East Bay mayor, three council members will seek higher office

The makeup of city councils in Pittsburg and Antioch could see a shakeup with four members vying for other offices next year.

In Pittsburg, Mayor Shanelle Scales-Preston has announced her intent to run for Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover’s District 5 seat if he steps down, while two-term Councilman Jelani Killings has also launched his campaign for the same seat.

Meanwhile, in Antioch, Councilman Mike Barbanica announced on Thursday his intent to seek the same supervisor’s seat, while colleague Monica Wilson this summer announced her bid for the District 15 Assembly seat currently held by Tim Grayson, D-Orinda.

Grayson, meanwhile, announced he was running for state senate in August. Glover, a county supervisor since 2000, has yet to make a decision, though he said he would soon.

The supervisor’s seat includes Pittsburg, Martinez, Hercules and Rodeo and portions of Antioch and Pinole as well the unincorporated communities of Alhambra Valley, Bay Point, Briones, Rodeo, Pacheco, Crockett, Tormey, Port Costa, Mt. View, Vine Hill, Reliez Valley and Clyde.

“I’m still processing whether I’m going to do it or not,” Glover, 67, said this week of his potential bid for another term.

Scales-Preston has been on the council since 2018, but also worked for local congressmen. A Pittsburg native, she said she hoped to do more on a county level as a supervisor.

“I’m running so I can do good in my community on a larger scale,” she said. “I’ve been working in the federal government for 22 years, and I’ve been able to help people at that level of government,” she said. “I feel like I can do a lot on a county level when it comes to services such as mental health services, transportation, youth services and public safety.”

Other priorities include “promoting economic growth, strengthening public safety and protecting our environment,” she said.

A Democrat, Scales-Preston said her strongest point is “being able to connect with people.”

“I enjoy being on the ground,” she said. “I enjoy collaborating with organizations, making sure people are being heard and working together to continue to push forward.”

Killings, meanwhile, is running on a platform centered around government accountability, public safety and economic development. An advocate for transparency and responsible governance, he aims to foster an environment of trust and cooperation between the county and its residents, he said.

Regarding public safety, Killings, who works as an ethics analyst, said that a safe community is the bedrock upon which all other progress is built. He is committed to working collaboratively with law enforcement agencies and community leaders to ensure a safer environment for all District 5 residents, he said.

The seven-year councilman, who is not aligned with a political party, also said the district has an “immense potential” for economic growth.

“District 5 has the potential to be the economic and cultural backbone of Contra Costa County,” Killings said. “I envision a future where our community thrives, and its potential is fully realized. Together, we will build a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”

Barbanica, a Democrat, retired as a 21-year veteran of the Pittsburg Police Department in 2007. On the force, he ran a street level narcotic and crime unit for six years that was credited with reducing crime by 23% in Pittsburg.

He and his wife, Kristine, now own a small real estate business in which he says he works to help local families access affordable housing.

The Antioch District 2 councilman said he will continue to fight for Contra Costa families and wants “to ensure Contra Costa County is a place where every family has an equal opportunity to thrive.”

“I will use my experience as a long time police officer and now councilmember to tackle the housing crisis, ensure we get serious about public safety, and build a stronger community for all who call Contra Costa County home,” he said.

Wilson, meanwhile, is a four-term Antioch Councilwoman, having been the first Black woman elected to the city’s council in 2012.