Alameda County Supervisor Candidate Q&A: Bob Wieckowski

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 1 candidate Bob Wieckowski makes his case to voters ahead of the March election in a Q&A with Patch:

Age (as of Election Day)

65

Town/City of Residence

Fremont

Office Sought

County office

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Sue Lemke, Wife

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Sue Lemke, Program Manager at Fremont Unified School District

Education

J.D. Santa Clara University, B.A. University of California Berkeley

Occupation

State Senator, 2014 - Present

Campaign website

bobwieckowski.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

State Senate, 2014 - Present; State Assemblymember, 2010 - 2014; Fremont City Councilmember, 2004 - 2010

The single most pressing issue facing our (state, district, community, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issue facing Alameda County is homelessness. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County has doubled in the last 5 years, with 20% of the county's homeless population residing in District 1. I've spent my life working to keep people out of poverty and out of homelessness, first as a bankruptcy attorney, and now as an elected official.

As County Supervisor, I want to increase the supply of affordable housing throughout the county, and make it easier to build units that are affordable in nature, like accessory dwelling units. We also need to ensure District 1 residents have easier access to the services our county provides. Right now, residents in East Livermore experiencing homelessness must find a way to travel over the hill to receive housing assistance, or other services like CalFresh, Medi-Cal and others.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe that my experience and the skill set I have gained through my work in the Legislature makes me uniquely prepared to deliver for District 1 on day one as County Supervisor. As State Senator, I represent over one million people across nine cities, and I have the experience of balancing the $220 billion California budget. As County Supervisor, I will bring this experience to represent the cities of Livermore, Dublin, and Fremont and balance the $3 billion budget that the Board of Supervisors oversees.

I also believe my background as a bankruptcy attorney makes me uniquely qualified to handle the financial troubles in our County's health system. We need to make sure we are fully funding our healthcare system, and I will be the one candidate with the experience to ensure the Alameda Health System will be able to continue to provide the care our residents need.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

After addressing our homelessness crisis, the top issues that define my platform are transportation, healthcare, climate change, and fighting income inequality at the county level.

Transportation is a uniquely important issue to District 1, since the majority of our residents commute to and from work, and must wait in long commutes, cutting into the time they could be spending with friends and family. Residents in Livermore have paid for the BART system, but do not have a station in their city. We need think regionally when implementing the Valley Link project, and the expansion of BART and ACE rails to allow residents of the Tri-Valley that want to use rail to have a seamless commute.

Our County Health system runs at a loss every year, so we need to find money in the budget to properly fund our county hospitals, and we need to work together with the nonprofit health centers and community health centers that provide quality care. We need to be smart about the funds we are allocating towards healthcare, so we aren't building big, expensive hospitals where there are already hospitals close by. We also need to achieve parity in our mental health system, and I am supportive of expanding our mental health services throughout Alameda County. I'm proud to have the endorsement of Aman Dhuper, President/CEO of St. Rose Hospital, and the endorsement of the National Union of Healthcare Workers.

I've been a leader on climate change at the state level, and have represented California at 4 different UN Climate Conferences. We need to not only cut our emissions to become carbon neutral, but we need Alameda County to lead the charge in the Bay Area in implementing climate adaptation and resilience policies.

As I stated earlier, I have spent my life fighting income inequality and trying to keep people out of poverty. I will continue this fight as County Supervisor. I want to expand our affordable housing supply for seniors and low-income families, so we can prevent homelessness before it happens. We also need to do more for our foster youth, who are too often forgotten. I want to expand on the great work Alameda County has done for foster youth, by ensuring they have the same education and job opportunities as their peers.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My accomplishments in the legislature have shown that I can be an effective County Supervisor. As stated, I have helped balance the $220 billion California state budget, which has prepared me to balance the $3 billion Alameda County budget. I have represented one million people across nine cities as State Senator, which shows I am equipped to represent District 1.

The specific accomplishments I am most proud of are bills I have passed to keep people out of poverty. I've authored and passed SB 616, which prohibits debt collectors from emptying out people's bank accounts. I've also authored and passed bills relating to climate mitigation and resilience, such as SB 881 which funded the South Bay Shoreline Project to protect wetlands. I have been a leader on cutting red tape around building accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which has increased the housing supply with cheaper units as a way to help ease our housing crisis. I look forward to continuing my work of standing up for the underdog as County Supervisor.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

A successful term in office for me would see the implementation of regional cooperatives working together throughout Alameda County. I want to work towards, and see through the realization of effective regional cooperatives that have cities, counties, and nonprofits working together to plan for how Alameda County will combat climate change, fix our transportation needs, deliver healthcare to our residents, and provide for adequate and affordable housing.

Why should voters trust you?

I am an independent thinker. In the Senate, and when I was in the City Council, I make sure to read every bill that comes across my desk and then form my opinion. I ask tough questions of people that come in front of committees I serve on, and I'm not afraid of having hard conversations to ensure we come to the result that best serves the voters that I represent.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

Over 50% of the county's funding comes from the federal and state governments. The county's role is simply to deliver programs that have already been voted on by the state and federal governments. I'm very protective of taxpayers dollars to make sure they are wisely spent and that our taxpayers see a return on their investments. The county's duty is to take care of people who have healthcare needs, don't have housing, or are food insecure. The need is gigantic, but the resources are limited, so we need to make sure we are getting the biggest bang for our buck.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

N/A

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

I worked for Congressman Don Edwards right out of college, and he gave me advice in how to best solve issues. Congressman Edwards told me that when people come into your office, the best thing you can do is take the time to listen to their concerns, concerns, be polite, and take action to do what you feel is right on the issue they bring to your attention. Listening to people that disagree with you may not be easy, but it is important and helps you to better understand the issues people are facing.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My campaign brings the leadership experience needed to address the biggest issues facing Alameda County. Two of the biggest issues in the county, housing and transportation, are region-wide issues and need to be treated as such. Through my work at the state level, I have already brought billions of dollars to Alameda County to alleviate traffic and improve local infrastructure. I voted to bring a record share of funding to counties across the state to address housing and homelessness. I have a track record of being an innovative, honest leader and want to continue this leadership as Supervisor to benefit the residents of Alameda County. I am focused on using my experience to alleviate traffic, improve infrastructure, address homelessness, expand healthcare access, and take action against climate change.

I've been endorsed by Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, and many local leaders and elected officials. I am also endorsed by SEIU Local 1021, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, and IAFF Local 1689. I would be honored to receive your support as well. Learn more about my campaign at bobwieckowski.com.