Incumbent Joel Young faces two candidates vying for his position as AC Transit district director at large, running on platforms to expand free bus passes to school-aged students and balance pension funds.
Two district directors at large of AC Transit serve four-year terms and sit on the seven-member board of directors. The board acts as the final decision-making body for policy changes. Only Young’s position is up for re-election.
“My platform is to bring back the services AC Transit cut, reopen the Richmond yards that closed in 2011 and provide free bus passes for youths,” said Dollene Jones, candidate for the position who also ran in 2012.
Jones is also running on the platform of increasing on-time service, balancing the AC Transit pension fund and increasing community involvement with the AC Transit Board of Directors.
Jones has been an AC Transit employee for the past 21 years and currently operates a charter bus company. Jones is running on her experience with working with labor unions as a strong point.
“I feel as though I can be on the negotiating team for the district or union and to help with contracts,” Jones said.
Adrienne Andrews, listed as a student and paralegal on the ballot, would like to expand free bus passes to school-aged students. Andrews is also concerned with AC Transit’s decision to use diesel and would favor a switch to biodiesel.
According to a candidate questionnaire, Andrews sat on a local health center board of directors for the past six years. Andrews believes she can take on the legal aspects of budget-management issues and revenue-generating.
If elected, Andrews believes AC Transit can increase ridership and collaborate with local partners.
The incumbent, Joel Young, aims to continue to serve AC Transit by contracting local companies and hiring and retaining more women. The incumbent supports expanding the free bus pass system but recognizes that more funding would be needed to accommodate such a change.
During his four-year term, Young has allocated contracting funds to businesses within AC Transit service areas and has worked to stabilize AC Transit’s finances.
Young also supports moving the AC Transit fleet to a more environmentally friendly fuel source. Currently, 12 buses run on energy generated by fuel cell technology. Young believes that with the cooperation of other board members, the entire fleet could be run on the technology.
