06 Nov Election Day Dispatches: Richmond Voters Speak Out on Local Races

Over the course of four hours, no lines formed outside the Hilltop Community Church polling place in Richmond, and parking remained aplenty. (Joe Porrello / The CC Pulse)

Editor’s note: The Contra Costa Pulse went to polling places to connect with voters in Richmond. Voters were divided on issues, including the next president of the United States, local measures, and the City Council. According to unofficial results for the Richmond-only races, Jamelia Brown won District 1, Sue Wilson won District 5, Claudia Jimenez held onto District 6, and Measures J and L passed. The voters comments have been lightly edited for clarity.

CC Pulse Staff Report

Felix Hunziker, 58

I voted for all kinds of things, but one of the things I’m most excited to vote for is for Shawn Dunning for District 6.

It’s just important to me to have a representative who actually listens to everyone. That’s my main goal. My main thing.

I just know that he will listen to everyone. You know, he’s running against Claudia Jimenez, who is, of course, RPA. Unfortunately, she has a really bad track record of not responding to constituents who aren’t her political allies, such as myself.

And I know Shawn Dunning will listen to me, but more importantly, and this is very important, is that he listens to all the RPA supporters as well. It’s not like he’s not in a particular camp. And so to me, he’s really what a real local representative should be, because they really will represent everyone. And he doesn’t bring his own agenda to the table. He wants to hear what everyone has to say.

Measure J, Measure L, the rank choice versus the primary voting, I’m in favor of either one because we really need to stop with the split votes and one party wins with 30 to 40% of the vote.

I voted for Measure J today, but I’m OK if Measure L wins because it still moves us forward. But Measure J is the more democratic one. I recognize the concerns about less voting in primaries, but the best way to improve primary voting is to get more people there. So if you make them count more, if your local council is being decided, then I think hopefully that will be the impetus for people to get out and vote during the primaries as well.

Cristina Saavedra, 38

For District 6, we voted for Claudia [Jimenez].

(About the Richmond Progressive Alliance): As long as any coalition or any faction of any council has candidates that are going to do right for the people then and do right by taxpayers, frankly, then I’m for it. If the RPA, and I know Claudia is RPA, had individuals who were not going to be beneficial to the people or who were just in it for politics, I would vote against them.

Kayla Brown

I did want to touch on the RPA. I do think it’s really important to have just a diverse set of elected officials to represent the people. I think the RPA has a lot of great intentions. There’s a lot that I stand behind with them.

I also think that you have a lot of younger homeowners in this area, and there needs to be a reflect on that, that the people that own homes in this area are not just rich people who have inherited these homes or whatever. Sometimes I think their viewpoint can be a little skewed towards not everyone. And so that’s a concern I have with the RPS. 

But I did vote for Claudia Jimenez, and part of the reason I voted for her is because I reached out to her twice personally about issues, and she has responded. And she’s directed me where I can go.

She actually came to my door yesterday. I wasn’t home. But it was nice to actually see her hitting the streets. So strong supporter of her.

Hear more from Richmond voters in posts to come.