Contra Costa candidates line up
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Friday, March 19th, 2010 at 3:46 pm in Contra Costa County.
For those with inquiring minds, here is the list of candidates for Contra Costa County-based races in the June 8 primary election. (The county clerk’s office has not completely finalized it but it is very close.)
In the countywide races, any candidate who receives 50 percent plus 1 vote will win the seat outright. If no one achieves a majority, the top two-vote getters will compete in a runoff in November.
Assessor: Gus Kramer of Martinez (i), Bob Brooks of Antioch, John T. Nejedly of Danville and Ross Butler of Alamo.
Auditor-Controller (Incumbent Stephen Ybarra is not seeking re-election): Robert Campbell of Concord. unopposed
Board of Supervisors, District 1: (Richmond, San Pablo, El Cerrito, and the unincorporated communities of East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Kensington, Montalvin Manor, North Richmond and Rollingwood.) John Gioia of Richmond (i), and Mister Phillips of San Pablo
Board of Supervisors, District 4: (Incumbent Susan Bonilla not seeking re-election.) (Clayton, Clyde, Concord, Pacheco, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek) Karen Mitchoff and Mike McGill, both of Pleasant Hill
Clerk-Recorder: Stephen Weir of Concord (i) unopposed
District Attorney: (Incumbent Bob Kochly is not seeking re-election) Mark Peterson of Concord, Dan O’Malley of Lafayette and Elle Falahat of Danville.
Sheriff-Coroner: (Incumbent Warren Rupf is not seeking re-election) David Livingston of Concord, Brian Kalinowski of Antioch.
Superior Court judges: John Sugiyama (i), David Flinn (i), William Kolin (i), Judith Craddick (i); Barry Baskin (i); Brian Haynes (i), Laurel Brady (i); John Kennedy (i), Jill Fannin (i), Theresa Canepa (i), Claire Maier (i), Barbara Hinton (i), Trevor White (i), Edward Weil (i) All unopposed.
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Joseph Ovick of Brentwood (i) unopposed
Treasurer-Tax Collector: (Incumbent Bill Pollacek is not seeking re-election) Russell Watts of Brentwood and Karen Thibodeau of Walnut Creek
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March 19th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Didn’t know we had a Superintendent of Public Instruction. Each school district has its own superintendent. So, what does the County sup do? How much staff? Budget? Sup salary?
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:37 am
Too bad some of these positions have gone unopposed. It would seem that the judgeships could use some more critique.
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Re: #2 Mike F.
One of the judges up for re-election recently presided over a criminal trial in which I served as a juror. I was very impressed. Even more so when, after being released from jury duty, I researched his background as an attorney and prosecuter. He obviously could earn much more money than he does as a judge. I don’t think voters are in any position to make informed decisions about judgeships in contested elections. To me, the judicial elections serve mostly as a safety valve in case of a problem judge. Voting a judge out should be the rare exception that it is. We shouldn’t view these as political jobs.
March 24th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
John W.,
Nice point on the judges, but I see it as their responsibility to inform the electorate of their background and quals. should they be challenged. The current process is better than politcal appointments. Competition is still beneficial. Perhaps the County should mandate all candidates submit a statement of quals. for the voter guide. I would like to see the expense waived for it, as this should be a predictable expense for the County.
March 24th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Mike F:
Guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I have no problem with voters having a “yay or nay” voice in “reappointing” trial judges. I also think that including independently prepared summaries of legal and judicial qualifications in the voter info packets is a very good idea. But competitive/politicized races for trial judge positions leads to cash from nefarious sources, judicial corruption and judges elected not on the basis of credentials, experience and judicial temperment, but rather on the basis of who sounds like they’ll be the “toughest” or who spends the most money raised from aforementioned nefarious sources. Look no further than the South for examples of this.