On April 19, the Brentwood Police Officers’ Association (BPOA) announced their endorsement of Steve Barr for Contra Costa County Supervisor.
“Steve Barr was the clear choice because of his record of leadership in public safety,” said Eric Huesman, President of the BPOA. “Steve’s understanding of finances and his ability to communicate and work with numerous groups really made him stand out.”
Huesman added that while he would be sorry to lose Barr as a Brentwood City Councilman, he knew that Barr’s leadership at the County level would make a real difference in helping East County become safer.
Barr said he appreciated the support from the police officers, and reiterated that public safety doesn’t come from campaign rhetoric, but rather long range financial planning, good communication, and developing strong relationships throughout the community.
“I think the model of communication and strong financial planning has served our community well in Brentwood, and the efforts of our police officers have been key,” said Barr. “I look forward to working with them for many years to come on regional issues that will make East County even safer.”
Since Barr started his service on the City Council, Brentwood was able to start construction on a new 911 Dispatch Center that will reduce response times and allow the city to stop relying on an outside city for dispatch services. Brentwood also has been able to consistently maintain funding levels for police services that keep officers out in the community and crime down.
Steve Barr is running for Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 3, in the June 7th Election. He has been endorsed by the East Bay Times (formerly the Contra Costa Times), Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor, former Brentwood Mayor Brian Swisher, Antioch Mayor Pro-Tem Lori Ogorchock, among many other members of the East County community.
Editors Note:
According to Supervisor Candidates Diane Burgis, Wade Harper, Monica Wilson and Allen Payton (Antioch Herald) who is running Doug Hardcastles campaign, none of them were invited to interview for an opportunity at the endorsement. Odessa LeFrancois has not yet verified if she was asked or not to interview.
14 comments
This endorsement means very little if the POA did not do their homework and interview other candidates. It goes to show me that Brentwood is all about Brentwood and voters elsewhere should focus on another candidate. Barr is a known flip flopper from Democrat to Republican and from being against a PLA to for a PLA just in time for this election.
ECT, no need for the editors note, I am glad that Brentwood is sticking with Brentwood! Barr is the best person for the job.
An example as to why endorsements now mean little. People should do their own research and pick the candidate they want. Not go off an endorsement list.
This is strictly a playing it safe thing. The POA didn’t interview anyone else because all they care about is if Barr doesn’t get elected he might not be as supportive since he will still be on the council. They should have interviewed Harper since he is an ex cop and everyone else to have given this endorsement any credibility.
Typical Brentwood. All about Brentwood. Supporting the only Brentwood candidate in the race. Agree with the above poster about interviewing Harper. No credibility in this endorsement. Come on POA, stop trying to get your next raise! They should have given Hardcastle a chance.
The Times interviewed all the candidates and selected Barr as the best choice for county supervisor. I agree and will vote for Barr. He is the best candidate and will do a great job for east county.
Looks to me like the Times and the Brentwood POA overlooked a thing or two about Steve Barr in their endorsement and editorial.
Steve Barr didn’t vote in 3 of the last 4 elections.
Steve Barr didn’t vote in either of the 2 State Senate elections, last year, or the 2014 June primary election.
Makes you wonder how lazy this guy is.
Steve Barr FAILED to vote in the May 19, 2015 Special State Senate General Election
Steve Barr DIDN’T vote in the March 17, 2015 Special State Senate Primary Election
Steve Barr FAILED to vote in the June, 2014 Statewide Primary Election
He was sued by his campaign consultant for his unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of Brentwood in 2012 because he didn’t pay him.
Steve Barr is ONLY running for Supervisor because he is at a dead end. Mayor Bob Taylor only encouraged him to keep him from running against Taylor!! Barr knows he can’t win that race and had his ass handed to him last time he tried. He couldn’t get elected as Mayor running against the biggest fool in the city!.
Results? I can’t find ANY!~Steve Barr is back serving on the East Contra Costa Fire District Board, for the second time. You know the board that has had two failed tax increases and is not providing adequate fire services to the people of East County! Let’s not forget he FAILED to produce any results for us on his first stint of the fire board just a few short years ago.
Brentwood receives 2 times more in property tax percentage than other cities. Brentwood receives between 16%-17% while other cities get about 8%. Brentwood is doing so well but it has nothing to do with Steve Barr (or Bob Taylor).
This is what we get from a POA that is focused on one things (protecting their jobs) and a Newspaper that is known for shallow journalism..
Do your own homework and I’ll bet you will vote for anyone but Steve Barr.
Does anyone know if Steve Barr voted to give the Mayor that huge raise? I think he did. If I remember right it was like some really high percentage. Now I read Barr is publicly condemning a 33 percent raise that the supervisors never got? That’s not only ridiculous, it’s hypocritical if not a conflict of interest.
Makes me wonder, which Steve Barr is the Brentwood POA endorsing?
Steve Barr, Hypocrite.
“BRENTWOOD — Four months after City Council members gave themselves a 65 percent pay raise, the council on Tuesday gave Mayor Bob Taylor an additional $6,000 a year — a 54 percent increase.
The decision to increase Taylor’s salary was recommended by a two-person ad hoc committee of Vice Mayor Joel Bryant and Councilman Steve Barr”
(Source, MERCURY NEWS Newspaper)
http://www.mercurynews.com/my-town/ci_27594695/brentwood-mayor-gets-second-raise-four-months
When asked about the 33% raise the County Supervisors tried to award themselves last year, Barr said the timing was poor and not explained very well. He says the gap between labor groups and the supervisors raises was too much at a time when the supervisors were asking unions to make concessions.
“I think they should have been in line with the general workforce and not exceeded them. They needed to be more consistent. I would like to see that county supervisors look at the general labor negotiations and take the average and be similar,” said Barr.
Source, East County Today Interview
https://eastcountytoday.net/steve-barr-hopes-to-bring-fiscal-responsibility-to-county-board-of-supervisors/
Steve Barr gives himself a 65 percent Raise and is on a TWO person committee to grant the Mayor a 54 percent raise for positions that equate to part time jobs. Steve Barr then criticized a proposed raise for Supervisors, a full time job, which never took effect.
“People are confused by my voting…” -Steve Barr
Barr is hoping you will believe everything you read (except the comments on this page) because it is all that “messaging” he is paying his consultant to create (I hope he pays this consultant).
The truth is Barr doesn’t appear to have any accomplishments of his own. He has sat on councils and committees and boards that collectively have done good things and some not so good things. Google Barr and you will see he has not done anything outside of Brentwood. I don’t think anyone outside of Brentwood knows the guy. There are a lot of the good old boys network that don’t want people from other parts to have a say in what goes on and Barr will do as he is told.
Its not enough that he has sat on a council or a board, what has he done as an individual leader. Sorry I am not buying this.
Why is there someone from the Antioch Herald working on someone’s campaign? Seems like a conflict of interest to me.
Sandy, How so? There are no rules on who can or cannot work on campaigns, with the only exception being staff of an already elected person. Google Galyle Bishop, a county supervisor who had staff work on her re-election. BecUse the public pays the wages of staff it’s a big no-no. She did jail time.
Anyone else is free to work on a campaign, there really isn’t any conflict. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t look bad, but it isn’t unlawful.
I wouldn’t vote for Hardcastle, Barr or Harper. They are all small thinkers with very little to offer in terms of leadership.
Very coincidental Sammy, Sandy, Danny, Joe, et aliases. Wow ,someone has too many names and has a fetish for Barr. Let the mud slinging begin !
Unome is grasping at straws again! I wonder if he ever gets anything right. He is always wrong, coincidence or just stupidity? I vote for the latter. Lol!
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