MY VISION FOR BENICIA
Promises Made. Promises Delivered.
My vision begins with the simple observation that Benicia works best when our leaders pay attention to the whole community, not just the loudest voices or the most urgent crisis of the moment.
That is the spirit behind my vision. Six priorities, connected to one another, all pointing toward the same thing: a Benicia that is fundamentally and financially sound, growing economically, and just a genuinely great place to live for every person who calls it home.
I have the experience to deliver this. Not because I have all the answers, but because I know the people, I know the processes of governance, and I have spent years building the relationships that turn good intentions into real results.
Here’s what I see for our city.
Getting Our Finances Right because Everything Starts Here
If the city’s finances aren’t healthy, nothing else in this Vision and on this list is possible. It’s that simple.
Losing Valero means losing somewhere at least $7 million a year in city revenue. That is a real hole, and filling it requires dedicated work. I helped balance Benicia’s budget after six straight years of deficits, and I know what it takes: dedicated departmental accounting, spending based on priorities not habit and going out and building new revenue rather than just waiting for it to show up.
That means recruiting new businesses, activating our waterfront, protecting our downtown shops, and pursuing every grant dollar available and that Benicia and Benicians have earned the right to claim. I have the track record and the regional connections to do exactly that.
A City Government that works for You
Residents and businesses shouldn’t have to wrangle with City Hall to get things done. Whether you’re a small business owner trying to open your doors, a homeowner with a permit question, or a resident who just wants a straight answer and Benicia city government should be responsive, clear, and respectful of your time.
I’ve pushed for streamlined permitting and smarter use of technology, including AI, to make city services easier to navigate. That work is in progress. A city government that can be as responsive as possible is a signal to businesses and families that Benicia is a place that welcomes them. That matters for our economy, too.
Putting Air District Settlement Money to Work for Benicia
Without question, Benicia neighborhoods absorbed decades of industrial air pollution. The $82 million penalty settlement from Valero and managed and distributed by the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) is, in a very real sense, owed to us--this community.
I have been at the BAAD table fighting to make sure those funds come back to Benicia in ways residents and businesses can actually feel they are getting help with home energy costs, cleaner air at our schools, job training for workers who need a new path forward, and health investments for the families who lived closest to the refinery. This is about fairness, and I intend to see it through.
Showing Up Regionally so Benicia doesn’t get left behind
As you know, a lot of the money and decisions that affect Benicia happen somewhere other than our City Hall. Transportation funding, environmental programs, housing policy, economic development grants: all of these are decided at the county and regional level, often by people who don’t know our
city well. Including our state legislators who have a track record of piling on unfunded state mandates that impact us.
I’ve invested countless hours making sure the folks in power positions know what impact they have on our city and our quality of life. Three terms as Chair of SolTrans. Four Solano Transportation Authority’s regional transportation committees. Ongoing relationships with federal, county supervisors, state officials, and agency leaders. That presence isn’t about titles on boards. It’s about making sure Benicia gets its fair share, and our need is recognized and acknowledged.
Taking Care of Our Neighbors
I volunteer serving meals, directing traffic, collecting food, delivering food and in reality being part of the fabric of our community. I see firsthand what it means for someone to know that their community hasn’t forgotten them. That does stays with me.
Whether it’s our seniors who need a ride to a doctor’s appointment, getting basic food, creating healthy food opportunities or a family going through a hard stretch, or someone who has fallen through the cracks. We in city government need to finds ways to help. I will continue to protect the services that serve our most vulnerable residents, and I will make sure compassion is never treated as a budget line item to be cut first.
Building Benicia for Future Generations
Young families choose where to live based on schools, safety, parks, and whether they can actually afford to put down roots. Benicia has a lot to offer on all of those fronts and I will work to keep it that way.
That means investing in our parks and playgrounds, partnering closely with Benicia Unified School District , building safe streets where kids can walk and bike, and making sure there are real career opportunities here for young people who want to stay.
I truly believe when a family chooses Benicia, they’re betting on this community. I want to make sure we deserve that bet.
My six priorities aren’t a simple wish list. They’re a work plan grounded in what I have already done, and focused on what still needs doing.
Benicia is a resilient city with good people and a bright future. I’m asking for the chance to keep serving it.