Your Newly Elected County Supervisors

ACCMA members met with the newly elected County Supervisors on Wednesday, February 22nd to discuss ACCMA’s health care priorities for 2023 and hear about the priorities of each supervisor. The ACCMA takes a strong interest in many issues affecting public health, access to care, and the ability of physicians to provide high quality medical care. Our new Supervisors will be placing focus on public health concerns, behavioral health care concerns, emergency medical services, Medi-Cal managed care, and the coordination of care between community physicians and the County.

housing crisis, making public safety a priority, and promoting a more sustainable county. Supervisor Carlson was also appointed as Chair of the Contra Costa County Legislation Committee and is willing to work with ACCMA on any health-related issues.

MEET SUPERVISOR KEN CARLSON –DISTRICT 4

ACCMA met with Contra Costa County Supervisor Ken Carlson. Supervisor Carlson represents District 4, which encompasses Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Concord, and the unincorporated Contra Costa Centre and Morgan Territory.

In December 1988, Supervisor Carlson graduated from the Los Medanos College Law Enforcement Academy and began his career as a Concord Police Officer where he served for 29 years. Before joining the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Carlson served on the Pleasant Hill City Council from December 2012 to December 2022 and as Mayor in 2015 and 2019.

As the first LGBTQIA+ Councilmember and Mayor, Supervisor Carlson established June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Pleasant Hill. He also authored the Inclusive City Resolution, which states that Pleasant Hill is a welcoming community for all residents and promotes the protection of human rights, social justice, equality, diversity, and social well-being.

Supervisor Carlson calls Pleasant Hill home along with his husband, Jeremy, of 16 years, and their two dogs.

Some of Supervisor Carlson’s priorities including fixing the

MEET SUPERVISOR LENA TAM – DISTRICT 3

Later that day, the ACCMA met with Alameda County Supervisor Lena Tam. Supervisor Tam represents District 3, which encompasses Alameda, San Leandro, a portion of Oakland, including Chinatown, Jack London, Fruitvale, and San Antonio neighborhoods. District 3 also includes the unincorporated communities of San Lorenzo and Hayward Acres.

Supervisor Tam is a longstanding community leader and public servant. Supervisor Tam has served as Vice Mayor of the City of Alameda, President of the City of Alameda Health Care Board, and Chair of the Alameda County Planning Board. In her professional career, she was the Manager of the Water Planning Department at the East Bay Municipal Utility District, where she worked for more than 30 years. She understands the complexities of how local and county governments interface with regional service providers.

Supervisor Tam is the child of two first-generation immigrants and was raised in the City of Alameda. She graduated from Alameda High School before pursuing degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of San Francisco. She has been a resident of District 3 for more than 50 years.

Some of Supervisor Tam’s mental health and health care priorities include enhancing the county’s safety net services for everyone, expanding the capacity of existing facilities in order to serve more residents – especially for mental health conditions –and lastly, supporting community health clinics to increase and improve resources to better serve residents.