Retired police chief to seek mayor's post Retired police chief to seek mayor's post (April 05, 2002)

Bill Eastman wants to unseat Pico

Former Pleasanton Police Chief Bill Eastman has announced his candidacy for mayor, running against incumbent Mayor Tom Pico who plans to seek re-election to a second two-year term in November.

Eastman, 61, retired in January 2000 after 19 years as chief of police. He is also a former president of the California Police Chiefs Association and the Alameda County Police Chiefs & Sheriffs Association. A graduate of Pepperdine University, he earned a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and served in the Marines. He and his wife DiAnn have lived in Pleasanton for 21 years, where their daughters, Jennifer and Erica, graduated from Foothill High School.

Eastman said he is not "getting into politics, but getting into leadership."

"I accomplished a lot in my years as police chief and I think I can offer even more that will help Pleasanton for the next 20 years," he said. "Pleasanton is still a very good town and I'm getting into the mayor's race to keep it that way."

Starting as a police officer in 1967, Eastman rose through the ranks to become a captain on the Culver City police force in Southern California in 1981, when he was appointed chief of police in Pleasanton. At that time, the department had 32 sworn officers, Stoneridge Shopping Center had just opened and the Hacienda Business Park was under construction. Those new businesses, plus a rapidly growing population, added major responsibilities to the police department.

Eastman also started the D.A.R.E. drug awareness program in Pleasanton, with presentations to thousands of elementary school children over the years. Bicycle safety and other school programs, such as "Stranger Danger" instruction, were started under his watch.

Eastman said he hopes to work with Pico in limiting the actual mayoral campaign to three-to-four months, with debates, forums and public presentations during that time.

The race for two open City Council seats is also intensifying. Incumbent Councilwoman Becky Dennis has announced that she will step down after eight years. Councilwoman Sharrell Michelotti said she has not yet decided if she will seek re-election when her term expires this year. Three have already announced their candidacy for the council seats: Bob Wright, a former planning commissioner; Jerry Thorne, chairman of the Bernal Community Park Task Force, and Jennifer Hosterman, chairwoman of the Bernal Property Task Force.

The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5.