In my first semester of graduate school at the University of San Francisco, I took a course entitled "Campaigns and Political Mobilization." Taught by Professor Tim Redmond (the founder of 48hills and a political & investigative reporter in San Francisco for over 30 years), this course combines hands-on training in the techniques of designing and managing a political campaign or grassroots mobilization from experts in the field as well as from practical campaign experience. 

To gain hands-on experience in these techniques, I volunteered/interned with Pablo Benavente's political campaign for Concord City Council's District 4 seat in Concord, California. 

Every Saturday at Concord Community Park starting at 9:00 a.m., I and other volunteers put on our walking shoes and door knock in neighborhoods in District 4 of Concord to raise awareness about Pablo Benavente and why he is the best choice for Concord City Council's District 4 seat. 

New Councilmember Pablo Benavente congratulates incoming Mayor Carlyn Obringer before they’re sworn in by City Clerk Joelle Fockler, not pictured, during a City Council meeting at City Hall in Concord, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

November 26, 2024: Starting next month, city councils around the Bay Area will begin welcoming back LGBTQ incumbents and newly elected members following the results of their races in the November 5 election. And in Contra Costa County, several city councils will mark pink political milestones in December. Read More Here.

November 15, 2024: The Contra Costa County Elections issued its election update which gives a clearer look at who will be elected to local office. Voter turnout increased to 71.98% with 519,078 ballots cast out of 722,861 registered votes--an increase of 1,249 votes added to the count. Read More Here. 

November 13, 2024: Concord City Council candidate Pablo Benavente has slightly increased his lead over Mayor Edi Birsan in the District 4 race. In the latest vote tallies released Wednesday by Contra Costa County election officials, Benavente is ahead by 102 votes (35.37%, 3,723 votes) over Birsan (34.4%, 3,621 votes). Birsan was ahead after Election night by four votes. Read More Here. 

November 11, 2024: In Concord's race for the District 4 City Council seat, challenger Pablo Benavente pulled ahead of incumbent Edi Birsan when Contra Costa County released its latest vote counts late last week.  Birsan was ahead after Election Night by four votes. By Friday afternoon's count, he trailed Benavente by 89 votes: 3,274 (35.51%) to 3,185 (34.55%).

October 17, 2024: In District 4, voters should replace 12-year incumbent  Edi Birsan with Pablo Benavente, a member of the Parks Commission who offers fresh perspectives.  Read More Here.

October 15, 2024: The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce hosted the Concord Council Candidates Forum at Concord City Hall's council chambers from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You'll hear directly from District 2 candidates Carlyn Obringer and Eric Antonik, and District 4 candidates Edi Birsan, Pablo Benavente, Myles Burks, and Matthew Dashner. Get an in-depth look at their vision for Concord and the key issues impacting our community. Click on the button under the photo below.

Concord City Council candidates: Carlyn Obringer (District 2), Eric Antonick (District 2), Pablo Benavente (District 4), Edi Birsan (District 4), and Myles Burks (District 4).

September 18, 2024: The Concord Clayton Pioneer newspaper presented a list of questions to the candidates running for Concord City Council in the 2024 election. To read Pablo Benavente's answers, click here. 

September 16, 2024: Pablo Benavente has been actively involved in Concord for years, co-chairing crucial initiatives like Measure V.  Read More Here.

August 30, 2024: This November, two City Council Districts will be on the ballot, District 2 and District 4. Here is a look at the candidates and a gently edited look at their filed campaign statements. Read More Here. 

June 20, 2024: A trio of out East Bay leaders used Pride Month to announce their bids for city council seats in El Cerrito, Berkeley, and Concord. Read More Here.

June 20, 2024: A trio of out East Bay leaders used Pride Month to announce their bids for city council seats in El Cerrito, Berkeley, and Concord. Read More Here.