On this episode, I chat with Brian Oftedal, candidate for Brentwood City Council District 3. We address not only why he is running, but some of the goofy online rhetoric being stated about him. We get into his experience on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors, work with the American Red Cross and Ronn Nunn Elementary
. We get into several items relating to the city of Brentwood from public safety, staff retention, smart growth, civility, road safety, homelessness and emergency preparedness. Episode may be long, but we cover a lot of items.
For more information on Brian Oftedal: www.brian4brentwood.com
About Brian Oftedal:
My wife and I settled in Brentwood over 20 years ago because it’s an excellent place to raise a family. Surrounded by working farms and top-notch schools, our experience has been idyllic. We have two lovely daughters, and being actively involved in parenting has been a great blessing. I have served as the Vice President of the Parents Club and as the Chair of the School Site Council, which is dedicated to fundraising and supporting our schools. As a small business owner, I greatly value the commitment to the community I see in Brentwood families and businesses daily.
I am running for the Brentwood City Council because I strongly believe in Brentwood and the value of public service. In my professional life, I am a Senior Captain in the Oakland Fire Department. I have previously served as the President of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board and am the Chair of the Contra Costa County Fire Advisory Commission. Our community has been built on core principles: putting safety first, ensuring intelligent and sustainable growth, and respecting our history.
As our community has grown and our needs have changed, I have taken the lead in efforts to improve our fire service levels to modern standards and response times, addressing an issue that has plagued our area for decades. In these roles, I’ve learned the importance of listening and inclusivity, avoiding divisive rhetoric, and creating opportunities for success that are widely shared and well-informed.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue serving you on the council, and I am committed to ensuring that I am readily available to listen and represent your concerns.
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Previous Contra Costa News Podcasts:
- Sept. 16 – Faye Maloney Runs for Brentwood City Council
- Sept. 12 – Gerald Johnson Runs for Mayor of Brentwood
- Sept. 9 – Oleksii Chuiko Runs for Oakley City Council
- Sept. 6 – Cristina Pena Langley Runs for Oakley City Council
- Sept. 4 – Fernando Sandoval Talks Contra Costa Community College District
- Aug 29 – Antwon Webster Runs for Antioch City Council District 3
1 comment
Regarding your comments on the 5th beat — while I agree the city should be doing more to hire more officers, it isn’t an “excuse” to say there is a hiring problem. With my years in LE, the quality of candidates has tanked and those who are applying have red flags. You wouldn’t want them as cops.
The department won’t have the fifth beat until they are fully staffed to fill the 4 beats they have. They are still struggling to get there.
That said, again, the city isn’t doing enough to recruit and retain.
Not a fan of Jovita but you talked about her way too much. You interrupted Brian the whole time. You said you’d stop talking about her the rest of the episode, then she was brought up again. I want to hear what he wants to bring to this city.