5 Candidates Running for Supervisor

Five contenders for a Contra Costa County supervisor seat are hoping to win over voters in a race that includes an incumbent who has spent 16 years in the role.

The four non-incumbent candidates have expressed various criticisms of Supervisor Federal Glover as the long-entrenched supervisor makes his bid for a fifth term of representing District 5.

The district includes the cities of Hercules, Martinez, Pittsburg and portions of Pinole and Antioch as well as Bay Point, Rodeo, Pacheco, Crockett and other unincorporated communities.

Federal Glover

Glover, who spent some of last year recovering from a heart and kidney transplant, argues that significant progress has been made during his time as supervisor.

"The east (Contra Costa County) area didn't seem to be getting the type of support it needed in terms of transportation," Glover said.

"And over the past few years we've been able to put $1 billion dollars into making sure the infrastructure is there."

Glover exudes pride in his work with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. But the fact that transportation is such an imperative in the district he's long served is also an indication to him that more work needs to be done.

"People should be able to live, work and play at home and not have to find themselves getting on the highways so much," he said.

Glover said bringing more opportunities to the region is an objective that kept him away from retirement, along with resolving remaining transportation issues and projects such as the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative.

Dan Romero

But one of his challengers, two-time mayor of Hercules Dan Romero, believes a change in the supervisor seat is long overdue.

"If you can't get your own political philosophy achieved in 12 years, it's time to leave," he said. "This is public service, it should not be a profession."

Romero said he's the right choice to represent the district due to his experience helping avert a financial meltdown in Hercules.

He joined the Hercules City Council in 2011 following the recall of previous members while the city was on the brink of bankruptcy. He said he's helped reestablish the city's fiscal security in the five years since.

"Nobody else wanted to be mayor because it was that bad ... yet we pulled through it," he said. "There's politicians that talk about what they're going to do - I can prove what I'm going to do."

AnaMarie Avila Farias

Martinez Vice Mayor AnaMarie Avila Farias is also in the running for the supervisor seat.

She asserted that Glover's leadership has fallen short of voter expectations. She said the county is asking for a supervisor who is going to have a strong connection to the district's communities.

"People feel that does not exist right now," she said. "There's a need to infuse passion into this district, and (voters can) trust I'll bring that."

Farias said she has been civically engaged from as early as 16 years old. She serves on various task forces and commissions on a local and state level.

Conrad Dandridge

Farias and Romero both guaranteed that they would continue investments into transportation and public safety, as did Conrad Dandridge, another contender for the supervisor seat.

Dandridge touts a diverse background that includes work with U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Locally, he's been involved with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, the Contra Costa County Office of Education and the Contra Costa County Administrator's Office.

Dandridge also accused Glover of being absent in the community.

"I've lived in the incumbent's district for six years and seen no community or town hall meetings that give residents an opportunity to voice their concerns to the supervisor or be heard," Dandridge said.

Dandridge said he would do more to address the problem of homelessness. He said this is an issue that's personal for him, as he had a cousin die as well as a friend who were living as transients.

Mike Menesini

Another supervisor hopeful from Martinez, the city's former Mayor Mike Menesini, claims the county has seen a shift in tax burden from industry to the working class under Glover, according to a county preview of the upcoming election.

Menesini, who was not immediately available for an interview, is working as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco.

He supports fighting the plan to develop the Concord Naval Weapons Station - citing transportation concerns - and the process of bringing oil by rail to Rodeo, according to county documents.

In light of his competitors' remarks, Glover held that he has a track record of serving all of the district's constituents.

County residents will vote for one of the five candidates on the June 7 ballot.