Wade Harper Says “Experience” Makes Him The Right Choice in County Supervisor Race

There needs to be more of a focus on hiring and retaining quality officers/deputies explained Harper. The problem is salary, but there may be more of a focus on law enforcement pensions than retention of well training law enforcement professions. In Antioch Harper says they have proven that one can begin to address the issue of unfunded liabilities and pensions while remaining competitive so that we can hire and retain quality officers.

“Our deputies are some of the lowest paid and it’s a struggle to retain sheriff’s deputies. I think we in law enforcement all suffer from the word pensions, many years ago the dot comers were making millions of dollars, the real estate agents making millions of dollars and officers were making an honest salary but had a decent pension,” said Harper. “What you will find, if you research, there have been changes in police agencies where police are contributing into their retirements and cities are addressing unfunded liabilities.”

Harper pointed out that Antioch created a solution by being the first department under his leadership to agree to have one-time funds going to reserves and unfunded liability to address pension issues.

“We have to work on the pension issue together, it’s a reality but how do we address it together?” says Harper. “Agencies like the sheriff’s department and fire department; we have to do a better job at managing the message. The Antioch Police Department, they get it, they understand you have to get out into your community and provide a positive message about how you are serving in the community.”

In Antioch, Harper praised the police department for interacting with the community by putting on events that help build bridges with the community and law enforcement.

“You have to change the dialogue from we don’t like them and look at their pension to look at what they are doing in the community by volunteering their time,” said Harper. “I just think we have to do a better job at a county level of managing our message.”

With regards to the East Contra Costa Fire Department, Harper says messaging can and should be improved after two tax measure have already failed.

“Does East County think three fire stations are enough? Let’s put it out to the community after better sharing the recommendations and standards. We need to put that out to the community and help them understand it,” said Harper.

He noted that the county also has a role in finding funding somewhere within their budget saying they can’t split the pie up anymore, but rather the county must help the financially strapped district grow the pie.

Harper also explained that Proposition 13 has allowed funds to be distributed unequally and that is a problem. He is open to supporting legislation in Sacramento that could change the allocation of funding in East Contra Costa.

“If public safety is a top priority, public safety then needs to be better funded,” said Harper. “The caveat is without the community involved, no plan will be successful because the community needs to buy-in on new funding mechanisms.”

Although public safety is at the top of Harpers list of goals as Supervisor, one need he wants to focus on is working with faith based organizations to improve the homeless problem facing the County. Harper continues to meet with pastors and organizations to work on solutions that get people off the streets and out of jail.

“I care about homelessness and I’ve talked to many people about homelessness. We must try to resolve it. This includes discussing AB109 issues related to homeless as well. If we can raise awareness of programs we can begin reducing the number of people on the streets,” says Harper. “I don’t think we should have any homeless veterans on the street. If you served our country we ought to serve you.”

Mayor Harper speaking at a Victory Outreach event which provided services to the community, Sept. 2014

Harper highlighted that when he was with Tracy Police, he created a report on homelessness in the City of Tracy which led to an aggressive ordinance fighting panhandling. Better communication with faith based organizations making them more aware of programs will help. They provided information on all services that were available to homeless families including shelters, food programs, health checkups, and job training to name a few.

Harper highlighted that when he was with Tracy Police, he created a report on homelessness in the City of Tracy which led to an aggressive ordinance fighting panhandling. Better communication with faith based organizations making them more aware of programs will help. They provided information on all services that were available to homeless families including shelters, food programs, health checkups, and job training to name a few.

Harper says in the City of Antioch, they are addressing the homelessness issues, while code enforcement are compassionate in the process. The process includes providing proper legal warnings when removing encampments, offering beds that are available, properly storing belongings and information regarding health needs, food and clothing all show an element of dignity and respect.

“We are dealing with the homelessness issue while being compassionate and talking to people. Telling them about healthcare, beds available, and give an eviction notice (when required by law), they just can’t kick them out while securing their property by 30-to-60 days,” says Harper. “With the county, it’s the last stop for homeless and the issues the cities can’t address, so it all falls back to the county. As a former pastor, I care about people who don’t have health care. I care about people living on the street; a family member of mine was homeless for a short time. I am committed to making homelessness an issue that needs to be discussed and addressed. We must find compassionate solutions.”

One way to make people’s lives better is to create more opportunity through improving the economic development says Harper. He says the topic of economic development is interesting because of all the variables at play and no one person can take credit.

Mayor Harper with a group of officials from Jiaxing, China visited Antioch to help maintain a relationship as a “Sister City” with Antioch.

Harper explained that in Antioch, they wanted a city manager with economic development experience. In the end, they hired Steve Duran who worked with the council and staff to start getting companies into vacant buildings.

Harper explained that in Antioch, they wanted a city manager with economic development experience. In the end, they hired Steve Duran who worked with the council and staff to start getting companies into vacant buildings.

Although he won’t take full credit, Harper acknowledges the economy is improving in Antioch and the lessons learned can be applied to the county.

“We as a council, have done things to set up our next council for success. We are going to see positive changes downtown, we have been awarded grants, we keep pushing through. Some of the things we have done is simply planting the seeds,” explained Harper. “Another council may be able to hit the home run.”

He further explained that economic development is about putting people in the right place to succeed in the mission.

Harper believes that East Contra Costa is well positioned to see economic growth stating the Northern Waterfront Economic Development is a plan which Supervisors Federal Glover and Mary Piepho have worked on. With the plan, Harper is committed to ensuring local hiring is placed on job creation.

Harper also has a goal countywide to find a way to hire more youths and help prepare them for their careers such as a program at Antioch High School which worked with up to 20-youths.

He also wants to address veteran services and create greater access to services and jobs. With a step father who served during the Vietnam War and a biological father who serve in the Vietnam War, Harper explained he understands the needs of our veteran’s community and why it’s vital they be provided with spaces that can lend assistance. If elected to supervisor every working day will be Veterans Day. We will assist veterans with their needs on a regular basis.

One issue that Harper is not negotiable on is the California Delta and opposes the Bay Delta Conversation Plan.

“If the governor’s Bay Delta Conservation Plan is approved and the governor gets those tunnels, Antioch will experience high salinity levels in our water. This will also have a negative impact on fisheries and those who depend upon our Delta. I have visited Lawrence Livermore Labs and understand the water desalination technology is available, but it is not cost effective now. Our city council has authorized the hiring of a consultant to work on water desalination projects. We continue our work on protecting Antioch’s Water Rights,” says Harper. “I will fight against the tunnels and be vocal against them.”

With regards to transportation, Harper disagrees with one candidate who says maintenance is the solution. He says it’s much more complex than filling pot holes and repaving roads. He explained that locally, voters passed Measure J which funded the Caldecott Tunnel expansion, and the widening of Highway 4 which has helped all of East County transportation.

“Transportation is expanding Highway 4, bringing eBART, creating access out to Tracy. Maybe even adding another lane to the Antioch Bridge is something to consider,” explained Harper. “If the Bryon Airport gets busier, we have to look at creating better access and expanding that airport as well.”

When asked about his employment with Senator Steve Glazer, Harper said it was a learning opportunity that he could not pass up at the time. Harper says he met with Glazier who was looking for an effective leader who knows and understands the needs of the residents in East County to assist him in addressing those needs. Harper resigned from Glaziers office to focus on running a successful campaign.

“While working for Senator Glazer my area of responsibility was public safety, faith-based and education. “Now I am focused on running a successful campaign,” Harper said.

Harper says he is proud of his accomplishments as mayor of Antioch. Some of his accomplishments are engaging the community, city council, and city staff to draft and implement a long strategic plan for the city. As an MBA and former police manager he says he knows strategic planning helps to put organizations on the right track and hold themselves accountable to accomplishing goals.

Harper takes great pride in working to get the funding to staff our police, code enforcement and blight reduction. He says nobody likes more taxes, but getting $4.8 million for 7-years going to police, code enforcement, blight reduction is significant.

Mayor Harper swearing in lateral hires in 2014

“As mayor I led the effort in getting the funding to hire police. Others may try to take credit for it, but I actually scheduled every meeting, attended every meeting and approved every single document while reviewing every document,” said Harper. “I brought together an effective team which does not include any of the current supervisorial candidates. The money is now coming in to fund the police.” With funding mechanism in place, it is leading to a reduction in crime explained Harper.

When asked about the criticism he receives as Mayor for Antioch such as crime, Harper admitted that is part of the job in taking the hit on behalf of the council noting you have to have thick skin in this position.

“As a leader, you do not pass the buck. You have never heard me blame others for addressing crime in Antioch. Once I was elected mayor, “the buck stops here.” It’s my job to take the problems and to deal with them,” said Harper. “I think people understand that every city faces crime issues. If you look back at the whole zero tolerance slogan, the idea is that we as a community cannot accept any increased level of crime. We as a community must say we are not going to tolerate any crime.” We have the highest number of neighborhood watch programs than we have ever had in our city. Our citizens are getting involved.

Harper says that as soon as he got into office as mayor, we worked to create a violence suppression team to deal with crime and make the streets safer while working to hire more officers. The crime statistics are showing its working.

“It takes time to hire quality police officers who meet the standards of the Antioch Police Department,” says Harper. “We are in a continual hiring mode. As reported by the chief of police we are experiencing a continual decrease in crime. I believe the chief’s numbers are accurate as every police agency has to report their true statistics to the Department of Justice and they have to report the statistics accurately.”
 

Harper speaks at a Victory Outreach Rally to help curb violence in the City of Antioch

Still, Harper says it takes the community, the city council and police department working together to make a safer community.

“I like the attitude of people like Linda Hudson. People who say, “I am going to stand up to the mayor even if I need to. There is not going to be speed racing on my street, I want speed bumps,” explained Harper. “I like that attitude that we are not going to accept an increase in crime and we are going to get involved. I don’t fault Linda Hudson for holding the mayor accountable. It takes residents to get involved, to prevent crime and report what they see.”

Harper says that he does listen to people and that he is a problem solver.

“When I listen to people, I make their problem my problem. I know when people are passionate about certain issues it is not personal. We serve the community. We need community input to understand the problems. I have been a problem-solver for over 30 years, explained Harper.

Harper believes handling a variety of issues in Antioch has prepared him for the County Supervisor position.

“As a directly-elected mayor in the largest city in District III I think I can help tackle those issues by sitting down and understanding the problem. I think we can solve any issue, including getting the fire department properly staffed. I am an optimist. I believe I can get in and do something. I believe as mayor, I have got in there and got my hands dirty and have accomplished many things.”

Harper says he can be the difference at a county level because now he will have a team that can help him in the form of a staff.

“The mayor and city council do not have direct staff. The city manager runs the day to day operations of the city and the city manager takes direction from the majority of the city council, “explained Harper. “As a supervisor, I will assign my staff to address certain issues and report back to me. We will be able to address the many issues facing district III. We will provide excellent service to the community by listening to constituents to really address problems.”