06 May Q&A: Before Retirement, Supervisor Federal Glover Looks Back

(Office of Supervisor Federal D. Glover via Bay City News)

Interview, Malcolm Marshall

Editor‘s Note: In December, longtime Board of Supervisors member Federal Glover announced his retirement. First elected in 2000, Glover is the only African American to ever be elected to and serve on the board. The former mayor of Pittsburg, who was born, raised and still lives in the city, sat down with The Pulse to discuss his retirement, his accomplishments, and the of future District 5. This conversation has been edited.

Contra Costa Pulse: After 23 years on the Board of Supervisors, how did you decide now was the time to retire?

Federal Glover: I continue to enjoy what I do. But after being involved for so many years, I know there are individuals out there that could take this and run with it. I know I still have what it takes. But succession planning is very important. I look at the opportunity to fulfill many things I have not been able to do — like being with my family. And really understand what it feels like to sleep in.

CC Pulse: Which of your accomplishments on the board are you most proud of?

Federal Glover: One was transportation, being able to look at East County Transportation Network and what it was not doing. Economic development for the county … to extend the service that we provide. The creation of the northern waterfront initiative. … Looking at what our county could be. Youth services and the ability to understand what our young people need has always been paramount. Coming out of Boys and Girls Club, I know the importance of engaging our young people and providing them with safe spaces.

CC Pulse: What do you think has been your greatest strength as a politician? How has that helped you be effective?

FG: One of my greatest strengths has been collaborating and trying to bring people together. To go out, do the research and the heavy lifting to bring an analytical approach… Many, many things impact all of our lives in one way or another.

CC Pulse: You served as a City Council member and mayor of Pittsburg. How has Pittsburg changed since?

FG: Pittsburg is remarkable. It’s had some great changes over the years and really starting to look at the total fabric of our community. Whether we’re talking about socioeconomics or race, it’s very inclusive … all people are recognized and celebrated and appreciated. When you’re able to do that, then you’re able to also make it a city attractive to businesses. It went through a major transition. Pittsburg didn’t always have the reputation that it has today.

I was born and raised in Pittsburg at the community hospital on School Street. I grew up not really feeling the tensions that other communities feel when it comes to individuals and what have you. I always viewed Pittsburg as a big family — we fight amongst ourselves, but when we leave, it’s like leaving home. When you get out on the street, as your parents told you, you better be there for one (another). I’ve always felt that way here.

CC Pulse: What did you learn about navigating racial lines from your days coming up in Pittsburg that you have carried into your professional life?

FG: I didn’t experience racism growing up. My first experience was when I came back to Pittsburg after being in school. I had no idea I would run for City Council, but it was a landslide victory, I guess, because of my engagement within the community. I knew people outside of my neighborhood and everywhere else.

No one ever thought an African American would serve on Board of Supervisors, no person of color. And we used to joke that, if that ever happened, the first one probably would come out of the Richmond area.

That campaign was ugly, hurtful. I would go to Brentwood, Discovery Bay, knock on the door, and people would look through me; they would look out the window, as though no one existed. I was called n— and whatever else over and over again. Experiencing something that was just so dense you didn’t know how to find your way out of it. But I stuck with it and was successful in that race in 2000.

When you’re doing things to improve community, you’re working with everyone. You have to be open; you have to listen to stuff you don’t want to hear. You have to do things … people become uncomfortable with. But if you’re doing the right thing, someone’s got to pay attention. I have no agendas. Doing the right thing, what you feel in your heart that you need to do, and making sure you represent all the people. We have goals and priorities that we need to make sure we’re meeting and that it’s good policy.

CC Pulse: You and Supervisor John Gioia have been allies for some time. What would you consider some of your major successful collaborations?

FG: We were part of putting industrial safety ordinance into place to monitor what’s going on in the refineries and petrochemical companies and minimize the risks.

>>>Read: County Racial Equity and Social Justice Leaders ‘Here to Dream Big’

There have been lot of other things along the way. But one I think is very important is the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice. That’s going to go far to serve people well as we start looking through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion and access. We’re doing those things, and with a checklist to make sure that when setting policy, we’re not leaving anyone behind.

CC Pulse: Measure X approved $100 million over three years for nonprofit-capacity building in East Contra Costa. What’s the status of that? How will the community be engaged?

FG: We identified major needs in a couple of areas. Fire and health were the leaders in terms of dollars. Also, a number of the social service programs. There is an oversight committee of community members from all districts that gives us input in terms of where we should be spending those dollars. The board has the final say. But there is consideration for everything that committee brings to us.

We’ve kicked out some initial programs that will probably be there in perpetuity of the grant. But there’s also an opportunity for programs that conserve what I consider to be state-of-the-art-type programs to make sure that when some services that need to be delivered that we may have overlooked, we’re able to put those in place.

I think that we have a good process, but all processes as most people understand, are that of change. As we have identified some programs today, we may need to look at changing where the funding goes as it is time to sunset something and go into other arenas.

CC Pulse: What changes do you see coming to District 5? What do you see in the future?

FG: The district has changed over the years. In 2010, when the census was done, we did a geographical change. What was the old District 5, from Bay Point east to Discovery Bay, is now the water part of Antioch, north of Highway 4 along the water, and it goes out to Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Crockett, Pinole, Pacheco to Hercules. All along that northern waterfront is where the district is. There’s so much opportunity for job creation. A lot of the industry that used to be there is no longer there and opens up a door.

Whereas we’ve done a lot of housing, the job creation has not come back the way it could. Working with the cities to identify new uses is something that’s a great opportunity to rethink job opportunities and how we work on a greener community. It’s an opportunity to really look at what is the new job market, what does that look like and try to incentivize development that will meet the needs of environmentally sound work.

Out in East County, you’re often very much forgotten. Starting to build capacities of service providers that will impact our communities in a healthy way is important. Recreation for young people and health services — those things are so very important. The other thing that we’ve put in place and is before the board is an African American holistic wellness hub. We’re looking at that countywide, but it will be initiated here in East County first. If you look at a number of the health disparities and other disparities, the African American community is way down in most of those areas. Whether we’re talking about incarceration, health care needs, it’s the same picture over and over. If we do good by the lowest common denominator, which is always the African American community, you’re going to do well for everyone.

One of the other things I’m quite proud of is that I think my getting elected to the Board of Supervisors has incentivized other people to run for office. If you look at District 5, four years ago in the city of Hercules, there were three African Americans serving on City Council. That is still true today. There were two in Pinole; they used to represent my district. In Pittsburg, there are four African Americans. In Antioch, there are three. So hopefully, I’ve helped incentivize people to start looking to be in office to come about making change. I think we’ve been successful.

The other thing that’s important is our schools, making sure they consist of teachers who are diverse in the way they think about things and how they teach. A number of things are going on a national level, as we talk about how we engage the pattern of learning, and how to best provide education, in particular elementary schools. There’s a lot that East County is embracing — and now East/West County —which is pivotal in terms of our future and how we go forward.

CC Pulse: You survived multiple organ transplants in 2015. Why did you decide to run again after such a serious health scare? Did you have any doubts? How did that change your perspective as a person and a public servant? 

FG: One of my prayers in the hospital and after transplant, was that if you keep me here, show me what it is you will have me do. Coming out of those surgeries, I was still trying to work. That was a sign I was supposed to continue on. It’s proven to be the right thing. I think sometimes people retire before they’re ready or before it’s their call. But I’ve been fortunate; I’ve been blessed. I want to make sure I fulfill the commitment I made in my prayers.

I’m doing this but I also know it’s time to give someone else an opportunity. I’ve been able to do it my way and people have allowed me to. I want to hand this off to someone that’s going to carry on and continue a lot of the work that’s been important to me. I think that’s (Pittsburg City Council member) Shanelle Scales-Preston.

CC Pulse: What do you want to tell the person who comes after you?

FG: You have to be open-minded about the job you do. You have to be very purposeful in each and every vote that you take. And you really need to understand what is needed in the communities. You have to work for it. You have to be able to work with everyone that’s on the board or try to. But you also have to have your set of priorities and build those coalitions that will help deliver. The job as a county supervisor is 24/7. You don’t know when that phone is going to ring. The person that represents District 5 has all of the refineries with the exception of one in your district (Richmond). You have socioeconomic issues in your district. There’s nothing that happens that does not affect the constituency. You got to be ready, and you have to stay ready, stay on your toes. If you think that this is a job where you come to rest, you’re in the wrong place.

CC Pulse: You’ve been in office for almost 30 years now. What’s next for Federal Glover?

FG: Initially, I’m going to learn what it feels like to sleep in. I have a number of things that I want to do. But the biggest is to be able to travel. I’ll keep doing some of the work I’ve been doing through the years, but it’ll be at my pace. I’m just looking forward to spending time with my grandchildren, who are growing up quickly. My wife and I have given up a lot of years of doing certain things. We will catch up on as much of that as I can while I’m still in good health.