NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Napa County Planning Commissioner Matt Pope has announced that he is joining the 2014 race for the California Assembly’s District 4 seat.
A Democrat, the 42-year-old Pope will seek the seat currently held by Mariko Yamada, who will be termed out next year.
District 4 includes Lake and Napa counties, and portions of Colusa, Sonoma, Solano and Yolo counties.
“I am running to keep communities safe, fix local schools, colleges and universities, improve our quality of life, and expand opportunity for working families,” Pope said.
He joins a growing field that includes Lake County Supervisor Anthony Farrington, Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza and Davis City Councilman Dan Wolk.
Pope has support from state Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), for whom he serves as a district representative.
“Matt brings an unrivaled breadth of experience to voters,” Evans said. “He has worked in business, served our country and communities in the Navy and as a reserve police officer, and fought for working families as an organizer for two international unions. He understands the everyday issues people in Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Lake, Solano and Colusa counties are facing and will be their biggest advocate in the Assembly.”
Pope is the former president of the Napa County Democrats and served for three years on the American Canyon Planning Commission. He is a former labor organizer for SEIU 24/7 and IFPTE Local 21.
“I believe I have the skills and experience necessary to serve this diverse district,” Pope said. “I want to fight for working families and their public school children. But I also know what it takes to balance environmental protection with the enormous importance of agriculture and tourism to our economy.”
In addition to Sen. Evans, Pope cited endorsements from Former Assembly Assistant Majority Floor Leader Michael Allen, Napa County Supervisor Keith Caldwell, American Canyon City Council member Kenneth Leary, Napa City Council member Scott Sedgley, Yountville Town Council member Marita Dorenbecher, Napa Valley College Board Trustee Dan Digardi and Napa County Planning Commissioner Heather Phillips.
Pope earned his bachelor of science in government from Jacksonville University before coming to work in the high-tech security industry in Silicon Valley.
He served as a U.S. Navy reserve and was called to duty for three weeks to provide logistic support at the Naval Air Station in Lemoore in the days after 9/11. He also served for five years as a reserve police officer in the City of Fremont.
Pope lives in American Canyon with his wife, Harlen.