As a lifelong resident of Antioch, I have a few perspectives on the upcoming election for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor. I have watched the political career of Diane Burgis for some time. She is one of the best representatives issues involving our environment. I am concerned though with her recent candidacy: is she just someone trying to climb the political ladder?
She was recruited and is backed by Supervisor Mary Piepho which isn’t necessarily a good thing, at a time when Piepho is part of the county’s numerous problems. She voted herself a 33% pay raise and then defended it when voting to reverse that decision. Piepho then wanted to double dip and get both a car allowance and mileage reimbursement because her district is so big. She even wanted Walnut Creek in her district during the redistricting process in 2011, but the rest of the Board wisely said no.
Burgis needs to stay on the East Bay Regional Parks District, as she was elected to in 2014 (half-way through her first term on the Oakley City Council) where she can use her expertise in protecting creeks, open space and trails and actually fulfill a commitment and serve a full term in office. We desperately need to elect someone with broader experience on major issues like transportation, job creation and economic development, as well as protecting and improving the Delta. I’m supporting Doug Hardcastle for this elected office. Doug has over 15 years of proven leadership in office, and in this race experience matters most.
Hardcastle entered the race, last September and was willing to take on the incumbent and will help clean up the fiscal problems created by her and the rest of the current board. Piepho facing the real possibility of losing, decided against running for reelection in December.
Steve Barr off Brentwood may be a nice guy, but he seems to be another political opportunist running for higher office. He announced his candidacy only after Piepho backed out. I’m concerned the real reason he’s running is because he couldn’t get elected mayor in Brentwood in 2012, and can’t beat Bob Taylor this year either.
In virtually every race this year, experience matters most, and Hardcastle is the most qualified. As you make your choice, consider if the person your voting for is running to be something or running to do something. I’m tired of seeing people elected who want to be something, Doug Hardcastle is running to do something which is why I’m urging you to join me in supporting him for County Supervisor.
Manny Soliz
Former Mayor Pro Tem & Councilmember
City of Antioch
21 comments
This whole support for Doug Hardcastle is almost like a cult and I do not understand it. He is not a bright person, he is rude to people, and he hides behind religion.
I do not understand this concept that Mary Piepho would have lost, people are making that statement up. If Mary did lose, it would not have been to Doug Hardcastle of all people. The notion that because Doug announced he was running against Mary makes him better than the others because why? He was dumb enough to enter a race where he would have been smoked? If anything, it doesn’t make him better, it makes him dumber than the other 5 candidates. It shows his lack of good judgement.
Solis suggesting Mary had a chance of losing highlights why he is no longer an elected official in Antioch.
His second poor choice was hiring Antioch Herald Publisher Allen Payton has his consultant who is using his paper to promote Doug Hardcastle while trashing all the other candidates. Doug should be ashamed for associating with Payton because he has made Doug look bad. Hardcastle and Payton are abusing the public’s trust.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the Hardcastle camp is afraid of Barr which is why two days in
a row they have conspired with hit pieces against him in the form of Letters to the Editor.
I would challenge Solis to explain what issues Doug Hardcastle has solved in terms of transportation because he sure did a bang up job on Main Street with that traffic fiasco? Job Creation and economic development? Prove it! Protecting the Delta? How so, wasn’t Ben Johnson appointed to the Delta Protection Commission over Doug? Solis is living in fantasy land.
Solis claims Hardcastle is running to do something versus being something, prove it Manny, because from where I am sitting, Doug has led nothing and is a follower. After this campaign, Hardcastle will likely join you as another elected official who was voted out of office.
Paul, You got it Right! I don’t know you but obviously you pay attention.
Thanks!
All of the letters to the editors are overkill. Just vote for who you want and stop pushing opinions on everyone else.
This letter doesn’t tell me anything about Hardcastle that makes me want to vote for him but it’s obvious that Burgis and Barr are the two that are emerging as the two to beat.
I would much rather have a nice guy than a curmudgeon. Barr is running for the same reasons as Hardcastle so if Barr is opportunistic so is Hardcastle. Barr doesn’t seem to attract the crazy like Hardcastle and is a much more composed than Hardcastle. If I had to choose between the two I would go with Barr. Check out other people that agree:
https://eastcountytoday.net/letters-writers-support-steve-barr-for-county-supervisor/
I like Burgis. The letter writer recognizes that “She is one of the best representatives issues involving our environment”, which I think he means she is one of the best representatives FOR issues involving our environment. The Delta is definitely a big issue for us in east CCC. That is a big part of why Piepho encouraged her to run. If Piepho was running for another office then I would look at the endorsement as something political but Piepho is just retiring and as such seems concerned about handing over the reigns to someone that is going to go in to the job for the right reasons.
Mary Nejedly- Piepho’s letter:
https://eastcountytoday.net/letter-supervisor-piepho-supports-diane-burgis-for-county-supervisor/
If ECT had political cartoons I could see a picture of Hardcastle having a tantrum on the living room floor yelling “I ran first, I called dibs!”
Paul Jackson,
As I’ve written before, I’ve published every press release from and every letter to the editor about every candidate in the District 3 Supervisor’s race, in the Antioch Herald and/or the Antioch Herald website and my new Contra Costa Herald website, which I launched on March 1st, providentially on the same day the Bay Area News Group announced the Contra Costa Times would become the East Bay Times as of April 1st.
I specifically have not endorsed in the race and haven’t written any editorials about it, either. I also hired a reporter to cover the race due to my obvious bias. So far he’s written one article and I expect one more from him, this week. The only articles I’ve written about the race were on generic, factual information about and from the campaign finance reports submitted by the candidates.
Every ad that the Hardcastle campaign committee has run in the Antioch Herald has been charged the same price as any other candidate has been offered, according to the special 2016 Election Rates we sent them. We are an equal opportunity advertising medium.
We’ll have to wait to find out on June 7th to determine whether or not it was a wise decision for Doug to hire me as a consultant and use my 20+ years of campaign consulting and management experience. This is the first time I’ve agreed to be hired for a campaign since 2010 when I launched the AntiochHerald.com and then the print edition.
So, let’s keep this focused on the issues and the solutions to the problems instead of the personal attacks. I know and like all the candidates but I believe three of them have no business running for Supervisor for different reasons.
I just think Doug is the best and most responsible when it comes to the spending of our tax dollars, is the only one putting public safety, first and is willing to find an alternative funding source for fire protection instead of another tax increase. He’s also the candidate with the best combination of experience in both public office (please see the letters of support from both Dr. Michael Painter of the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board and Tom Williams, the former General Manager of the ISD) and in business.
Frankly, Doug is one of if not the best candidate I’ve ever helped. He has no dirt on him in his person life, professional life or public life. He’s strong and bold but Doug’s willing to listen and be corrected if you think he’s wrong and he determines that he is. That’s the kind of quality we need in our elected representatives.
Unlike four of the others who jumped in after Mary Piepho backed out, he’s not running to climb the political ladder because an opportunity presented itself, as Manny Soliz wrote. Doug was willing to take on the incumbent because of her poor decision-making, which was indicative of the mismanagement of county funds and priorities.
No one knows if she would have won or lost had she run for reelection. But she would have taken a serious beating. So if Mary ever plans to run for another office, it was a wise move to preserve her political capital, by not taking the risk.
We’ll see on Election Day what the voters have to say about the candidates. Until then let’s be respectful of each other’s opinions. Finally, for those who hide behind either fake or incomplete names in your comments, don’t be afraid. This is America where you have freedom of speech.
Follow the Golden Rule and quit taking cheap shots at people. But if you just have to do so, use your real name.
Allen Payton
Allen, blahhh, blahhhh, blahhhh, another one of your defensive and inaccurate responses………. what a big surprise. It’s so like you! You are the poster boy for what is completely screwed up with the Republican Party. You are very possibly one of the least respected and most rejected (boorish) mouth pieces in all of East County. You must be good at something, but politics and publishing are not your thing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone mention your name without chuckling and dismissing you as a wannabe. It’s actually (shall we say) “funny” that you take yourself so seriously because no one else does. Political consultant? That’s even funnier! I’ve heard you called a lot of things, but that isn’t close to even one of them………
Let the whining commence.
Mr. Payton, thank you for proving that your ego is larger that your intellect. Guy Houston had the same problem. Remember him?
After taking on and beating Assemblyman Guy Houston like a red headed step child, you really think Supervisor Piepho is afraid of a minor leaguer like Hardcastle? If you do, you are more delusional than your bragging indicates.
Supervisor Mary Piepho has taken on much bigger bullies than Hardcastle and easily laid them to waste. Warren Rupf, Bill Polllacek and Steve Ybarra ringing any bells? From what I read Piepho chose to retire on her own terms. Suggesting that she would have lost a wink of sleep over a challenge from someone like Hardcastle shows how much you have to learn.
Wellllll Allen, the ballots are cast, results are in and Doug landed right where you put him. Nice job! I really hope you didn’t charge him much for screwing up his dwindling political aspirations. Those poor grandkids!
Guess we always knew what you didn’t. M. Piepho would have cleaned his clock or as you put it she would have delivered a serious beating. The lady knows there was never any risk or threat from Hardcastle. The man is out of touch. You may be too if you really thought anyone was afraid of Hardcastle. I’m sure those cluttered campaign signs of his didn’t help matters. Often less is more and adding a headshot when you look like and angry white guy…..well that just wasn’t smart.
Yep, poor decision making was an apt summary, just not in the context that you delivered it. Lol!
Once again Allen your ego was writing checks that bounced like a rubber ball.
Any politician or leader from Antioch has no credibility to choose the next supervisor. Antioch is in a world of hurt by its leaders. I would not accept any recommendations from them. Antioch is the worst place in co co county. Hardcastle is the wrong choice.
First things first, who is Manny Soliz and why does he believe his opinion is relevant?
Second, why would he think he knows how things work in Martinez when Antioch is such a testament of bad government. Bad government that he admits he was a part of. We should be taking advice from him? No thanks.
I sure hope Mr. Soliz didn’t use the same poor judgement and lack of research when casting his votes in his former role. He doesn’t have much of his county information correct especially when it comes to his tirade on the current supervisor, Mary Piepho.
Supervisor Piepho is the most respected leader on the Board of Supervisors, bar none. She has been instrumental in bringing the county’s financial house back in order. Liabilities have been reduced by billions and financial reserves have been restored under her guidance. She has been a champion for our Veterans, Public Safety, Agriculture and most importantly the Delta.
The increase the Board of Supervisors recieved was 12 percent (granted @ 4 percent over 3 years) not 33 percent, which was due because:
The board was the first to take a pay cut in lean years (the Great Recession).
The board went without a single raise for 8 consecutive years.
The law states, only the board may adjust their pay. So yes, they must vote themselves raises.
And because the board had not adjusted their salary, it created an enormous gap to get them back on par with equal positions.
The lack of adjustments will have the board of Supervisors out of parity again, in just a few short years. Given the correct information, devoid of hype made this issue nothing more than a union bargaining chip. There are over 8,000 employees in the county and only 5 supervisors. It wasn’t the supervisors that were being greedy and had very little to do with their pay, but you Mr. Soliz, along with opportunistic candidates like Barr and Hardcastle are only interested rattling low information voters.
While Mr. Soliz was correct about local politician Steve Barr’s embarrassing defeat against Mayor “Boss Hawg” Bob Tayor, he overlooked one big point of contention. Mr. Barr who touts himself as a fiscal watchdog, granted himself a 65 percent raise and also was part of a two member committee who gave away the bank to Mayor McCheese, Bob Taylor. That little gem wasn’t lost on Bay Area News who couldn’t help but take notice of Mayor Bob’s financial windfall and the city council hiking their own pay SIXTY FIVE PERCENT.
Back to Hardcastle….isn’t he a former director on the Ironhouse board who got LIFETIME medical, and then turned around and voted against it for other (future) directors? Don’t worry Allen (Payton) there is plenty of dirt on Hardcastle, but it won’t really matter since Doug can’t seem to get out of his own way. (He comes across as one angry dude). Birds of a feather flock together and you know a thing or two about being dirty, right? Time for you to stop preaching. That type of rhetoric is reserved for the self serving garbage you circulate.
@ Martinez
Supervisor Piepho is not respected. She is feared for retaliation. Quite a difference. Sadly she supports a candidate who has overspent her campaign contributions by 25%. See the Sunday times. All other candidates are spending within their means. Burgis has overspent her campaign by ten thousand dollars. This is not a person I want handling public money.
I went on to the Herald after reading these comments and read the articles related to this race. Most of the articles do favor Hardcastle either with more favorable placement, choice of words, and/or straight out analysis. Whether this is calculated or not it gives me the impression that the publication itself is not as neutral and unbiased as I would hope it would be. That or the publisher is straight out using his paper to help his client. Whether it is legal or ethical I don’t know enough about politics enough to say but I think it is a gamble for the paper to do such a thing as its credibility could be impacted.
How many people have been ripped off when buying a used vehicle from a dealer? Well, Hardcastle is a used vehicle dealer. Enough said.
Attack his politics, not his business.
Manny, any useful thoughts? It appears you don’t know what you were writing about after all. Even with a huge head start, Doug Hardcastle placed a distant third. Don’t pass go, don’t collect 200.00.
Oh wellll, at least us voters got it right. Burgis is now the best postured to take the win in November. It’s a statistical certainty.
Burgis was clearly beaten badly by Barr. People are tired of back door politicians and cronyism. When you have a threesome ( Gioia, Piepho, Burgis ) you know the people will not be represented. Barr is the real deal for the people of Contra Costa County. An independent thinker not a Piepho Puppet.
Unome, you have a track record of always being on the wrong side of the stick. Thanks for being dead wrong once again.
The frustration in your home must.really wear on you.
You don’t have a clue. Lucjy for you ignorance is bliss.
You apparently don’t know what cronyism and.bad government is. Maybe you should go meet the Mayor!
Lol! What a fool.
There you go again breaking promises. It will be revealing when more dirty immoral truths come out about your candidate. The people will know the truth very soon. Thanks for your help on it too.
Hahaha! Unome, you are so far out of your league. Why am I not surprised?
Run along little man.
Mr. Unome are you working for candidate Barr? It sounds to me like you are. What is disappointing is your threats of Mudslinging. It is possibly not the help Mr.Barr wants from anyone. You come across as a kook to those of us who are entertained by reading this stuff.
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