Berkeley City Council - City Council, District 6
City Council, District 6 — Berkeley City Council
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the City Council, District 6 — Berkeley City Council
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
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About this office
Members of the city council draft and vote on city laws and appoint certain municipal officers and employees.
This office uses ranked-choice voting, or “instant run-off voting.” When marking your ballot, instead of voting for just one candidate, rank up to three candidates in order of your preference.See the Voting info section for more.
You must select at least 2 candidates to compare them.
Candidates
You can vote for 1 of these 2 candidates.
Susan Wengraf
Berkeley City Council member
Top 3 Priorities
- Ensure the health and safety of Berkeley residents...
- Advocate for affordable housing and permanent housing...
- Ensure equity and social justice in all areas of government
Profile
Endorsed by
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Sierra ClubAlameda County Democratic PartyBerkeley Firefighters AssociationEast Bay Stonewall Democratic ClubNorthern California Carpenter’s UnionAlameda County Building and Construction Trades CouncilEast Bay Young DemocratsBerkeley Democratic ClubState Senator Nancy SkinnerFormer State Senator Loni HancockAssemblymember Buffy WicksBerkeley Councilmember Lori DrosteBerkeley Councilmember Rashi KesarwaniBerkeley Vice Mayor Sophie HahnFormer Berkeley Mayor Tom BatesAlameda County Supervisor Keith CarsonBerkeley Mayor Jesse ArreguinAlbany Councilmember Rochelle NasonEmeryville Councilmember John BautersEast Bay Regional Park District Board Member Elizabeth EcholsBerkeley Councilmember Ben BartlettFormer Berkeley Councilmember Gordon WozniakFormer Berkeley Councilmember Fred CollignonFormer Berkeley City Auditor Ann-Marie HoganBerkeley School Board President Judy AppelBerkeley School Board Vice President Ty AlperBerkeley School Board Member Julie SinaiFormer Berkeley School Board Member Shirley IsselAlameda County Board of Education Member Joaquin RiveraDavid Hochschild, Chair, California Energy CommissionSusan Medak, Managing Director, Berkeley Repertory TheaterRay Yep, Chair, Vision 2050Tim Hassler, Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp, President EmeritusMichael Lewis, Writer, “Liar’s Poker,” “Moneyball,” “The Big Short”Joy Carlin, Theater Director and ActressPeter Calthorpe, Urban PlannerGeorge Perezvelez, Berkeley Police Review Commission, BART Citizen Police Review BoardCecilia “Ces” Rosales, Policy Issues Chair, California Democratic Party; Member, Alameda County Democratic Central CommiHarry Pollack, General Counsel, Save the Redwoods League
Richard Illgen
Social Justice Attorney
Top 3 Priorities
- Fire & Emergency/Disaster Preparedness: Improve our...
- Infrastructure: Ensuring District 6 gets our fair...
- Keeping residents and businesses in place: Protect...
Profile
Endorsed by
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Alameda Labor CouncilAlameda County Treasurer Henry "Hank" LevyEast Bay League of Conservation VotersOur Revolution - East BayWest Berkeley Artisans and Industrial CompaniesCalifornia Nurses AssociationNational Union of Healthcare WorkersService Employees International Union - Local 1021California Labor FederationCal Berkeley DemocratsBerkeley Citizens ActionBay Rising ActionGreen Party of Alameda CountyWellstone Democratic Renewal ClubEast Bay Working FamiliesFormer Berkeley Vice Mayor Carole Davis KennerlyOakland Mayor Libby SchaafFormer Berkeley Mayor Shirley DeanBerkeley City Councilmember Kate HarrisonBerkeley City Councilmember Ben BartlettBoona Cheema, Former Berkeley Mental Health CommissionerSheila Jordan Berkeley Homeless Panel member, former County SuperintendentRob Wrenn Berkeley Planning CommissionerKitty Calavita Berkeley Police CommissionerSteven Finacom Berkeley Landmarks and Design Review CommissionerJennifer Shanoski Berkeley Commission on Status of Women MemberJanet Stromberg Berkeley Energy CommissionerWendy Bloom Berkeley Labor CommissionerErin Diehm Berkeley Parks & Recreation Commissioner
Incumbent
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Ensure the health and safety of Berkeley residents from covid-19 and wildfire
- Advocate for affordable housing and permanent housing for our unhoused residents
- Ensure equity and social justice in all areas of government
Experience
Experience
Profession:Berkeley City Council member
Visuals Editor, Emma Goldman Papers Project, U.C. Berkeley (1985–current)
Berkeley City Council, Berkeley City Council — Elected position (2008–current)
board member, StopWaste.org — Appointed position (2017–current)
Board Member, Alameda County Lead Abatement Agency — Appointed position (2008–current)
Teacher, Contra Costa County Schools (1969–1977)
Education
Brooklyn College,CUNY, Hunter College,CUNY — B.A., M.S., comparative literature, special education (1969)
Who supports this candidate?
Organizations (8)
- Sierra Club
- Alameda County Democratic Party
- Berkeley Firefighters Association
- East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club
- Northern California Carpenter’s Union
- Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council
- East Bay Young Democrats
- Berkeley Democratic Club
Elected Officials (21)
- State Senator Nancy Skinner
- Former State Senator Loni Hancock
- Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
- Berkeley Councilmember Lori Droste
- Berkeley Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani
- Berkeley Vice Mayor Sophie Hahn
- Former Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates
- Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson
- Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin
- Albany Councilmember Rochelle Nason
- Emeryville Councilmember John Bauters
- East Bay Regional Park District Board Member Elizabeth Echols
- Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett
- Former Berkeley Councilmember Gordon Wozniak
- Former Berkeley Councilmember Fred Collignon
- Former Berkeley City Auditor Ann-Marie Hogan
- Berkeley School Board President Judy Appel
- Berkeley School Board Vice President Ty Alper
- Berkeley School Board Member Julie Sinai
- Former Berkeley School Board Member Shirley Issel
- Alameda County Board of Education Member Joaquin Rivera
Individuals (10)
- David Hochschild, Chair, California Energy Commission
- Susan Medak, Managing Director, Berkeley Repertory Theater
- Ray Yep, Chair, Vision 2050
- Tim Hassler, Friends of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp, President Emeritus
- Michael Lewis, Writer, “Liar’s Poker,” “Moneyball,” “The Big Short”
- Joy Carlin, Theater Director and Actress
- Peter Calthorpe, Urban Planner
- George Perezvelez, Berkeley Police Review Commission, BART Citizen Police Review Board
- Cecilia “Ces” Rosales, Policy Issues Chair, California Democratic Party; Member, Alameda County Democratic Central Commi
- Harry Pollack, General Counsel, Save the Redwoods League
Questions & Answers
Questions from League of Women Voters of California and Elect Justice CA (2)
Does your office have any plans to include currently or formerly incarcerated people in your decision-making process as it relates to criminal justice issues? What would that look like?
Answer from Susan Wengraf:
I worked with formerly incarcerated people on crafting and passing a Fair Chance Ordinance, which prohibits consideration of criminal histories in screening applications for rental housing.
In the future I would like to work with formerly incarcerated residents on job training and apprentice programs with trade unions.
EJCA Mayors and City Councils
With 8,000 people eligible for release from CA prisons to help stem the transmission of COVID-19, how, if at all, would your office aid these Californians and their families in navigating reentry?
No answer provided.
Questions from LWV Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville (2)
If you are elected to office what most important immediate, specific challenge will you address and how?
Answer from Susan Wengraf:
- Affordable housing and homelessness.
- Wildfire prevention and safety
- Resilience and recovery from COVID-19
If you are elected to office what most important long term, specific challenge will you address and how?
Answer from Susan Wengraf:
- Affordable housing and homelessness.
- Wildfire prevention and safety
- Resilience and recovery from COVID-19
Candidate Contact Info
Social Justice Attorney
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Fire & Emergency/Disaster Preparedness: Improve our ability to lessen fire dangers in District 6—Reducing flammable brush and vegetation, supporting defensible space, improving our ability to escape, and keeping Alta Bates Hospital open.
- Infrastructure: Ensuring District 6 gets our fair share of city resources, especially those related to street repair, identifying/maintaining safe pathways/emergency evacuation routes, and inviting in energy efficiency
- Keeping residents and businesses in place: Protect homeowners, tenants, businesses and neighborhoods from foreclosures and property blight, and reduce and prevent homelessness citywide and in District 6
Experience
Experience
Profession:Social Justice Attorney
Supervising Deputy City Attorney, City of Oakland, City Attorney's Office (2011–2018)
Senior Deputy City Attorney, City of Oakland, City Attorney's Office (1999–2011)
Associate Attorney, Alexander & Karshmer (1997–1999)
Senior Associate Atorney, Preston Gate & Ellis (now K&L Gates) (Anchorage, Alaska Office) (1989–1997)
Commissioner, Berkeley Planning Commission — Elected position (1985–1989)
Member, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board — Appointed position (1980–1984)
Executive Director, Oakland Better Housing, Inc.(Non-profit corporation) (1973–1983)
Commissioner, Berkeley Rental Housing Committee — Appointed position (1969–1971)
Education
Golden Gate University School of Law — L/L/B, Law (1986)
University of San Francisco — None, Public Service (1978)
University of California, Berkeley — A.B., Political Science (1971)
Community Activities
Board member, former Board Chair, Just Cities (2019–current)
Member, International Federation of Professional Technical Engineers, Local 21 (1999–2018)
Board member, Alaska Women's Aid in Crisis (non-profit women's shelter) (1993–1997)
Senator, Associated Students of the University of California (1969–1969)
Member, Marine Fireman's Union (1969–1969)
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
- Alameda Labor Council
- Alameda County Treasurer Henry "Hank" Levy
- East Bay League of Conservation Voters
Organizations (12)
- Our Revolution - East Bay
- West Berkeley Artisans and Industrial Companies
- California Nurses Association
- National Union of Healthcare Workers
- Service Employees International Union - Local 1021
- California Labor Federation
- Cal Berkeley Democrats
- Berkeley Citizens Action
- Bay Rising Action
- Green Party of Alameda County
- Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
- East Bay Working Families
Elected Officials (5)
- Former Berkeley Vice Mayor Carole Davis Kennerly
- Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
- Former Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean
- Berkeley City Councilmember Kate Harrison
- Berkeley City Councilmember Ben Bartlett
Individuals (9)
- Boona Cheema, Former Berkeley Mental Health Commissioner
- Sheila Jordan Berkeley Homeless Panel member, former County Superintendent
- Rob Wrenn Berkeley Planning Commissioner
- Kitty Calavita Berkeley Police Commissioner
- Steven Finacom Berkeley Landmarks and Design Review Commissioner
- Jennifer Shanoski Berkeley Commission on Status of Women Member
- Janet Stromberg Berkeley Energy Commissioner
- Wendy Bloom Berkeley Labor Commissioner
- Erin Diehm Berkeley Parks & Recreation Commissioner
Questions & Answers
Questions from LWV Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville (2)
If you are elected to office what most important immediate, specific challenge will you address and how?
Answer from Richard Illgen:
Fire & Emergency/Disaster Preparedness
The COVID pandemic only illustrates how critical it is that our City maintains adequate 911 and fire emergency capacity. We already know that our hillside District is at high risk in the event of a fire or earthquake and that our home insurance is in jeopardy. I’ll improve our ability to lessen fire dangers in District 6—including reducing flammable brush and vegetation, supporting defensible space, and improving our ability to escape fire danger, all of which maintain property values and lowers fire insurance rates. Critical to my Emergency Preparedness Plan is keeping Alta Bates Hospital open, currently scheduled to close by 2030.
Infrastructure
Like many of you, I’m tired of driving over potholes and walking down treacherous pathways. Buckled streets and steep pathways with no railings present safety hazards to pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike, and make it more difficult and hazardous for first responders to reach our homes quickly or for us to escape in an emergency. I’ll fight for our fair share of resources to repair aging infrastructure and quickly address safety hazards like dilapidated phone poles and treacherous walking paths, fund improvements to improve efficiency in public buildings, address energy efficiency stormwater runoff, and repair our local streets and walkways in District 6.
Homelessness
Berkeley’s residents have consistently identified homelessness as being the top issue of concern — yet it continues to be a growing moral and health crisis in our City. I’ll champion regional collaboration with neighboring cities and work to extend partnerships with nonprofit providers and the County to expand mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing, and job training to help individuals, veterans, and families transition away from or off the streets. Providing more low and moderate income housing and ensuring implementation and enforcement of the Fair Chance ordinance will also provide essential housing opportunities for homeless residents.
LWV Long Term Challenges
If you are elected to office what most important long term, specific challenge will you address and how?
No answer provided.
