Solano County

Williams says she would like to see a “hybrid approach” in which “citizens, along with our sheriff’s department, come together and have these discussions” about how law enforcement officers engage with the community. The Board of Supervisors oversees the department’s budget, Williams notes, and can use the power of the purse to push for reforms such as more community policing, instead of an overreliance on patrolling.

Timm, a former police sergeant, opposes the creation of an oversight body for the sheriff’s office. He questions how a board would be appointed, and warns it could end up being “highly political.” The sheriff’s office “has oversight. It’s called the attorney general, it’s called the grand jury,” he says.

Williams says she was proud to support the opening of the first cannabis dispensary in Suisun City, in 2021, and says tax revenue from it has thus far outperformed her expectations. She also voted to create a Cannabis Business Zone, in which certain land is zoned for the development of cannabis businesses, and says she hopes to welcome more dispensaries to the city. “They’re all going to help generate revenue. This benefits my city 100%,” she adds.

Timm notes he has voted to approve four cannabis businesses and a cannabis manufacturing facility in Fairfield, because, he says, “they make a boatload of money.” He says stiff state regulations alleviate any safety concerns, and says he hasn’t seen any negative effects in the communities where these businesses already operate. And, he adds, from the city tax revenue perspective, “business is business.”

Strawbridge says Valero’s secretive release of emissions is not acceptable and damages the trust the city was building with the company. She also disavows the PAC and insists she was used by it as a pawn to attack Mayor Steve Young in the last election and wants no part of Valero’s campaigning.

Largaespada says Valero has been cooperative with city staff and members of the public for years, worked to create air-monitoring and incident-notification programs, and is a significant contributor to the city’s tax base. On the other hand, he says, he understands why some residents don’t trust the company. He says the PAC’s use of negative ads is unacceptable and divisive.

Scott acknowledges the health concerns associated with the refinery, but underscores the critical importance of the company to the city’s economy. He says he aspires to help repair the frayed relationship between the refinery and city government, and has called for the company to be more transparent in its operations and to pay a higher rate for the huge amount of water it uses.

Birdseye, a longtime opponent of the refinery, has called for a robust independent air-monitoring system and stronger regulations to keep the company more accountable. She says she was attacked by the PAC the last time she ran for City Council.

Innes says the company’s unreported releases destroyed trust with the city, and is critical of how influential it has become in city elections. He has criticized the company’s PAC as deceptive and disingenuous and referred to its political expenditures as frightening and repugnant.

Strawbridge says the council should push for more housing development, particularly for lower-income residents and essential city workers like teachers, firefighters and police officers, many of whom can’t afford to live in Benicia and instead commute long distances from Fairfield and Vacaville. She says the city should explore former industrial sites, shopping centers and even the city cemetery as places for potential housing locations. 

Largaespada says Benicia should work with other Solano County cities to establish a housing joint powers authority to create more housing opportunities for middle-income residents. He says the city should give residents a say in the decision-making process over new developments, including their concerns about environmental impacts, traffic and infrastructure demands.

Scott says the city needs to build more affordable housing, but thinks that using open space for housing developments should be the “very last tier considered.”

Birdseye says she intends to build on the work she’s already done as a member of the planning commission to push forward hundreds of units. She also says the city should focus on “smart infill development opportunities.”

Innes says the city needs to address “not in my backyard” concerns from some residents and monitor efforts to get approvals for affordable housing projects that are made less affordable in the future.