Election day is here, bringing with it a slew of candidates and issues – impacting Vallejo, California and the country itself — for voters to decide on.
Locally, voters will determine the fate of 13 candidates in Vallejo City Council races for District 2, 4 and 5. Also on the ballot is the hotly debated Measure P — a transactions and use tax within the City of Vallejo that would tax retail sales at the rate of seven-eighths of 1 percent of the retail sales price.
Measure P is estimated to generate approximately $18 million in revenue annually. Measure P requires oversight in the form of independent financial audits and citizen oversight.
First things first — where do you vote? There are 23 polling locations in Vallejo. To find out where you vote depending on your address, visit www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=38239. Benicia has five polling sites, which can be found by visiting www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=38233. If you’re voting by mail, visit www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/voting_by_mail/default.asp for more information.
In education, Ajit S. Bhandal, John Fox and Tony Gross are each running for one spot on the Vallejo City Unified School District Area 5 school board.
A look at the candidates whose fates will be decided on Tuesday. Look for the full stories at timesheraldonline.com or Thomas Gase @TgaseVTH.
District 2
Cassandra James
Throughout her life, James has volunteered for various community groups and organizations, including serving as the San Francisco Youth Commissioner for Bayview/Hunters Point, San Francisco Transitional Aged Youth Initiative Member. Presently, she serves as board co-director of New Leaders Council, East Bay (Oakland) chapter, sits on the Vallejo Housing and Community Development Commission, member of the Solano/Napa Chapter of Black Women Organizing for Political Action (BWOPA), and is a charter member of Sankofa Democratic Club of Solano County.
James says she is a strong proponent for a safety tax, and she would look at how much money the quarterly vacancy tax brings in and enforce it on corporate landlords.
“There is a lot of business in the district, and it is better to revitalize that so business owners can serve the population better,” James said. The district is “racially diverse.”
Don Jordan
A New Jersey native and businessman, Jordan has lived in Vallejo since 1990. But it wasn’t until the city council voted in favor of district elections in 2019 that Jordan decided to campaign for the council as District 2’s representative.
“Once I latch onto something, I don’t let go and I bring it up every two weeks, until it comes to fruition,” said Jordan. “Our city’s seniors and young families really don’t have anybody promoting their wants or needs. That’s one of the main reasons I want to run.”
Jordan has been proactive in the community as a leader in multiple organizations over the past 30 years. He has been the Chairman of the African-American Alliance, President of Solano Realtist Association, past President for United Democrats, past Vice President for Vallejo’s NAACP, among other leadership positions.
Diosdado “JR” Matulac
A 27-year local resident, Matulac was born in the Philippines and grew up in Chicago. He worked in the architectural, master planning, engineering and construction fields, and related labor organizations, among others, have endorsed him. After working as an Academic Support Provider with the Vallejo City Unified School District since 2014, it inspired him to pursue a Social Work degree in January of 2021, which he attained in May of 2022.
“As a council member, I would change what current policies and practices need to improve and move forward in a more harmonious, streamlined and effective manner,” Matulac said.
Garrett Toles
Born in Oakland, Toles has lived in Vallejo for five years. But it wasn’t until the summer of 2020 that he decided he wanted to run for city council after being part of the George Floyd protest.
Last year he and a few others — including David Marsteller Jr, Sean West, and Mike Brigandi — made headlines as the “Pothole Vigilantes,” fixing various roads in Vallejo. He’s also tried to help local nonprofits in the area and along with West, drove around Vallejo on Thanksgiving looking to help feed the homeless with free food and supplies.
“I believe in transparency and leaders being held accountable,” Toles said. “I’m tired of Vallejo getting false advertising with its leaders. So I put in action, I put in the footwork so if I do get elected people will already have had a preview of what I’ll be doing — someone who gets his hands dirty and wants to do the work.”
District 4
Ruscal Cayangyang
Cayangyang started his public service career in 2007 at Vallejo City Hall and served on city commissions and the Vallejo school board as the president. He represents Vallejo as an elected Assembly District 14 Delegate to the California Democratic Party and serves as a Legislative Director to a Bay Area elected official.
At community forums, Cayangyang has repeatedly said, “I know how to get things done and get things on the agenda.” So, how will he go about doing that if elected?
“My prior experience includes lobbying for legislation and funding at the state capitol,” he said. “I plan to hold office hours and Town Hall meetings to listen to and work with residents to improve our city. I will not be bullied nor bought by special interests.”
Charles Palmares
Palmares, the city’s planning commissioner, wants public land and buildings to generate and sustain revenue, rather than see them go to passive use.
Raised in Vallejo by his father, he said they constantly changed apartments, chasing lower rent. He is focused on code enforceability, including what happens outside buildings such as blight, and trash.
“My concern is, are we using our buildings and properties wisely to generate revenue and create a vibrant neighborhood to downtown and the waterfront?” Palmares said. “Four hundred Mare Island Way is a valuable piece of property that could be used to generate revenue and has more potential to make a more vibrant asset for the city … I want to make sure Vallejo is a home for everyone.”
Chris Platzer
The 61-year-old Platzer — author of “Downtown Alley Project-From Blight to Beauty one alley at a time” — ran for the council unsuccessfully in 2013. He says he’s optimistic that lessons learned from the experience can make a difference this time, nearly a decade later. He also previously served on the Vallejo Planning Commission.
“Realistically as a city council person, you’re just one vote. The real trick is to become part of the majority that moves Vallejo forward,” Platzer said. “My three pillars would be fiscal accountability and responsibility, infrastructure and economic vitality.”
Ravi Shankar
Shankar, a retired and committed volunteer at the community gardens and an activist on city boards and commissions, immigrated from East India to the United States 41 years ago and has been in Vallejo for 19 years. He trained as an electrical engineer, and owned an accounting business, helping set up small businesses in Vallejo.
Shankar said he is running in part because of what he says as less than accurate accounting of city money, saying there is “an old boys network” in place. Shankar said he wants to do things for the people and is strongly opposed on Measure P.
“I’m confident Measure P will fail, for the city does not spend wisely,” Shankar said. “There are ways to fill in the balance of the shortfall, such as eliminate waste, sell city-owned properties, and freeze growth of highly paid city staff wages.”
District 5
Melissa Bowman
Currently, a Vallejo City Unified School District librarian, said she’ll always have the community on her mind if elected.
Bowman said she supports Measure P.
“I listen a lot, and I take notes. When it’s time to speak out, I do. It’s not always time to speak out,” Bowman said. “I am so familiar now with our codes. I’ve learned to work with the city staff, and understand their procedure, and what their role is.”
Peter Bregenzer
Bregenzer has not held public office, but has worked for the government for over 20 years for Veterans’ Affairs in a high visibility position and is a nationally trained mediator. He says he wants to give just and equal treatment for the thousands of residents he has spoken to while precinct walking.
Bregenzer does not support Measure P, saying the tax money generated would go to the General Fund.
“I think it will be used for other purposes,” said Bregenzer. “There is a resounding need to have streets fixed. I would advocate the tax increase to be put in a special purpose fund, but that would require a two-thirds yes vote first. I don’t think there are that many votes for it.”
Tara Beasley-Stansberry
Beasley-Stansberry co-owns Noonies Place, a restaurant and food truck in Vallejo. She is the Commissioner for the Community Housing and Development Commission, and is a member of the Participatory Budgeting Committee and Design Review Board.
“A lot of the issues that we have, I believe stem from poor management and poor leadership,” said Beasley-Stansberry. “And what I mean by poor leadership and poor management is when your leaders are not getting along and they can’t make decisions fast enough. Leaders have to make a decision. You have to make a stand.”
Beasley-Stansberry supports Measure P.
Dwight Monroe Jr.
Monroe sees himself as “a regular person” who anyone can talk to at any time.
Monroe is in favor of Measure P but said one of the biggest issues he wants to fix in Vallejo is economic development.
“There is a lack of economic development in the city, especially in some of the main parts like up and down Redwood Street, Tennessee Street and Sonoma Boulevard,” Monroe said. “A lot needs to be revitalized and revamped.”
Tanya Hall
Hall has worked as a personnel clerk at Mare Island, and in health care. Her focus is economic development, including security.
She said the council needs to base judgment and performance around citizens, otherwise issues aren’t resolved.
“I am a listener because what I mainly do is groups. You come across someone who is in crisis; they may just want to have someone to hear them out. Any individual can calm a situation. This is a technique that would be grand for the city council. I would initiate town halls.”
Following us
To follow up-to-the-minute election results on Tuesday night, visit timesheraldonline.com or follow writers Thomas Gase, Troy Sambajon and Sharon Pearce on Twitter at @TgaseVTH, @troydoesnews and @spear0306 respectively.