4 Vying For Alameda Co. Board Of Supes Seats

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — Four elected officials are competing in the March 3 election to replace veteran Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, who isn't seeking re-election to the District 1 seat he has held for 24 years.

The district includes Livermore, Dublin and most of Fremont, as well as unincorporated areas in eastern Alameda County. Haggerty's term expires Jan. 5, 2021.

Fremont City Councilman Vinnie Bacon said in his ballot statement, "As a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors I will fight for more intelligent regional planning, based on what is actually needed - not what will make more profits for developers."

Bacon said that he's the purest candidate in the competitive race, saying, "I am the only clean money candidate in this race."

He said, "I have never taken developer money. I don't take money from corporations, lobbyists or political action committees."

Bacon said, "Many of the campaign donors to the Board of Supervisor candidates are ones that have the potential to benefit from decisions made and money distributed by the board. This is unacceptable! People deserve politicians that are not bought and sold."

Former Dublin Vice Mayor Melissa Hernandez said that if she's elected, she "will work to help hard-working families move into the middle class, protect our social services that help veterans and the elderly, create more affordable housing and improve transportation and public safety to ensure safe, successful and vibrant communities for all Alameda County families."

Hernandez said she has dedicated her life to public service and giving back and has spent her adult life raising her children and volunteering her time in the Tri-Valley community.

Dublin Mayor David Haubert said if he's elected, he will focus on three things: enacting fair but firm solutions to help the homeless, working to end traffic gridlock on freeways and streets, and balancing the county budget to make it more transparent and prevent higher taxes.

Haubert said that since he was elected to the Dublin City Council in 2012, he has pioneered efforts to reduce residential density, invest in the city's aging parks and attract new businesses to the region.

State Sen. Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, who has been in the state Legislature since 2010 and formerly served on the Fremont City Council, stressed his experience.

Wieckowski said he has worked to invest in climate research and development and maximize greenhouse gas reductions to power a clean energy economy that works for all Californians.

Wieckowski said he believes education should be a pathway out of poverty, not a pathway into poverty, and has fought to make college more affordable by increasing grants to college-bound students and taking on banks that he alleged have "plunged thousands of students into crippling student loan debt."

Although Haggerty has decided not to seek re-election, two other veteran supervisors are seeking to stay in office for at least another four years.

District 5 Supervisor Keith Carson, who has represented North Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville, Berkeley and Albany for 28 years, is being opposed by Albany Mayor Nick Pilch.

District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley, who has represented Pleasanton, Castro Valley and part of Oakland for 20 years, is being opposed by environmental community organizer Esther Goolsby.

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