Brentwood residents will decide on two new City Council members this November.
Six candidates are in the race to fill seats currently held by Vice Mayor Pa’tanisha Pierson and Councilmember Tony Oerlemans — both of whom are not seeking reelection when their terms end this year.
District 2
Vying for Pierson’s District 2 seat — representing the northeastern portion of town — are candidates Kris Brand, Vinoy Mereddy and Tammy Zickuhr.
Brand is wrapping up a term on the Brentwood Planning Commission, where he voted in favor of the new Costco and a Streets of Brentwood building expansion — and against projects like the controversial Bridle Gate housing development and additional drive-thru chain restaurants along Brentwood Boulevard.
“As the chairperson for the Brentwood Planning Commission, I’m running for City Council because we are at a pivotal moment for our city,” Brand wrote in an email. “By concentrating our focus on economic development, we can continue to embrace our city’s unique character without relying on housing development fees. I want to help build a community our kids will be proud to inherit.”
Mereddy is a senior software engineer and 20-year Brentwood resident who has also served in a public capacity. He is currently the Brentwood trustee with the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District and sits on the Contra Costa County Airport Land Use Commission.
During an interview, he said he had spent a significant amount of time knocking on doors, asking residents what they care about. As such, his priorities are public safety (specifically regarding e-bikes), economic growth and smart growth that balances the needs of the existing community with legal housing requirements from the state.
“A lot of residents say we love the small-town charm of Brentwood, and we don’t want it to change,” he said. “One of the things they associate most with that is our downtown and the farms. So I think no Brentwood residents would be happy if we changed anything downtown drastically.”
Zickuhr is a local business owner and 10-year Brentwood resident who wrote on her campaign website that she supports strong partnerships between residents, law enforcement, schools and the city.
In her campaign statement, Zickuhr said her priorities are “strengthening public safety, supporting (Brentwood’s) agricultural heritage and local businesses, and ensuring responsible, well-planned growth.”
District 4
Holley Bishop-Mello, Sheree Shannon and Stephanie Williams-Rogers are running for the District 4 seat, which represents Brentwood’s southeastern corner.
A local beekeeper with a human resources background, Bishop-Mello said that her roots, family, business and future are all in Brentwood. Her priorities are safer neighborhoods, balancing growth with infrastructure, stronger local businesses and preserving Brentwood’s agricultural heritage.
“I was raised here. I’m raising my children here, and I care deeply about the future of Brentwood. Serving this community is really personal to me,” she said in an interview. “I promise to listen, be accessible and represent our residents with honesty, respect and common sense.”
Shannon has a longtime background in business management. She outlined public safety, smart growth and preserving Brentwood’s character as her priorities.
“We need responsible growth that strengthens our local economy, expands housing opportunities, provides quality jobs, and preserves the Brentwood we love,” she wrote in her candidate statement. “Moving Brentwood forward will take fiscal responsibility, integrity, and strategic planning, and I am prepared to bring those qualities.”
Williams-Rogers is a health care professional who has previously served on the Brentwood Union School District Board of Trustees and the Brentwood Parks & Recreation Commission. Her priorities are smart growth, safe neighborhoods, a stronger local economy and a city that works for residents through accountability and by maintaining healthy reserves and facilities.
“I’ve spent years serving Brentwood as a school board president and Parks and Recreation Commission chair, making important decisions for our community and managing public resources responsibly,” Williams-Rogers wrote in an email. “I bring proven experience, practical leadership, and a commitment to making thoughtful decisions that serve the best interests of Brentwood residents.”