Iraq War veteran hopes to break same barrier in Suisun Council race against incumbents, Wal-Mart
California Political Desk
October 31, 2008
SUISUN CITY/FAIRFIELD, Ca. – An Iraq War veteran – fed up with what he calls incompetence and greed in City Hall, and the too powerful presence of Wal-Mart – could join Barack Obama Tuesday in breaking an electoral barrier for African Americans in his run for Suisun City Council.
Brian Cain, 39, is a longshot in the race against two incumbents who between them have been in office for two decades. Other incumbents not up for re-election have been office even longer.
If Cain wins, he would be the first black member of the Suisun City Council, according to City Hall watchers.
It's a tradition. Cain's grandfather, Lonnie Washington Sr., was Richmond's first black police officer and his uncle, Lonnie Washington Jr., was a Richmond City Councilman and Mayor.
Cain, 39, is a telecommunications specialist with AT&T and only joined the race two months ago. He served in several Iraq War campaigns, including one in Baghdad at the beginning of the war.
Cain has the support of thousands of residents who signed petitions to recall three other city council members, including the Mayor, after they voted to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter despite warnings by public safety experts that the project was too close to Travis Air Force Base and would be unsafe for shoppers and residents.
The council has also been tainted after the discovery of a large sum of missing city money, and other financial irregularities – and voting themselves a 118 percent pay increase.
Cain says he plans to "clean up City Hall, will not accept the pay hike if he wins, and will work to rescind it. He'll also call for an independent audit of city finances, more citizen input through public meetings and increased programs for seniors, youth and veterans.
Brian Cain, 39, is a longshot in the race against two incumbents who between them have been in office for two decades. Other incumbents not up for re-election have been office even longer.
If Cain wins, he would be the first black member of the Suisun City Council, according to City Hall watchers.
It's a tradition. Cain's grandfather, Lonnie Washington Sr., was Richmond's first black police officer and his uncle, Lonnie Washington Jr., was a Richmond City Councilman and Mayor.
Cain, 39, is a telecommunications specialist with AT&T and only joined the race two months ago. He served in several Iraq War campaigns, including one in Baghdad at the beginning of the war.
Cain has the support of thousands of residents who signed petitions to recall three other city council members, including the Mayor, after they voted to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter despite warnings by public safety experts that the project was too close to Travis Air Force Base and would be unsafe for shoppers and residents.
The council has also been tainted after the discovery of a large sum of missing city money, and other financial irregularities – and voting themselves a 118 percent pay increase.
Cain says he plans to "clean up City Hall, will not accept the pay hike if he wins, and will work to rescind it. He'll also call for an independent audit of city finances, more citizen input through public meetings and increased programs for seniors, youth and veterans.
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