| | Published November 16th, 2016
| Lamorinda BART Results: One Incumbent Breezes, One Pummeled
| | | By Nick Marnell |  | | Rebecca Saltzman |
Former Moraga Mayor Ken Chew delivered a strong performance in Contra Costa County in the race for Bay Area Rapid Transit District 3 director, but he was ultimately done in by incumbent Rebecca Saltzman's strength in Alameda County.
"I'm stunned. I am surprised at how well Rebecca did. I hoped that Lamorinda could counter her strength in Berkeley but it did not," said Chew, who finished second out of four District 3 candidates.
"We did run a close race in Contra Costa County," said Saltzman, whom Chew defeated there by 100 votes out of 25,000 cast; however, the incumbent beat Chew by more than 25,000 votes of the 70,000 in Alameda County. Saltzman said that the agency must get to work on the division in Contra Costa County. "Maybe some of the funds from Measure RR that we use there will help repair the damage," she said.
Chew was the only candidate of the four who did not support Measure RR, the $3.5 billion BART funding request that voters overwhelmingly approved, but he did not think it hurt him in his race. "It was more publicized in Contra Costa County, not so much in the other counties," he said.
"We'll regroup, then we'll have to analyze the data," Chew said.
"I'm glad I did it," said Varun Paul, the Berkeley activist who ran a grassroots campaign and pulled in nearly 10,000 votes. "I have one regret, though. I would have raised money from traditional sources, which would have helped me get my message out via more traditional means." He acknowledged that he could have done a better job explaining the deficiencies in the BART record, especially to new residents.
Paul said he was disillusioned that organizations would endorse a candidate without even contacting or inviting him. "I don't know what I'll do next," he said. "I was turned off by the process, but I am still excited about government and political activity."
Fourth-place finisher Worth Freeman declined to comment on the BART race. "Unfortunately considering the presidential election circumstances I sunk myself into work and solitude," he said.
District 1 Race
In the race for director of BART District 1, which includes the Lafayette BART station, financial analyst Debora Allen defeated three-term incumbent Gail Murray with more than 64 percent of the vote.
"It was a combination of things," Allen said. "We ran a good campaign, and we spent our money well. The public wants more financial oversight. But the biggest factor was the public sentiment that BART needs to change and to embark on a new path."
"I understand that people have been frustrated by the crowding and equipment problems on BART," Murray said. "Solutions take time and money, and I know that because of my work on behalf of my constituents, I leave BART with a better future to serve the Bay Area."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA