The East Bay Regional Park District's seven directors, elected by ward in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, make the decisions on trail access, projects and funding. Four seats are up this year; three are contested.
Ward 3 (open seat)
Ward 3 covers Castro Valley, Fairview, Union City and parts of Fremont, Hayward and San Lorenzo. Director Dennis Waespi, who has held it since 2015, is not running. The candidates are Joseph Grcar, a retired laboratory scientist; Rebecca Lewington, a retired brand strategist; and William Yragui, a business owner.
Ward 5: Olivia Sanwong vs. Bruce Henry
Ward 5 covers Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, Sunol, Newark and part of Fremont. Incumbent Olivia Sanwong of Pleasanton took the seat unopposed in 2022. Bruce Henry, a retired sales director who has lived in Pleasanton since 2005 and served on the district's Park Advisory Committee since 2022, told The Independent the board needs more accountability. He pointed to the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District's 2025 lawsuit claiming EBRPD misspent more than $100 million in shared tax funds, which remains in litigation, and to the board's conflict with former General Manager Sabrina Landreth, who resigned in November 2025.
Ward 7: Colin Coffey vs. Indy Sekhon
Ward 7 stretches across eastern and northern Contra Costa County, from Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley to Hercules, Martinez and Crockett. Incumbent Colin Coffey faces Inderprit "Indy Rishi Singh" Sekhon.
Ward 6
Incumbent John Mercurio is unopposed in Ward 6, which includes Concord, Danville, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.