VALLEJO – North Vallejo voters will have the opportunity to choose between four candidates this year to represent them on the seven-person Vallejo City Council. The city switched from citywide council elections to district-based elections in 2019, ensuring the district, which includes the Country Club Crest neighborhood, will have a voice on the council.
The candidates include Cassandra James, who serves on the Housing and Community Development Commission; local realtor Don Jordan; Planning Commissioner Diosdado “JR” Matulac; and community advocate Garrett Toles.
John Glidden
To aid voters, the Vallejo Sun sent questions to all of the District 2 candidates on some of the city’s most pressing issues, such as homelessness, policing, and a possible sales tax increase on the November ballot, known as Measure P. Their answers have been edited for length and clarity. Candidates were also allowed to skip any biographical and campaign questions they didn’t want to answer.
Vote by mail ballots were mailed on Oct. 11 and can be returned anytime before Nov. 8. Find out more about how to vote here.
Who is Cassandra James?
Age: 35
Occupation: Senior Community Development Specialist
Family: Intergenerational Household: Grandmother, partner of 10 years, two children, ages 2 and 8.
How long have you lived in Vallejo? 12 years.
Previous/current civic engagement: San Francisco Youth Commission, San Francisco Transitional Aged Youth Initiative, African American Community Policing Relations Board, Solano County Redistricting Advisory Committee, and Vallejo Housing and Community Development Commission.
Endorsed by: Solano County Democratic Central Committee, Service Employees International Union 1021 and 2015, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Assemblymembers Lori Wilson and Mia Bonta, former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, BART Board Director Lateefah Simon, and the Stonewall Democratic Club of Solano County.
What are your three goals while serving on the Vallejo City Council?
- Increase accessibility (bridge city hall to community)
- Create better housing response (including unhoused residents)
- Build pipeline to increase community access to resources
On a possible sales tax increase: I support Measure P after not supporting Measure G. [Measure G was a previous sales tax measure that failed in 2020.] It has been two years with no other revenue generator opportunities. This would also be the first time Vallejo City Council will have representatives with diverse socio-economic backgrounds, providing new perspectives and opportunities for the community. According to the survey conducted by FM3, 71% of residents think the city is in great need of additional funds and specifically for homelessness, improving roads, specifically creating safe routes for school-aged children, and enhancing police transparency and accountability. As a new councilmember, I know I would like to see funds dedicated to the anti-displacement program (a mortgage/rental assistance program and/or home renovation fund) to avoid Vallejoans from being pushed out due to cost of living. Also, investing in building more housing to help with the ongoing homelessness issues. The Police Oversight Committee will also need the funding to help put in place a transparent and comprehensive committee that was presented by Common Ground Collective and road repairs beginning in areas close to the schools within D2.
On homelessness: Homelessness is very intersectional and is a regional issue. There have been movements to fill the funding gap of the navigation center. Besides the city efforts, there are community organizations that have been meeting to fill the void in homelessness services and needs in the City of Vallejo. I would continue to work with cross-sector groups to provide interim housing sites to help provide basic services and create better coordination between the city, county and state. I would also like to work with [regional nonprofit group] All Home to implement the Regional Action Plan.
Job performance of City Manager Mike Malone: There should be a standard job performance evaluation that includes council priorities, community priorities and with a section on equitable outcomes. His job performance should be based on facts and at this moment I can not give a full analysis for a person who has been in this position for five months. I would need more time to formulate an opinion on him fulfilling his duties and meeting the priorities of the council and community. I do think there can be more district based outreach and meetings to help better understand what is going on with the city.
On Vallejo adopting a strong-mayor form of government: Yes, I support a strong-mayor form of government as it gives power to the community.
On police oversight and reform: Yes, I support police oversight. The type of model I would like to see the city establish was presented by cross-sector group Common Ground and their model includes Creating the Vallejo Police Commission with a civilian inspector general.
How would you restore confidence in city hall and Vallejo City Council: One of my priorities is to be a responsive & reflective leader in the community. This includes being able to respectfully communicate openly and consistently. I truly believe transparency, community engagement, and quality services can foster good relationships between the community, elected officials and other stakeholders. Most importantly, this is the community’s seat at the table and holding regular district-based town halls, business tours, meetings with interfaith coalitions and school visits to ensure all voices are not only heard but aware of what is happening in/with Vallejo.
Anything else you would like to add: This is an historic election for Black Women specifically to be able to run for Vallejo City Council. There has only been one Black Woman that has sat on Vallejo City Council in the city’s 155 year history. Also, a lot of folks value youth and this election is special to have so many candidates under 40 yrs old. That has not been talked about enough.
More information: electcassandrajames.com
Who is Don Jordan?
Age: 64
Occupation: Realtor
Family: Married, four adult children
How long have you lived in Vallejo? 32 years.
Previous/current civic engagement: Past chair of the Human Relations Commission and member of the Civil Service Commission.
Endorsed by: Former Vallejo City Councilmember Foster Hicks and Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown.
What are your three goals while serving on the Vallejo City Council?
- Clean up our streets, get abandoned cars removed
- Get our streets paved
- Bring back confidence in city government
On a possible sales tax increase: No, I feel if the city wants to attack the issues that need addressing with a tax increase, then the citizens of Vallejo deserve a measure that addresses those issues and the funding is designated to those issues only. Funding going into the general fund can be diverted to other funding sources.
On homelessness: I would like to bring other housing thoughts and programs to the city to address the homeless issues we face. I think the pressures being felt on the State and county levels will bring us more financial resources to alleviate our mounting pressures to do something here in Vallejo.
Job performance of City Manager Mike Malone: I feel Mr Malone is doing a good job. His performance will be evaluated based on the location of the new police HQ and how fast the navigation center is built.
On Vallejo adopting a strong-mayor form of government: I support a hybrid measure, because there is no passion in the city for a strong mayor in Vallejo.
On police oversight and reform: I have supported a police oversight commission in the City of Vallejo for years. I support a model with subpoena powers and independent investigators not attached to the VPD. All harassment and homicide related issues will be handled by this commission and findings sent to the Solano DA's office upon completion if needed for prosecution if need be.
How would you restore confidence in city hall and Vallejo City Council: The issue with the unfavorable opinion with the city government is that there is no communication with the city government and the citizens of this city. When was the last time we had a Town Hall meeting in Vallejo? The mayor's State of the City is a Vallejo Chamber event. We need to find communication avenues to communicate better with our citizens. We need to sit down with local influencers and discuss their concerns and address them, even if it is one on one. We need to stop thinking that just having open city council meetings, commissions and boards are our ways of including the citizens of Vallejo in city government. We need to interface with our citizens where they are and when they are. We need an army of people to volunteer to get the city's message out to our citizens and be the face of the city. The Human Relations commission needs to be fully staffed and manned to deal with emotional issues that come with police shootings and homicides. When bad issues come up, hiding them like the badge bending only makes matters worse.
Anything else you would like to add: I would like to tell you what a great town this is. To have 100,000 ambassadors telling the world what a great city Vallejo is. I want this city to be a place for affordable and below market rate housing so our children, seniors, and young families can stay in Vallejo. I want the unhoused to have the services that they not only deserve, but make them contributing members of our city.
More information: donjordanforcitycouncil.com
Who is Diosdado “JR” Matulac?
Age: N/A
Occupation: Academic Support Provider (a social work advocacy position) for the Vallejo City Unified School District at an elementary school in District 2. Also worked at all the VCUSD schools in District 2 and throughout Vallejo over the past 10 years.
Family: Married with two children who graduated through the Vallejo public school system.
How long have you lived in Vallejo? Since 1995
Previous/current civic engagement: Appointed to the Vallejo Planning Commission in 2014 and appointed again in 2018.
Endorsed by: Vallejo Chamber of Commerce, Napa-Solano Central Labor Council, Vice Mayor Rozzana Verder-Aliga, councilmembers Katy Miessner, Hakeem Brown and former mayors Tony Intintoli and Bob Sampayan.
What are your three goals while serving on the Vallejo City Council?
My goals begin with my vision to improve the Vallejo narrative. This doesn’t happen instantly or overnight. We start improving the Vallejo narrative by touting all the good that is actually happening here. When this narrative improves, then people will look at Vallejo as a destination place to live, raise their family, and the following is anticipated to happen:
- Economic Development
- Enhanced Public Safety
- Infrastructure upgrades
- Much-needed Services, Programs & Resources for District 2 and City-wide: With the infrastructure upgrades, enhanced public safety and increased economic development, much-needed services, programs & resources become available.
On a possible sales tax increase: I do support Measure P as one part of bringing additional funding to Vallejo. History has proven we must have other means to generate funds to support the cost of running a city in today's economically challenging times. If approved by the voters this November, I would like to see the proper oversight to assure the correct auditing and that the funds are appropriated correctly.
On homelessness: Earning a second degree in Social Work has enabled me to learn how to get to the root cause of some of society's challenges. Working in our Vallejo public school system in a social worker advocate type of position as an Academic Support Provider, I see on a daily basis the need for programs for our Homeless community. We need to partner and collaborate with County, nonprofits, churches to help address this issue. I will support using some [American Rescue Plan] funds to leverage state, federal, grant funding for housing programs. Also a need to move forward with the Navigation Center and continued engagement with the CAP Solano JPA with participation from all 7 cities in Solano County.
Job performance of City Manager Mike Malone: I believe he is doing an adequate job where he has the ability to do better in certain areas. But running a city is not a one-person job, it is a team effort. This speaks to having the full staff, in all departments, to provide the adequate bandwidth to fulfill that department's goals and expectations set forth by the citizens of Vallejo. As a Planning Commissioner for nearly eight years, I've seen the impacts of not being fully staffed, which causes economic development to slow, city services not being available to serve the people to where Vallejoans are frustrated not getting their needs met.
Opinion on Vallejo adopting a strong-mayor form of government: A strong Mayor has not been a priority goal for the council currently nor in past years. Changing to a strong Mayor policy needs a charter change which has been explored in the past but did not get support from previous councils to put on the ballot for voters to decide. I think our city charter needs to be reviewed and the council will need to appoint a charter change committee to study the current charter.
On police oversight and reform: We have the tools to do this with the OIR Group report, the Police Oversight Meetings along with the 5th edition of Common Ground’s Proposal of Police Oversight. Having these discussions with all voices at the table in determining what are the best policies, practices and most current training methodologies to improve our police force. City council also allocated ARPA funds to “Advance Peace Program” a program that has been successfully implemented in Richmond and other California cities. This program is dedicated to ending the cyclical and retaliatory gun violence in American urban neighborhoods.
How would you restore confidence in city hall and Vallejo City Council: I am one that believes in having all voices at the table in order to have a full understanding of people's perspectives and understandings of issues. Some of these discussions may be more challenging than others, but from these many voices, identify common ground where we can try to agree on some issues to move Vallejo forward.
Anything else you’d like to add: I am one that does not accept the status quo. As a Planning Commissioner, I’ve always promoted reinvigorating downtown businesses while my social work advocacy within the school district and the District 2 community promotes advancing school agendas while maintaining the historical and cultural aspects of the area and District 2.
More information: www.jrmatulac.com
Who is Garrett Toles?
Age: 32
Occupation: An incident commander for SureFox North America, a private security and risk management consulting services firm.
Family: One daughter
How long have you lived in Vallejo? Five years
Previous/current civic engagement: Code Enforcement Appeals Board; Chief’s Advisory Board
What are your three goals while serving on the Vallejo City Council?
- Road repairs (primarily potholes)
- More job opportunities
- More funding for after school programs
On a possible sales tax increase: I do not support Measure P at the moment. The money will go into the general fund and is a regressive tax measure in regards to District 2.
Job performance of City Manager Mike Malone: I think City Manager Malone is doing great and he is showing a neutral stance.
Opinion on Vallejo adopting a strong-mayor form of government: I support a hybrid model form of government.
On police oversight and reform: I just want to ensure the police oversight is independent. The model should consist of an independent auditor and an independent Inspector General. The model should also ensure the civilian oversight, auditor, and Inspector General are known to be unbiased.
How would you restore confidence in city hall and Vallejo City Council: I would make sure there is even more transparency and ensure nepotism and cronyism is never in effect.
More information: Garrett Sinatra Toles | Facebook
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