. However, it has been a practice these past several years to seek your party’s endorsement. These are difficult times in our country. It seems that all the press goes very far to the left or far to the right. I […]
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 […]
Council scrutinizes marina lease at Tuesday’s meeting
More than halfway through the Benicia Marina’s current lease period, the Benicia City Council received an overview and update on the property which prompted much discussion from councilmembers at Tuesday’s meeting. The history of the marina was delivered by Assistant City Manager Alan Shear, who said a marina has been on the minds of city […]
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 […]
Council to receive update on Benicia Marina lease
For the sole business item on the Benicia City Council’s agenda, the council will receive an update on the Benicia Marina, a history of its development and a summary of the current operating agreement at the council’s Tuesday meeting. According to a staff report by Assistant City Manager Alan Shear, the city obtained the […]