CHANGE IS COMING to the Pleasant Hill City Council next year, regardless of who wins the council races Nov. 5.
The city is officially moving from at-large to district-based elections this year, which will happen in two phases. Districts 1, 2 and 5 officially come into existence in December, when three new councilmembers are sworn in after the election.
Districts 3 and 4 come into play in 2026.
Of the current council quintet, three won’t sit on the board next year. Mayor Matt Rinn’s term is up this year, as are the terms of councilmembers Tim Flaherty and Allen Vinson.
All three live in the future District 3 of Councilmember Zac Shess, whose term doesn’t expire until 2026. Councilmember Sue Noack’s term is also up in 2026.
Four candidates are vying for the open seats in new districts 1 and 5. Since Andrei Obolenskiy was the only candidate to throw his name into the ring for the new District 2 seat, the council decided in August to appoint him to the post. He’ll be seated with the two other new council members in December.
In District 1, Marshall Lewis squares off against Belle La, while Oliver Greenwood goes up against Amanda Szakats in District 5.
Marshall Lewis
Lewis said on his campaign site he’s “a numbers guy” who works as fiscal controller for a countywide organization with a significant budget.
Lewis also said he’s a problem solver.
“When I have an idea on how to fix something, I spend all night (or year) researching it and developing a plan. Then I make it reality,” Lewis said on his site. “I’ve done that as a member of the Peace Corps in Tanzania, back at home as a fundraiser for a major global nonprofit, and within our community as a City Council-appointed member of the Concord/Pleasant Hill Health Care District Grant Committee.”
Though running for a non-partisan office, Lewis has served as a board member of the Contra Costa Young Democrats and as an active member of the Diablo Valley Democrats. In 2021, he was elected to serve on the executive board of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County as controller.
He said, if elected, his priorities will include redefining public safety.
“We should expand sidewalks and bike lanes, focus on safe routes to school for our children, and reduce congestion around schools and parks,” he said on his site.
Lewis would address homelessness with “a compassionate, housing-first, prevention-and treatment-focused approach — these are our neighbors after all,” he said. “All of the public safety concerns residents rightly have can be prevented with housing, mental health services and substance abuse treatment. To accomplish this, we must partner with Contra Costa County CORE, local community groups and service providers.”
Lewis said the city faces a severe fiscal crisis that could lead to bankruptcy as early as 2029 if doesn’t act right away.
“We must ensure fiscal stability and sustainability while protecting the services we deserve,” he said. “The city’s general fund is currently projected to run out of money by the end of the next city councilmember’s term. The city faces steep pension costs that are fixed by law, and we have to plan around them.”
He said once voter-approved Measure K funds pay off the new library, the city can use those revenues to shore up the general fund. He said the city needs to fill gaps until 2032, then rebuild reserves without making cuts that would affect public safety.
Lewis said to address housing, the city must diversify housing strategies beyond just large, high-density projects and provide “the missing middle” — duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses, along with accessory dwelling units.
Belle La
La is a senior financial analyst at UCSF School of Medicine, who said on her campaign site (www.bellelaa.com) she champions diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Before her current position, La was a contracts analyst for the city and county of San Francisco, where she supervised city contracts and negotiated and analyzed departmental data to shape policies.
She also dedicated time to community welfare during her tenure at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, leading the expansion of satellite offices to enhance access to essential community resources.
La said on her site, “Throughout my career in public service, I’ve worked with at-risk youth and the most vulnerable communities to help provide resources, reduce crime and increase well-being. Our district deserves a representative at City Council with the experience necessary to handle a wide variety of issues- from safety to financial stability and beyond.”
La wants to expand pedestrian and bike pathways and build out the city’s lighting infrastructure, focusing on public safety and energy efficiency and sustainability.
La said on her site she wants more traffic calming measures and wants to launch community education programs on resources for unhoused people and resident rights.
She also said she’d partner with the fire department for better disaster preparedness, work with the school district to enhance student safety and do the same with the Police Department to ensure business and customer safety.
La said she’d tackle deficits with fiscal responsibility while strategizing for the long haul to amplify revenue generation and minimize expenses.
Oliver Greenwood
In District 5, Greenwood, a lawyer, former Marine and commissioner of Pleasant Hill Baseball Association, takes on Szakats, a teacher and former nonprofit board member.
Greenwood said on his campaign site, as then-director and president of the Contra Costa Bar Association, he “played a crucial role in keeping our courts operational during the pandemic.”
Greenwood said he’ll push for smart money management to “ensure responsible budgeting and transparent financial practices to maximize our city’s resources effectively.”
Greenwood said he’d support local businesses through initiatives promoting economic growth and community engagement. He said he’s committed to fostering safe, welcoming neighborhoods and advocating for affordable, sustainable housing options.
“I aim to enhance our community’s livability and environmental responsibility,” he said.
He wants to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and residents through community policing strategies promoting safety and trust, while supporting programs addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty and lack of education.
He’d also support local businesses through support programs, tax incentives, and streamlined permitting processes and invest in infrastructure projects improving public spaces, roads, and utilities.
Greenwood would also advocate for policies increasing the availability of affordable housing options for families, seniors, and individuals at all income levels. He’d also promote green building practices to reduce the environmental impact of new developments and renovations.
Amanda Szakats
Szakats, a teacher who owns a small tutoring business, said on her website that she’s endorsed by the California Democratic Party. Her priorities include improving pedestrian and bike safety, supporting small businesses, and advocating for redevelopment of underutilized areas.
Szakats said she’ll be a “champion of inclusivity and diversity.” “As the mother of a child in the LGBTQIA+ community, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of creating a community that celebrates diversity,” Szakats said on her site. “I’ve marched in Pride events and I’m dedicated to making sure that Pleasant Hill is a place where everyone feels valued and respected.” Szakats said she’d be an advocate for affordable housing and smart development, with a focus on seniors, disabled people, and young families by redeveloping underutilized properties.
“I’ll also work to ensure that our growth is sustainable and environmentally responsible,” she said.
Szakats said she’d work to enhance pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, and sidewalk improvements, particularly around schools and high-traffic areas. She wants to implement “Safe Routes to School” programs to improve pathways for families walking or biking to schools. She’d also work with city planners and the city’s Traffic Safety Commission to implement its “Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan,” including comprehensive bike lane networks that connect residential areas to schools, parks, and shopping centers. She’d also strive for “complete streets” whenever possible to ensure roadways are designed for all users.
Szakats said she’d want to collaborate with police and nonprofits to develop community-driven programs to reduce property crimes and retail theft, including educational programs like small-business security workshops.
Szakats wants to explore grants, low-interest loan programs, and tax incentives to help businesses, focusing on underrepresented groups.
Another priority would be promoting Pleasant Hill as a destination with family-friendly events and cultural activities like youth sporting events, 5k runs, and educational competitions like debate and chess tournaments.
Szakats also wats to prioritize filling vacant storefronts by actively recruiting a mix of retail, restaurant, and service-oriented businesses. She said she’d also work with businesses interested in doing temporary “pop-up” shops and seasonal vendors and bringing back a farmers market.
Election Day is Nov. 5. More information about Contra Costa County elections is available on the county clerk recorder’s website.