MARTINEZ — In a move that could reshape the politics of East Contra Costa County, Supervisor Federal Glover plans to end his two decade-plus tenure on the board in 2024, paving the way for a new politician to take his place for the first time since 2000.
Glover, a 67-year-old Democrat and the first and only Black person ever to serve as a Contra Costa supervisor, announced his “retirement” from the board Monday afternoon. He will finish his current term, set to expire in December 2024.
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In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Glover said simply that, “I’ve enjoyed it, but I’m ready for the new chapter in life.”
“There will be a lot of options to continue to try to make a difference,” Glover said. “So don’t know exactly what that is at the moment, but we’re going to be doing something — we’re not going to be laying around, that’s for sure.”
Before his election in 2000, he served as a city councilmember and mayor of Pittsburg, where he’s lived all his life. Despite his long ties to East Contra Costa, Glover’s also represented other parts of the northern Contra Costa waterfront, from Pinole and Crockett to Pacheco and Clyde as a supervisor. He’s sat on many other local and regional boards, most notably the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Numerous former supervisors and former colleagues hailed Glover as a trailblazer who cared deeply for the county’s youth — notably hosting an annual youth summit filled with guest speakers and workshops on financial literacy and job development — for decades. They also noted his advocacy on transportation issues, including expanding Highway 4 from four lanes to eight, bringing eBART service to East Contra Costa and helping to complete the Caldecott Tunnel’s fourth bore.
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U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, recalled Glover being sworn in as the county’s first Black board member — an important moment for a county that is one of the original counties of California and created in 1850. While Black leaders had been elected elsewhere — in the city of Richmond, for instance — the county had not had a Black politician for its first 150 years.
“We think of the Bay Area, and Contra Costa and Alameda, as being open to change,” said DeSaulnier, who himself is a former Contra Costa supervisor. “But it took us a long time to get us someone to break that barrier. And Federal was the one.”
In 2015, Glover’s serious health concerns sparked speculation that he would end his political career. But after two months of waiting on an organ donor list, he underwent kidney and heart transplant surgery, recovered and returned to work.
West Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, who served with Glover for the past two-plus decades, told this news organization that he “will greatly miss my long time friend and colleague.”
“We worked together on many initiatives to make Contra Costa a healthier and more equitable place. Supervisor Glover cared most about improving opportunities for youth and making sure our most vulnerable residents got the help they needed to thrive and be successful,” Gioia said. “His leadership and advocacy on behalf of those most underserved will be missed.”
Added former longtime Supervisor Karen Mitchoff: “He’s a very strong personality — he’s very determined, which I think is a strong asset to have an in elected leader.”
Glover will spend his final year on the board as chair, a position he’s held four times.
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Less than a day after Glover’s announcement, candidates began jockeying for position for a rare opportunity to fill the District 5 seat without the burden of unseating an incumbent. Currently, the district includes includes Pittsburg, Martinez, Hercules and Rodeo and portions of Antioch and Pinole as well the unincorporated communities of Alhambra Valley, Bay Point, Briones, Rodeo, Pacheco, Crockett, Tormey, Port Costa, Mt. View, Vine Hill, Reliez Valley and Clyde.
Three people have begun collecting signatures and filing out paperwork for the upcoming March 5, 2024 primary election: Pittsburg city councilmembers Shanelle Scales-Preston and Jelani Killings, along with Antioch Councilmember Mike Barbanica.
On Tuesday morning, Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston threw his support behind Barbanica, a former longtime Pittsburg police officer, noting in a statement that “his commitment to public safety make him the ideal candidate for this position.”
Glover, however, said he’s backing Scales-Preston — someone Glover praised as having “the ability to get things done.” A Pittsburg city council member since 2018 and staff member for Rep. DeSaulnier, she would be the first Black woman to serve on the board.
“I’ve had an opportunity to watch her grow and see she has a passion for the work and helping people,” Glover said.
The deadline for candidates to file is Dec. 13. One person who has yet to file paperwork to run is county Assessor Gus Kramer, who unsuccessfully tried to unseat Glover in 2020. On Tuesday afternoon, Kramer left open the possibility of entering the race: “I have lost interest in the seat for myself, but that doesn’t mean it may not be revived.”
This story has been updated to reflect that Shanelle Scales-Preston still works for U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, as his district director.
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