Dublin Vice Mayor Melissa Hernandez’s bid for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors received the endorsement of perhaps its most labor-friendly member last week as the campaign to replace retiring District 1 Supervisor Scott Haggerty heads into the final stretch toward the Mar. 3 primary.
Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle announced his endorsement of Hernandez, a first-term councilmember from Dublin, on Dec. 31.
Valle’s District 2 shares Fremont with the District 1 seat that also includes Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, and Sunol.
Valle’s support follows Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, giving Hernandez endorsements from two of the five supervisors. Chan announced her endorsement of Hernandez’s campaign back in October.
Valle’s support is notable since it may suggest local labor unions have indeed soured on state Sen. Bob Wieckowski as the labor candidate in the race.
While the statewide Service Employees Union International (SEIU) has issued support for Wieckowski, labor support at the local level has lacked exuberance for his supervisorial campaign.
Valle is typically viewed as one of the most progressive members of the Board of Supervisors, in addition, to being its standard-bearer when it comes to support for the labor movement.
Hernandez has also picked up endorsements from a number of public safety unions over the past few months,
The race in District 1, meanwhile, continues to be a low-key affair. No significant policy debate has emerged and no controversies have come to the forefront despite a seat on the Board of Supervisors being a plum seat in Alameda County government.
In addition, to Hernandez and Wieckowski, the primary race also includes Fremont Councilmember Vinnie Bacon and Dublin Mayor David Haubert.
The four candidates will meet at a candidate forum on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m., at the Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Boulevard, Pleasanton. (Flyer below.)
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