What’s Next for Benicia?

A vision for a safer, healthier, strong and more sustainable community.

Benicia is facing real challenges and real opportunity. With steady leadership, community input, and environmental expertise at the table, our next four years can build lasting prosperity without sacrificing the charm that makes this city home. Here's where I believe we go from here.

Turning Challenges Into Opportunity

Yes, the budget shortfall following Valero's refinery closure is real. But it's temporary and fixable. City leadership and staff have spent the past year working to close that gap, pursuing Bay Area Air District grant opportunities and identifying new funding sources beyond any single revenue stream.

At the same time, Benicia has a rare opportunity: 900 acres of prime real estate drawing interest from developers, renewable energy companies, and light, medium, and heavy industrial businesses alike. All made more valuable by our location near two interstate highways, a valuable deep channel marine terminal and railway access. And all of this in a beautiful waterfront town framed by the Carquinez Strait and rolling hills, with a robust arts community, small-town charm, historic character, and a strong sense of community make people want to call Benicia home.

The path forward isn't choosing between growth and character. Cities like Danville and San Rafael have shown it's possible to grow a community while preserving its downtown charm and existing businesses. Benicia is uniquely positioned to do the same. Diversifying our tax base and local economy in a way I've championed since first running for Council in 2018.

Built on a Record of Steady Leadership

Over the past four years, we've made hard decisions past Councils avoided, and Benicia has consistently said yes, investing in our community, families, and workers. We've governed with principle, regardless of how it might affect reelection, because that's what steady leadership requires.

Community-Driven Agenda

This vision isn't shaped in a vacuum. It's shaped by you. By the Benicians who show up to Council meetings, and by those who've never attended one but reached out with a question or a problem that needed solving. Every resident who has asked for continued, responsive leadership is part of why this work continues.

Environmental Expertise Where It Matters Most

As Benicia decides what its development future looks like, that decision-making table needs environmental expertise, because there is no shortage of money advocating for projects that pollute, overconsume energy and water, or enrich a few at the expense of everyone else.

With more than two decades of experience in the environmental space, from helping California's agricultural industry reduce its environmental impact, to advocacy work promoting climate action and community protection, I know the guardrails needed when industrial development comes calling. I'll know when a data center or corporate proposal isn't right for Benicia.

The bottom line: Benicia doesn't have to settle. We don't have to accept pollution in exchange for funding. We don't have to be taken advantage of. This is a strong, well-located, charming city, and we will have a real say in how and our future, takes shape.

The Path Ahead

A safer, healthier, stronger, and more sustainable Benicia . One where the next generation wants to build their lives, starts with continued, experienced leadership at the table.

Sustainable and affordable housing development:

As our community grows, it's important that all generations have the ability to remain in Benicia. My years on the Planning Commission, combined with my background in CEQA, have given me the expertise and leadership needed to grow Benicia's housing stock intentionally and with a focus on affordability. In particular, I'm excited about the new Senior Housing development currently in the planning phase, which will be located downtown. This will allow older Benicians who have aged out of their larger homes to remain in the city they love.