Candidate for
Council Member; City of Pittsburg

This is the fifth City Council campaign I have run. In each campaign, I have prided myself in running as an independent candidate, as I believe all City Council candidates should. "Slate politics" was common place in the past in Pittsburg. At that time, Pittsburg politics was dominated by a small group of well-funded politicians who hand-picked a slate of candidates to run in every election, effectively shutting out any candidate outside their clique, from having any realistic chance of being elected. This is a shameful practice.

I am an independent candidate, running on my record. I bring integrity and experience. I am not running as a slate with any other candidates. I have not, and will not, endorse any of my opponents in this election. I respectfully ask for one of your votes, so I can continue to provide leadership for Pittsburg's future. Please call me at 925 432-4992, email me at bobbytlewis@gmail.com or visit my website at http://www.boblewis4citycouncil.com. to get more details on my platform.

There is currently a perceived lack of transparency from the Pittsburg City Council. The system that has developed in recent years for council members to ask questions on agenda items is very troubling. Prior to the council meeting, the city manager meets with each council member individually in his office, to go over all the items on the agenda and answer any questions the council members may have. Most items are then passed at the council meeting on the consent calendar, with little or no discussion in the public forum. This has led to scaled down council meetings that are held an average of once per month and only last about 35-45 minutes. It is not uncommon to have 25-30 items on the consent calendar. While this system probably does not violate the letter of the Brown Open Meeting Act, it certainly violates the spirit and intent of the act. The public deserves to hear the discussions on the various agenda items. We need to get back to questioning what is recommended by staff, asking the tough questions and getting answers that make sense. We need public dialogue, discussion and occasionally a dissenting opinion, before the City Council makes decisions. I will be an agent for change. I pledge to the citizens of Pittsburg, that if I am elected, I will ask my questions during the public City Council meetings and demand that the answers become part of the public record.

Voters should decide the fate of the Wes Pac oil transportation and storage project. This is the most contentious issue to face the City of Pittsburg in recent history. While the proposed Wes Pac oil transportation and storage facility project could provide significant annual revenue and jobs for the City of Pittsburg, it also poses a possible safety threat to our citizens. This project has already divided and polarized the community into opposing factions. The City Council should be presented with the completed environmental impact report and all the facts relating to the project. Both those in favor of the project and those opposed to it, should be allowed to make their case at a public hearing. Once they have all the facts and information and have heard all the arguments for and against, the City Council should vote to hold a referendum on the project, funded by the developer, and let the voters of Pittsburg decide if the benefits outweigh the impacts. That way the voters will have spoken and both factions will know the process has been fair and above board. LET THE VOTERS DECIDE!