, May 09, 2024
A statewide primary election will be held on March 5, which could decide the winning candidates for three seats on the Solano County Board of Supervisors, will determine the fate of a Benicia school bond and two tax measures and will narrow the field of candidates for state senate and assembly seats for Solano County.
Nationally, the primary will allow voters to choose party candidates to run in the Nov. 8 presidential election, though with no contenders for the Democratic ticket other than President Joe Biden, turnout could be low. Californians will also vote on candidates to succeed late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Scott Morris
District 3
California’s third state Senate district covers all of Solano County and portions of each surrounding county. Sen. Bill Dodd, who was first elected in 2016, isn’t eligible for another term. Five candidates are vying for the seat in what could be a close race.
The top two candidates will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation.
Ryan Geller
District 11
Californa’s Eleventh State Assembly district covers all of Solano County and small sections of Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. State Assembly members are elected for two-year terms and they can serve a total of 12 years in the state legislature.
The top two candidates will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation.
Scott Morris
Districts 1, 2 and 5
Contests for county supervisors’ seats can be decided in the primary election if a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate surpasses 50%, the top two candidates will face off again in November’s general election.
Three of five supervisors' seats are up for election in 2024.
Zack Haber
The first supervisorial district of Solano County covers all of mainland Vallejo north of Georgia Street and Hiddenbrook. This race is very likely to be decided in the March 5 primary election because only two candidates are running.
Ryan Geller
Ryan Geller
The second supervisorial district of Solano County includes residences in Vallejo south of Georgia Street, Mare Island, Benicia, Cordelia and Southern Fairfield.
Three candidates are vying for the seat, which could lead to a November runoff.
Ryan Geller
Ryan Geller
The fifth supervisorial district of Solano county covers the Southeastern area of the county that contains large sections of rural land, the city of Rio Vista and portions of Fairfield, Suisun City and Vacaville.
Incumbent Mitch Mashburn won the seat in the 2020 primary by a narrow margin of 94 votes against Fairfield-Suisun School Board Trustee David Isom.
Mitch Masburn is a former lieutenant corrections officer with the Solano County Sheriff's Office who retired after 32 years. Mashburn was elected to the Vacaville City Council for three terms, serving from 2010 until 2020 when he was elected to the Board of Supervisors. According to his campaign website, Mashburn is an advocate for farmers and has supported improvements to code enforcement to address fire danger, unsafe structures and contamination in unincorporated areas. He has also supported the needs of law enforcement in labor negotiations.
Endorsements: Solano County Sheriff’s Custody Association, Solano County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Solano County Probation and Peace Officer Association, Vacaville Mayor John Carli, Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara and Vallejo council member Mina Loera-Diaz.
According to a candidate filing statement Ledoux is an electrician. Limited information is available about Ledoux’s experience.
Department 15
California Superior Court judges serve 6 year terms. Judge Robert Bowers of Department 15 has chosen to retire at the end of his current term, so one of two candidates will be elected to replace him.
Scott Morris
District 8
John Garamendi is serving his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Previously he was state Insurance commissioner, lieutenant governor and U.S. deputy Secretary of the Interior. He is on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Throughout his years in Congress he has advocated for veterans and servicemembers and has worked to maintain Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Rudy Recile is a retired U.S. Army major and holds a master’s degree in quality systems management. He has worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a data manager and now runs a small web design, hosting and internet service business.
Robert Rauna has filed campaign documents to appear on the ballot but limited information is available about his candidacy.
Hotel tax, sales tax, school bond
Benicia’s proposed hotel tax will go toward police and fire services, parks, libraries and economic development. Voter approval of the measure would increase Benicia’s transient occupancy tax on hotels and vacation rentals from 9 to 13%. The measure would increase annual city revenues by approximately $250,000, which would be subject to review by a citizens oversight committee. The measure would require reauthorization from voters in 12 years.
The Solano County Taxpayer's Association argues that the measure would "make Benicia less attractive for visitors and travelers, who will choose to stay in nearby cities with lower tax rates."
A three-quarter-cent sales tax would raise $5.4 million for essential city services including police and fire, recreation services, maintenance of local parks, and libraries. The city of Benicia declared a fiscal emergency and warned that this measure is necessary to prevent significant layoffs across all city departments. The measure also includes a citizens’ oversight committee and a sunset provision requiring voter reauthorization in 12 years. A similar three-quarter-cent sales tax failed by 294 votes in 2022.
The Solano County Taxpayer's Association argues that by making Benicia's sales tax one of the highest in the state, the measure would "hurt local businesses, especially small and independent ones, and drive away customers and tourists. If the hike passes, Benicia's 9.125% sales tax rate would still be lower than the 9.25% rate in Vallejo.
Scott Morris
This measure would allow the Benicia Unified School district to issue up to $12.5 million in bonds to finance projects including roof repair of school buildings, upgrades and repairs of HVAC systems, improvements to career and technical classrooms and laboratories, electrical system upgrades, security and fire safety improvements, upgrades for playgrounds and modernization of classrooms. The measure requires approval from 55% of Benicia voters.
