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Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, first elected to the county board in 2000 and now also representing Pleasanton, is vying for reelection on June 7 against challenger Bryan Parker, a former Port of Oakland commissioner and former Oakland mayoral candidate.
In the last four years since Miley took the county board’s responsibility for representing Pleasanton from Supervisor Scott Haggerty, our city has had extraordinary county service and attention on issues needing county assistance. We urge voters to reelect Miley to another four-year term.
Miley represents District 4 on the county board, which includes East Oakland, Montclair, Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, El Portal Ridge and Pleasanton.
It’s here, though, where he spends much of his time. With an office at the County Fairgrounds, he checks in regularly with Mayor Jerry Thorne, City Council members and city, civic and business leaders in Pleasanton.
Just last weekend, he represented the County board at the groundbreaking of the new Kottinger Gardens housing complex for seniors and, across town, at the grand opening of the new Axis Community Health center that serves low-income and uninsured Tri-Valley residents.
After becoming our county supervisor, Miley initiated quarterly Alameda County-City of Pleasanton liaison meetings with selected council members. It’s a great forum that allows city leaders to talk one-on-one about issues of mutual interests, such as widening State Route 84, building BART to Livermore and proposed development of a convention center and hotel on the Fairgrounds.
But it doesn’t take meetings to talk to Miley. He’s a good listener. If we have concerns related to the county, such as with unincorporated Happy Valley sewer, water and fire services, City Manager Nelson Fialho just picks up the phone for a quick conversation. “He’s always available to us,” Fialho says.
Miley knows that Pleasanton is an engaged community with a variety of diverse stakeholders. Rather than tell them about the county’s expectations, he listens and relies on us to tell him what we think are the priorities and how he can help.
Challenger Bryan Parker is an affable, skilled candidate who is seeking election to his first public office. In his interview with the Pleasanton Weekly’s editorial staff, he advocated all the important goals: improve public safety, attract new and good-paying jobs, invest in transportation improvements, and much more. His main theme, however, was “change,” and the need to replace Miley as part of that change.
Over the last four years that Miley has been the county’s supervisor for Pleasanton, he’s served us well. We see no need to change and recommend a vote for Nate Miley for Alameda County Supervisor on June 7.
Pleasanton Weekly editorial staff.