Deborah Allen
BART Director Debora Allen, a long-time advocate for improved public safety and a common-sense approach to government spending, today announced her candidacy for Contra Costa Supervisor District 4.
“I’m excited to take this important step in my fight to improve the quality of life of all Contra Costa residents,” said Allen, a 35-year Contra Costa resident. “I believe my close scrutiny of government spending, my background as a business owner and my experience fighting for fiscal transparency and stability for the region’s largest transportation agency make me uniquely qualified to serve as county supervisor. I’m looking forward to the upcoming campaign and the June primary.”
Allen was first elected as Board Director for BART District 1 in 2016 and easily won re-election in 2020, besting her nearest opponent by 75,000 votes. Her willingness to stand up for suburban taxpayers and fight for quality-of-life improvements for transit riders – including station hardening, a ban on panhandling, and tougher crime and fare evasion enforcement – often put her at odds with the urban city-backed majority on the board.
Allen was instrumental in the creation and development of the Office of BART Inspector General and serves as the first Chair of the Standing BART Audit Committee, important steps in eliminating wasteful spending practices at the transportation agency.
If elected supervisor, she would bring that same tenacity, accountability and common-sense approach to government spending to the county board. Allen says that as supervisor her priorities would include public safety, regional transportation issues, improved mental health services and the efficient use of taxpayer money. Though a supporter of new housing, she would also fight to bring new jobs to the county in order to improve the overall jobs-housing balance.
“Building new housing alone won’t solve the issues facing working-class families and average county taxpayers,” Allen said. “We need to fund effective and successful mental health programs, bring in new jobs and improve our transportation network in a coordinated approach that addresses the quality of life for all residents. We must also address why the cost of new housing construction is so unaffordable and take steps to reduce the burden placed on small businesses to fund basic services.”
Allen, a Clayton resident, spent 30 years in financial management as a CPA, tax manager, CFO and business owner. Prior to her time on the BART board, she served six years on the Contra Costa employees’ pension board, where she fought for reforms in the public pension system.
Allen currently serves on several transportation-related boards and regional commissions, including Capitol Corridor JPA, Innovate 680 and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
Allen is seeking the District 4 supervisor seat being vacated by Karen Mitchoff, who served three terms. District 4 covers Concord, much of Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Clayton and unincorporated areas around Mount Diablo. CCCBOS 2021 District Map
For more information about Debora Allen for Contra Costa County Supervisor visit DeboraAllen.com.
looking at the current condition of BART, I can’t say I’d support this candidacy.
With few people actually interested in local politics, I’m sure she’ll be elected anyway.
Look at her voting record for BART. She is exactly what she claims to be – the voice of fiscal responsibility. She is only one of nine votes, and so her voice is often lost among the progressives on the BART board who prefer to spend on housing and homelessness rather than on safe, clean transit. In the next BART election, it’s time to vote out Mark Foley, Robert Raburn, and Janice Li if you want to see better conditions for BART.
Agreed
I understand that concern, but you can’t hold the state of BART governance against her. She’s consistently the dissenting vote. BART’s board is primarily comprised of incompetent and ideological weirdos who have no interest in pragmatic governance and prefer to virtue signal. Allen is the only voice of sanity, and unfortunately she’s regularly outvoted by the others. It’d be good to see her get shine at the county level. I’m supporting her candidacy.