This article appeared in the print version of the Benicia Herald on Sunday, August 7, 2022

Benicia City Councilmember Lionel Largaespada files for re-election

BENICIA – Benicia City Councilmember Lionel Largaespada announced that he has filed to run for re-election in November.

“Serving the residents of Benicia, and representing our community across Solano County, has been an honor and privilege,” said Councilmember Largaespada. “Over the past four years, I have sought to be an independent, common-sense voice, listening to each Benician, and always voting to improve the quality of life in our community. I am excited to run for re-election and I want to use the next four years to show how much farther we can go as a community when we put the residents first, fund critical priorities and make sensible spending decisions.”

Largaespada was elected to the Benicia City Council in November 2018. During his first term on the city council, he has demonstrated a record of following through on his campaign promises and accomplishing the most important priorities to Benicia residents such as securing more funds for roads, public art, the city grants program, the Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns and Family Resource Center, while protecting open space, supporting our police and fire departments and maintaining our parks and library.

In addition, he initiated the development of the BOOST grant program for Benicia small businesses during the pandemic, proposed ordinances defining commercial blight conditions as nuisances and another enacting time limits on commercial construction projects based on job value, with monetary penalties for noncompliance, and drafted amendments to the City Council Rules of Procedure.

Reflecting on his first term, Largaespada said he is prepared and ready to build upon the progress he has made thus far serving the community to ensure the City of Benicia works for everyone.

“I am really proud of what the city council and staff have gotten done working together and for those things that haven’t happened yet there is a lot of good momentum, and they are on the way such as downtown parking and more infrastructure improvements.”

If re-elected, Largaespada said his goals over the next four years would include addressing the high cost of water and sewer bills, keeping Benicia a safe and special place for families and retirees and continuing to lead efforts to make the local economy growth vibrant while protecting the community’s historic and environmental resources.

As a Benicia councilmember, Largaespada represents the community on several regional policy boards including the Solano County Transit (SolTrans) Board, Solano County 2x2 Homeless Committee and Solano County Anti-Trafficking Coalition.

Prior to his first election to the City Council, Largaespada served as chairman of the Benicia Economic Development Board, the Advocacy Committee at the Benicia Chamber of Commerce and the Design Committee at Benicia Main Street. His community service included advising Carquinez Village, mentoring at the Benicia Middle School and volunteering for the Matthew Turner Elementary Parent Teacher Association.

He remains an active volunteer for several local community organizations year-round including the Benicia Adopting Benicians (Benicia Community Foundation), Benicia Dog Festival, Benicia Grad Night, Benicia Litter Pickers, Benicia Main Street, Benicia Peddlers Fair, Benicia Reads, Benicia Tree Foundation, and the Tim & Jeannie Hamann Foundation. He also supports the Benicia Community Action Council (CAC), Benicia Historical Society, and Kyle Hyland Foundation/Benicia Teen Center.

A devoted family man and husband, Largaespada and his wife of 23 years, Jennifer, have called Benicia home since 2005. They have two daughters who are students in the Benicia Unified School District. His brother, two sisters, cousin, 14 nephews and nieces, and stepmother also call Benicia home.

Jennifer is also active in Benicia. She founded the Benicia chapter of the National Charity League and currently serves on the Benicia High School Parent Teacher Association. Jennifer has also served on the boards of the Matthew Turner Elementary Parent Teacher Association, Benicia Education Foundation and North Bay Performing Arts.

Professionally, Largaespada is a marketing professional and client services specialist with more than 20 years of experience executing large scale marketing campaigns and technical projects for a variety of private and publicly traded companies. Over his career, he has developed award winning media campaigns and presented on a wide range of marketing topics at several industry events. Currently, he is the director of marketing and business development for F3 & Associates a land survey services firm and private utility locator based in Benicia.

A Bay Area native he graduated from Pinole Valley High School before majoring in Government and minoring in Philosophy at Saint Mary’s College of California and receiving a Master of Science degree from Boston University majoring in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Advertising.

For more information about Benicia City Councilmember Lionel Largaespada’s campaign, visit votelionel.com or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.