YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 46
Staton, Rarey elected to city council Two newcomers, Claudette Staton, a business owner and member of the Brentwood Planning Commission and Karen Rarey, a community volunteer and activist, won the top two seats Tuesday night, in the race for the Brentwood City Council. Staton was the top vote getter in the council race, with 33 .48 percent of the vote, while Rarey nabbed second with 28.18 percent, followed by John Fink with 20.28 percent. “It’s pretty exciting to see so many people believe in me,” Staton said. “I am just humbled, really. It still hasn’t really sunk in yet.” Rarey expressed similar sentiments. “I’m overwhelmed,” she said. “The support from the community is humbling – to have so many people come out and help me and support me
STATON
RAREY
and vote for me.” Staton, who touted her work of maintaining adequate community public services and balancing the need for quality housing with the need to preserve open land, said that she plans to sustain the city’s bal-
anced budget and 30 percent general fund reserve, enhance the local economy, shorten emergency ambulance routes, improve crime-prevention programs and finalize negotiations for a new community college campus.
“I am excited to do the work people want me to do,” she said. Rarey has said economic development, fiscal sustainability, public safety and smart growth are her top priorities. “I look forward to working with staff and listening to the residents of Brentwood on what they want for the city,” she said. “I have my own ideas, and I would like to work on economic development, and I will, but I need to listen to what the people want.” Mark Stoiber and Robert (Leo) Rodgers rounded out the results in the council race with 12.64 and 5.1 percent of the vote, respectively. All results are projected as of Wednesday, Nov. 9. For a look at final election results, visit www. cocovote.us/current-election. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
November 11, 2016
Here Come The Holidays
Tips for getting the season off to a great start, with this week’s special Holiday Guide. Page 1B
Making A Success Of It
Local student of tutoring program becomes first to gain university acceptance. Page 6A
Mendrek, Valverde secure LUHSD seats Lions Run To Measure U passes
After a tough but clean election season, the Liberty Union High School District (LUHSD) has cast its votes for two new board members. With 28.6 percent of the votes coming in at 10,459 ballots cast in her favor, Yolanda Peña Mendrek came in first. “I owe a great big thank you to the community for their support and endorsements; I greatly appreciate them and their support for our schools,” she said. “I am very excited, especially with the passing of Measure U. We have lots of projects coming up for our students and lots of work to do. I am really looking forward to
making this a better place for our students.” Coming in an extremely close second with 28.56 percent, Ray Valverde received 10,445 votes. “I am very happy that the voters have confidence in me to help make the important decisions over the next four years, including with Measure U,” he said. “I am very humble and thankful, and I assure you that I will represent them and their children the best way I can to make our learning environment the best it can be.” Making the race even tighter, Daron Spears received 27.72 percent of the vote, and Spencer Smith came in with 14.72. An unknown write-in candidate pulled in 0.4 percent. Measure U, the district’s
Victory Lane
Liberty High School places high at recent BVAL cross-country championship. Page 19A
MENDREK
VALVERDE
(LUHSD) $30 million bond measure, has passed with 58.56 percent of the vote, exceeding the required 55 percent majority approval. The measure will provide
for the modernization and upkeep of district schools. Proceeds from the bond will be expended on the modernizasee LUHSD page 26A
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Board OKs BART agreement with Solar City for solar panels installation and maintenance.
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Finalists Selected go to news/press releases
Community College District announces three finalists for chancellor.