Martinez Vice Mayor Seeks To Unseat Incumbent In Contra Costa Supervisor Race

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA – The campaign for Contra Costa County's District 5 supervisor seat pits longtime incumbent Federal Glover against Anamarie Avila Farias, who aspires to make the jump to county leadership from her job as vice mayor of Martinez.

Avila Farias spent a large part of her career working in San Francisco's Office of Housing and Community Development, and says that affordable housing, job creation and traffic relief will be among her top priorities if elected.

"I'm very passionate about (affordable housing)," Avila Farias said. "It's critical for all elements of economic success in this county."

She says that the county currently doesn't do enough to get people into affordable homes, and would, if elected, work with banks to develop first-time homebuyer programs.

"The Great Recession took that very fundamental American dream away from a lot of people," she said.

She says her experience administering affordable housing and community development programs means she can hit the ground running if voters select her to represent District 5.

She supports Measure X, a countywide half-cent sales tax initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot that would raise $2.9 billion over 30 years to repair streets, improve public transportation and reduce traffic congestion.

She would like to see job centers developed closer to affordable housing options, thereby improving the county's economic prospects and reducing residents' dependence on long commutes.

"We have to reverse engineer suburban sprawl in this county," Avila Farias said.

As a "strong supporter" of the county's urban limit line, which restricts where development can occur, Avila Farias says she would work to prioritize infill development in the county's unincorporated urban areas.

Prior to serving on the Martinez City Council, Avila Farias spent 10 years on the city's planning commission and the parks and recreation commission. She was also appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the state's Housing
Finance Agency board, on which she currently serves.

She says her strong public policy background combined with her youth, passion, stamina and high energy set her apart from her opponent.

"I don't represent special interests or the status quo," the 43-year-old said. "I'm the future of this county."

Glover, 60, a former Pittsburg city councilman who has served 16 years as a county supervisor, says it's his leadership experience at the county level and on several regional governing boards that give him the edge
over his challenger.

"She's totally not prepared," Glover said.

Glover says traffic is among the biggest issues facing not just District 5 residents, but people countywide and that as a supervisor and board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Toll
Authority and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority he has helped secure funding for much needed public transit and roadway projects.

"(Voters) have an advocate that is in position on these commissions and their voice is ringing loud and clear," Glover said of his tenure. "We've been able to do a lot over the past few years."

Glover, who also supports Measure X, says he's proud of the role he played helping allocate money for the State Highway 4 widening project, extending eBART to Antioch, and making earthquake safety upgrades to the county's bridges.

He says that bringing new employers into the district will help reduce traffic congestion.

Glover, who also supports the urban limit line, has been helping lead the county's Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative, a long-range partnership with several cities to bring businesses and jobs back to the county's long-stagnant industrial shoreline, which stretches from Hercules to Oakley.

"It's been a dream of mine to take advantage of the northern waterfront to be a job creator," Glover said. "So people in the local communities can live and work in the area and get off the highways."

He says his Gang Task Force to help steer kids away from the "gang lifestyle," the annual youth summit he leads to provide students with employment connections and his push to install security cameras on Highway 4 are examples of his commitment to community leadership and public safety.

Both Glover and Avila Farias have union support and are running well-funded campaigns, according to documents filed with the county elections office.

Avila Farias has raised $85,000 as of Oct. 30 and is supported by three different independent expenditure committees, one of which, Contra Costa Families for Responsible Leadership, is largely funded by the county's
deputy sheriff's association and has raised roughly $120,000.

Glover has raised nearly $178,000 as of Sept. 4 and is supported by two independent expenditure committees, one of which, the Northern Waterfront Alliance for Jobs, funded in party by Chevron, Candy Properties in
Concord and Teamsters Local 856, has raised more than $100,000 as of Oct. 22.

In other election news:

• Gov. Brown In Bay Area, Speaks Out Against Prop 53
• Free 'Vote California' App Available for Download
• Proposition 61: California Becomes Ground Zero in the Battle to Curb Drug Price Gouging
• More Than Half A Million Californians Register To Vote Days Before Deadline

--Bay City News/Images courtesy of Federal D. Glover and AnaMarie Avila Farias