Sampayan endorses McConnell for mayor

Editor’s note: This story was published at www. timesheraldonline.com last week. It was inadvertently left off the print edition later in the week.

Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan is endorsing Vallejo City Councilmember Robert McConnell to succeed him in November’s election.

Sampayan released his official endorsement in a statement released last week.

“Robert, I am endorsing you

for Vallejo Mayor 2020,” Sampayan said. “I support Robert because he is fiscally prudent, is supportive of all people, has no special interest groups, is progressive and understands Vallejo politics. He also has many years of experience as a Planning Commissioner and City Council member. He would be the right fit as mayor.”

McConnell is running against Hakeem Brown, M. Avonelle Hanley-Mills,

John B. Kenney and Cornisha Williams-Bailey. Sampayan announced in July that he would not be running for another term.

“I love Vallejo,” McConnell said. “But we are facing extremely challenging times which will require experience and knowledge. Our city is approaching financial rapids that may become tremendously difficult to navigate. As Mayor, I’ll bring focus, discipline and accountability.”

A native of California and a decorated Army ground combat veteran, McConnell has served two terms on the Vallejo City Council

and is a former Planning Commission member. McConnell also serves as the Vice Chair of SolTrans and the Vice Chair of the NapaVallejo Solid Waste Management Board. In addition, he is the alternate for the Solano County Water Agency.

McConnell has a B. A. degree in Public Administration, Master’s Degree study in Public Administration from San Jose State University, and a law degree from McGeorge School of Law where he was on Law Review and worked at the California State Personnel Board. McConnell has

vast experience as a Law Clerk for the U. S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco. McConnell practiced business commercial litigation and personal injury law in the San Francisco for several years before and after moving to Vallejo and establishing his own business on Georgia Street.

He is an avid rose gardener, a member of the NAACP, a life member of the local VFW, and has been an active volunteer at Vallejo’s Mira Theatre Guild.