Full Biography for Steve Harvey

Candidate for
Council Member; City of Richmond

STEVE HARVEY, CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE

In nine years on the Richmond Planning Commission, Steve Harvey has earned a reputation for honesty, fairness, and a deep commitment to Richmond's working families. He has worked hard to listen, to weigh the issues, and to fight to make Richmond a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Steve credits his close-knit family, and the values they instilled--hard work, fair play, and a commitment to community service-- with his accomplishments and willingness to get involved in solving some of the problems Richmond faces. He was born in Richmond, attended local schools, and has lived in and around the city his whole life. Steve and his wife, Jill, and their year-old son, live in May Valley, and Steve is active in his Neighborhood Council.

As a young man just out of school, Steve was able to take the skills and solid work ethic he learned as a child, and secure a position as an apprentice electrician, joining IBEW Local 302 in 1984.

Steve has been active in his union ever since, and has worked his way up from journeyman electrician to general foreman for various electrical contractors throughout the Bay Area, at one point supervising 44 electricians as part of the clean fuels project at the Shell Refinery in Martinez.

Throughout this time, Steve has pursued his commitment to community service. As a member of his union's Community Service Committee, Harvey led the volunteer effort to install the electrical work for homes built by Habitat for Humanity in Richmond's Iron Triangle neighborhood. In addition, he has volunteered his time for various community projects, and he is an Eagle Scout and former Assistant Scout master.

As the longest-serving member of the Planning Commission, Steve has a solid record of accomplishment that includes creating new jobs and balancing the pressures of new development with the need to protect existing neighborhoods.

If elected to the Council, Steve Harvey hopes to bring some of the opportunities he has enjoyed over the years to more of Richmond's young people and working families. His plans include:

• Developing a strong local economy by helping small businesses thrive and creating good paying jobs for Richmond residents. Steve will spearhead creation of an Economic Task Force of business, labor, community leaders, and educators which will be charged with developing a solid economic development plan that includes adult job retraining and expanding mentoring and apprenticeships for youth.
• Fighting for safe streets and safe schools through a combination of prevention and protection, with an increased emphasis on children's recreation and education programs, and more police in the community.
• Ensuring quality services and a safe, healthy environment for every Richmond neighborhood.