Home Contra Costa County Episode 055: Joe Canciamilla Chats County Elections and Much More

Episode 055: Joe Canciamilla Chats County Elections and Much More

by ECT

On this episode, I chat with Joe Canciamilla who is the Clerk-Recorder and Registar of Voters for Contra Costa County. Canciamilla began his career in politics at age 17 when he ran for election on the Pittsburg School Board and won. Today, he is working to increase voter turnouts, make it as easy as possible for people to vote and shares his annoyance with partisan politics because it prevents things from getting things done.

We chat about how Conditional Voter Registration, possibly going to 100% vote by mail, upcoming primary next March, what election night is like for him. Finally, we get into the need for the public to get educated on candidates/issues and demand more transparency from government rather than accept mediocrity. We close by discussing something fun as they are hosting destination weddings.

 

Episode Overview:

  • 01:50 – Joe talks about running for election for a local school board at age 17 and won a seat.
  • 04:46 – we get into the rest of Joes bio where he served on Pittsburg City Council, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, and State Assembly.
  • 05:38 – Joe explains his dislike for partisan politics which prevents things getting done. Explains how the political environment has gotten worse than it was when he left in 2006.
  • 06:56 – How do we fix the partisan behavior and start getting people to work together?
  • 07:57 – Joe explains his favorite things he accomplished while elected.
  • 10:05 – In Contra Costa County, there has been three straight elections with increase voter turnout.
  • 12:23 – How is conditional voter registration working out in the county—registering and voting at the same time.
  • 15:45 – why pre-register? Why not just anyone 18 and over can show up and vote with automatic voter registration.
  • 16:55 – how technology has improved Contra Costa County Elections.
  • 19:10 – What about going 100% vote by mail? Any consideration from the County?
  • 21:27 – how does locating polling places work? 270+ polling places in 2018.
  • 25:05 – How is cities and school districts impacting Contra Costa County Elections
  • 29:50 – Voter boxes to drop off ballots
  • 31:45 – 10 months out from primaries, what should people interested in running for election be looking at? Mistakes people make during the process and be prepared.
  • 36:40 – Canciamilla explains what election night is like for him.
  • 38:30 – Discuss some recent close election races, how district elections will make a lot of races much more closer than in the past.
  • 41:09 – Canciamilla explains people need to learn about candidates/issues before voting because it takes 1 bad elected official to have bad things happen and waste taxpayer money. We get into lack of information available in local communities as well as a lack of transparency. The need for more media and content available.
  • 46:48 – We chat about how the community is going to have to demand more information and transparency from their government at any level and not accept minimal information. Canciamilla highlights as long as the public accepts mediocrity, nothing will change.
  • 50:15 – We end on a positive, we chat about the Clerk-Recorder offering Destination Weddings.
  • 56:30 – Voter outreach becoming a model for other counties.

To register to vote: www.cocovote.us/registration-and-voting-options/

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