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Fujita to oppose incumbent Tilton in Pinole Recall election

The Concerned Citizens of Pinole (CCOP), the grass-roots group that is spearheading the recall of Mayor Maria Alegria and Councilman Stephen Tilton, announced that Virginia Fujita, a retired personnel specialist for the city, has entered the race to replace Tilton.

Fujita, who retired last year and was re-hired by the city this year on a part-time basis without benefits, is the first Japanese-American to ever run for the council in Pinole. She will be elected if Tilton is recalled, as she is the only candidate running. See text of Fujita’s announcement speech to the Pinole City Council, delivered on November 20.

Two candidates are running for Alegria’s seat; one will be elected should she be recalled. They are former Councilman Roy Swearingen, who served from 1987 to 1990, and machine shop owner Steve Denlis. Denlis has endorsed the recall but is not a CCOP member.

In a separate special election for former Councilman David Cole’s seat, the candidates are Pinole Planning Commissioner Debbie Long and former Pinole Camber of Commerce Executive Director Ivette Ricco. Cole resigned his seat in August. Ricco has a long association with Alegria and Pear Street Bistro owner/former Chamber of Commerce President Gary Wong, whose failure to make monthly payments on nearly half a million dollars on his Pinole Redevelopment Agency loans for more than two years was a catalyst for the recall. All three elections will be on Tuesday, February 5, the day of the California Presidential Primary.

Meanwhile, a coalition of County Democratic and Labor interests flexed its muscle recently in announcing its not unexpected outside support of Alegria and Tilton and to quash the local, citizen-driven recall. Observers say this decision was “railroaded,” perhaps in a desperate attempt to stave off potential damage to Alegria, one of the County Dems’ rising stars. “I feel that there was insufficient notice of this resolution,” said Rich Verrilli, who also is editor of the Contra Costa County Democratic Party central committee’s newsletter, Democratic Dispatch.”

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