The City Council election is a five-way race among two incumbents— Tom Campbell and Christina Strawbridge— and three newcomers. Two of those newcomers— George Oakes and Steve Young— have served on the Planning Commission for five and four years respectively, making Lionel Largaespada— who has served as vice chair of the Economic Development Board since […]
Candidates address, mingle with residents at LWV meet and greet
Thursday evening was a night for Benicia residents to talk to their mayoral and City Council candidates as people, not as politicians, and also get them to answer their burning questions. Benicia’s League of Women Voters hosted a candidate meet and greet in the Dona Benicia Room of the Benicia Public Library, where citizens could […]
Community, environmental groups react to crude-by-rail decision
Following the City Council’s unanimous decision to reject Valero’s proposed Crude-By-Rail Project, many of the supporters and opponents of the project issued statements regarding their response to the vote. Valero Benicia Refinery first announced the project, which would extend Union Pacific Railroad tracks to deliver barrels of crude oil by train onto its property in […]
Mixed-use development, historic preservation discussed at Candidates’ Night
(This is the second of a two-part series. For Part 1, go here.) Northern Gateway Project Following discussion of Valero’s Crude-By-Rail Project at Tuesday’s Candidates’ Night forum, moderator Peter Friesen then turned the discussion to another controversial proposal for Benicia: the Northern Gateway development. The project, brought forth by the Orinda-based company Schwartz Land Development, […]
Office seekers/holders discuss goals, crude by rail at Candidates’ Night
(This is Part 1 of a 2-part article. For Part 2, go here.) Candidates for mayor and city council had an opportunity to answer questions on important issues Tuesday night at the Benicia Chamber of Commerce’s Candidates’ Night. The forum was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall and moderated by Peter Friesen. All […]
Political groups, unions announce endorsements in local elections
Election season is in full swing in Benicia, and the candidates are already picking up endorsements from local groups. Throughout much of last week, the Solano County Democratic Central Committee interviewed almost 40 candidates throughout the county seeking office at city council and school board levels. In Benicia races, the group interviewed District 2 Board […]
City Council candidate to host meet and greet at The Loft tonight
Lionel Largaespada, a candidate for Benicia City Council, will be at The Loft Wine Bar and Restaurant this evening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for a meet and greet event. Benicia residents are invited to attend and ask questions of the candidate while supporting a local downtown business. The event will be hosted by […]
Economic Development Board vice chair, Lionel Largaespada, to run for Benicia City Council
Lionel Largaespada, the vice chair of Benicia’s Economic Development Board, recently announced his intention to run in the Benicia City Council’s November election. Largaespada graduated from Pinole Valley High School in 1989, majored in government and minored in philosophy at St. Mary’s College in Moraga and received his master’s in mass communication at Boston […]