Solano Co. Voters Must Decide Supe Seat, 5 Council, 3 Mayoral Races On Ballot

SOLANO COUNTY, CA – There are three mayoral races and five city council contests in Solano County and two candidates are running for two District 2 seats on the Solano County Board of Supervisors.

Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson is running for re-election against Councilman Marc C. Hughes. Also, in Benicia, incumbent Benicia council members Tom Campbell and Christina Strawbridge are seeking re-election. Planning commissioners Steve Young and George Oakes and Economic Development Director Lionel Largaespada also are running for the two available council seats.

Retired Dixon peace officer Jack Batcahelor, business owner Thom Bogue and journalist-columnist Loran Hoffmann are running for Mayor of Dixon.

Retired police Capt. Steven Bird, Michael Loftin, Councilman Jerry Castanon Sr., Ginger K. Emerson and columnist and local farmer Devon Minnema are running for one seat on the Dixon City Council.

Fairfield Councilmembers Pam Bertani and Rick Vaccaro are running for re-election. The two other candidates for the two seats on the Council are business analyst Brian C. Thiemer and retired police Officer Robert Marin.

The candidates for two seats on the Rio Vista City Council are private investigator Richard Gouveia, Hope Cohn, Arthur Darden, machinist Patrick Byron and transportation supervisor Don Roos.

Suisun City Councilmembers Michael Segala and Lori Wilson are running for re-election for the two available seats.

Vacaville Councilmembers Ron Rowlett and Dilenna Harris are running for re-election. They're facing a challenge for the two available seats from youth counselor Alfonso Almendariz.

Councilman Bob Sampayan, Planning Commissioner Landis Graden and safety supervisor Bill Pendergast are running for Mayor of Vallejo.

Vallejo Councilmembers Rozzana Verder-Aliga and Robert McConnell are running for re-election. The other candidates for the three available seats are employment case manager Guillermina Diaz, Hermie Sunga, Greater Vallejo Recreation District board member Liat Meitzenheimer, entrepreneur Vernon Williams III, Latressa Wilson Alford and educator Lenesha Anderson.

Retired teacher Monica Brown and former Benicia Councilman Michael Ioakimedes are running for the Board of Supervisors.

Brown is a Solano Community College Trustee who taught for 39 years before retiring. She says a teacher's perspective is missing from the Board.

Brown said she intends to give her annual $96,000 salary as elected supervisor to set up a foundation to support public education and families in the District 2.

Ioakimedes says his priorities are restoring trust between the county's decision makers and county workers after a labor strike last year.

His other priorities consist of smart growth within existing urban boundaries, funding a regional park system, road improvements and providing services to the homeless.

Ioakimedes said he opposed the Valero Refining Company's use permit to ship crude oil by rail through Solano County to an off-loading facility in Benicia. The Benicia City Council rejected the use permit in September but Valero is appealing the decision.

Also see:

• Letter To Editor: Mariko Yamada Is Correct Choice For CA State Senator, District 3
• Letter To Editor: Congressman Thompson Supports Dodd For State Senate
• Benicia Mayor Writes: Here Is My Choice For State Senator
• Letter to Editor: Former Assemblywoman, Supervisor Says District 3 Needs Bill Dodd As State Senator
• Reader Writes: Corporate Democrat vs. Social Democrat: Mariko Yamada vs. Bill Dodd
• Napa Resident Writes: Vote Yamada For Farm, Elder, Environment Protection

--Bay City News/Patch file photo