Two members of Pinole’s City Council are running against one newcomer for the two available spots on the council this year.
Mayor Maureen Toms and Councilmember Devin Murphy face a challenge from city planning commissioner Truc “Christy” Lam-Julian.
Maureen Toms
Toms first served on the council from 2015 to 2018 and was elected again in 2020.
Toms has more than 31 years working as a land use planner for Contra Costa County and says on her campaign site that she has decades of experience dealing with issues currently facing Pinole.
Those issues include infrastructure, commercial and housing development, climate change, natural disaster preparation, budgeting for infrastructure, housing, redevelopment, regional planning, and land use law.
A lifelong resident of Pinole, Toms said she’ll promote a balanced budget, which must include adequate reserves.
“We must also work to pay down underfunded CalPERS liabilities,” she said. “The costs are expected to increase in the coming years at a faster rate than our revenue is projected to increase. We need to be prepared.”
She said the city must address changes to sales tax revenue as brick-and-mortar stores close and also should reuse vacant buildings. She also wants to build up Old Town Pinole.
Toms said she would prioritize public safety and disaster preparedness. She touted her role in helping keep the Pinole Swim Center open and expanding library hours.
Toms also touted her environmental experience, noting she served on the League of California Cities’ Environmental Quality Committee for two years, reviewing proposed legislation related to water and air quality, clean energy, and related issues. She also worked on Pinole’s Climate Action Plan and explored ways to address sea level rise.
Toms said she voted for Pinole residents to have the option to buy electricity from a provider with a higher rate of renewable sources than PG&E and will prioritize adding public charging stations. She also said maintaining roads, storm drains, sewer lines and adding bike and pedestrian improvements are high priorities.
Devin Murphy
Murphy, the other incumbent, was first elected in 2020 and served as mayor in 2023. He said on his election page he was the first African American, openly gay, and youngest mayor in Pinole’s 120-year history.
Since his election, Murphy said he helped re-open Pinole Fire Station 74; championed a more transparent, citywide participatory budgeting process; advanced the city’s economic development strategy to promote small business growth and economic opportunity; and secured over $100 million new private-public investments in housing and local action on energy efficiency, addressing the climate crisis.
On his site, Murphy said he helped rebuild after the COVID-19 pandemic and “strengthening public safety, supporting our diverse cultural needs, and establishing a robust budget to meet our city’s evolving demands.”
“Devin is dedicated to fostering inclusive dialogue, ensuring every voice is heard, and working collaboratively to create a better future for Pinole, regardless of political affiliation, background, race, or religion, he is committed to representing and amplifying your voice,” the campaign site said.
Truc “Christy” Lam-Julian
Challenger Lam-Julian is currently a city planning commissioner and a former community service commissioner.
On her website, Lam-Julian said she founded the group East Bay United Against Hate whose social media description describes it as a “movement to address bullying and build inclusion,” and served as a union shop steward, a former PTA president, a Rotary Club of Pinole board member, a member of the Contra Costa County Developmental Disabilities Council board and Contra Costa Commission for Women and Girls.
“These opportunities have shown me that the system is flawed, but through advocacy and collaboration, we can drive meaningful change,” said Lam-Julian, who called herself a proud first-generation Vietnamese American.
She said she has navigated social safety nets, funded her education through scholarships and work, and became a small business owner and chef, using food to bridge social, economic, and cultural divides.
“Addressing the issues of housing, economic development, safety, hazard planning, and climate change is interconnected, and ensuring Pinole remains a safe and sustainable community requires developing resources for long-term needs and comprehensive programs and services to support the growing diverse community,” Lam-Julian said on her site.
Her priorities include public safety, which she said includes road repair, facility maintenance, pedestrian and gun safety, and ensuring funding for preventative and first-response services. She said the city can no longer afford “bandage fixes” for repairs, liabilities and services.
She said Pinole is the fifth-most diverse city in the U.S. and its leadership, facilities and service should reflect that. She supports downtown revitalization and maximizing city-owned parcels and optimizing population density.
Lam-Julian also said the city’s green open spaces are underutilized. She said the city needs to improve communication standards to increase accessibility and create a safe space for innovation. She said she wants to foster a more collaborative environment that will benefit Pinole’s diverse community.
Election Day is on Tuesday. Find out more about Contra Costa County elections here.