BTCEB’s Candidate Survey & Election Guide

Fall 2026 election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Vote-by-mail ballots arriving October 5!

The upcoming November 2026 elections will have several races with significant impacts on East Bay open space land management and mountain bike access. We ask that you become an informed voter, research the candidates, and participate in these elections. Electing decision-making officials that are willing to work with the trails community are key. All the EBRPD candidates were requested to participate in our survey. Links to their responses are posted below along with their campaign website information. As a 501(C)(3) organization, BTCEB cannot make endorsements in candidate elections but can provide educational information. We ask that you reach out to your friends and neighbors, especially voters in these contested races and help make sure they are informed and engaged. While these candidates are elected by wards, they have influence over the entire district. Every resident and visitor to Contra Costa and Alameda Counties is a stakeholder in these elections.

There are contested elections for East Bay Regional Park District Wards 3, 5, 6 and 7 and for East Bay Municipal Utility District Wards 2, 3, 4, and 7. The EBRPD Ward 6 race only has one candidate: John Mercurio, the current incumbent. Under California AB 408 (Municipal Utility District Act section 11852.5), the EMBUD has the authority to appoint sole unopposed candidates rather than proceeding with a costly election, and so incumbent Luz Gómez (Board President) was re-appointed as the unopposed candidate in EBMUD Ward 2 and incumbent Andy Katz was similarly appointed as the sole candidate to file in EBMUD Ward 4.

See which EBRPD ward you live in by looking at the EBRPD Ward Map, or enter your address in the EBRPD Ward Lookup tool. See which EBMUD ward you live in by downloading the EBMUD Ward Map or EBMUD Ward Description.

Candidates who filed and qualified for contested races are listed below.

East Bay Regional Park District

EBRPD Ward 3 Candidates

Joseph Grcar: BTCEB Questionnaire (did not respond), Candidate website

Rebecca Lewington: BTCEB Questionnaire, Candidate website

William Yragui: BTCEB Questionnaire, Candidate website

Ward 3 includes Castro Valley, Fairview, portions of Fremont/Hayward/San Lorenzo, and Union City.

EBRPD Ward 5 Candidates

Bruce Henry: BTCEB Questionnaire, Candidate website

Olivia Sanwong (incumbent): BTCEB Questionnaire, Candidate website

Ward 5 includes Dublin, Fremont (portion), Livermore, Newark, Pleasanton, and Sunol.

EBRPD Ward 6 Candidate

John Mercurio (incumbent): BTCEB Questionnaire, Candidate website

Ward 6 includes Alamo, Alhambra Valley (portion), Blackhawk, Byron, Camino Tassajara, Castle Hill, Clayton, Concord, Contra Costa Centre, Danville, Discovery Bay, Norris Canyon, North Gate, Pleasant Hill, San Miguel, San Ramon, Shell Ridge, and a portion of Walnut Creek.

EBRPD Ward 7 Candidates

Colin Coffey (incumbent): BTCEB Questionnaire, Candidate website

Inderprit “Indy Rishi Singh” Sekhon: BTCEB Questionnaire, Candidate website

Ward 7 includes a portion of Alhambra Valley, Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Clyde, Crockett, Hercules, Knightsen, Martinez, Mountain View, Oakley, Pacheco, Pittsburg, Port Costa, Rodeo, and Vine Hill.

East Bay Municipal Utility District

EBMUD Ward 3 Candidates

Donald Gray: Candidate website

Marguerite Young (incumbent): Candidate website, Empower Oakland

Ward 3 includes the City of Piedmont and a substantial portion of Oakland in Alameda County, and the City of Orinda, portions of Pinole and Richmond, and the communities of El Sobrante and the Town of Moraga in Contra Costa County.

EBMUD Ward 7 Candidates

April Chan (incumbent): Candidate website

Joseph Grcar: Candidate website

Luis Reynoso: Candidate website

Gary Wolff: Candidate website

Ward 7 includes portions of Hayward, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo, and communities of Castro Valley, Cherryland, and Fairview in Alameda County, and a portion of San Ramon and the community of Norris Canyon in Contra Costa County.