During Tuesday’s Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors re-organizational meeting on Supervisor Candace Andersen was selected as as Board Chair for 2016 while Supervisor Mary Piepho was named as vice-chair.
Supervisor Andersen addressed the county laying out her goals for 2016 which noted public safety, transportation, and fiscal responsibility.
“It’s truly an honor to serve the last three years. I have a passion for what I do and over the last three years it’s been an amazing experience in the difference that we in the county make for the citizens,” said Andersen.
During her speech, she thanked her family and staff for all the support prior to laying out her goals.
“Last year we did accomplish a lot,” said Andersen. “John outlined so much; we did hobble along for many months with just the four of us. We are so glad Federal is back with us and his heart and kidney transplant were successful and you can see he is really in remarkable health. We are delighted to have you back with us.”
She noted the Board occasionally has controversial issues and items they may not all agree on but they get through it and move on.
“At all times, without question, all members of this board are up here because they have a deep concern for Contra Costa and want to improve the quality of life every resident here.”
Supervisor Andersen stated the upcoming year will be an exciting year.
“My priorities include continuing to enhance public safety. We have talked for months about the need to recruit, retain, the appropriate justice partners that we need. We need to continue to focus on the mentally ill who are cycling through the justice system and last month we did pass a resolution joining the national stepping up initiative to reduce the people who have mental illness in our jails,” explained Andersen. “Within public safety, we have to continue to work on our Emergency Medical Fire Safety, I am excited about our new contract that we have going forward. I am excited to see us opening fire stations and I am very hopefully we can find a long term solution for what east county is facing.”
Andersen also noted transportation was a priority.
“Improving transportation is going to be something that is critical. This year is the Contra Costa Transportation Authority updates its transportation plan and continues to look at should we put a ½ cent sales tax on the ballot. There are opportunities in each of our district to improve the gridlock we now face,” highlighted Andersen.
She also stated how they will work on economic development and continue create more jobs where people live.
“As our unemployment has dropped to 4.6 percent; we are doing much better than we were during the recession where we were hovering around the 10% to 11% area but there is still more than can be done and there are still many in our community who have significant needs,” said Andersen. “We are the safety net. We are the ones who need to help bring families out of poverty and to break cycles of poverty that continue.”
She also urged fiscal responsibility noting pensions are now 82 percent funded.
“We will continue down the path of fiscal responsibility,” stated Andersen. “Particularly our pensions, when I took office in 2012, we were just funding 69 percent. Today, we are over 82 percent funded and our county pension board continues to look at ways that when our employees retire they will have pensions waiting for them and it will be funded appropriately.”
She further highlighted the need to improve on county infrastructure noting there are several needs within county buildings that need to be improved stating to pay now so they do not have to pay more later.
Andersen closed her statement by thanking all the county employees who work hard to serve the public.
1 comment
Typical politician…
When speaking of taxing us she uses the term cent, as in a 1/2 cent sales tax in an effort to minimize the real impact on our wallets.
When trying to take credit she uses the term percent as in drop in unemployment, in an effort to maximize her credit.
Anyone else catch her play on words? Every 1/2 “cent” they try to tax us equals a loss of 1/2 of a “percent” of our spendable income. We are being taxed to death and this chipmunk wants us to give up another 1/2 of a percent?
Her record shows she has ignored public safety in her short time on the Board of Supervisors. Now that she is up for re-election she is trying to take some sort of credit? Candace Andersen’s record does not match up with her words.
Like I said, typical politician. Let’s hope someone runs against her.
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