The final candidate rosters for Vallejo’s municipal elections are set, shaping the choices residents in several neighborhoods will have this fall. The filing period closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, following a five-day extension after an incumbent opted not to seek another term.
Open contest in District 5 after incumbent withdraws
District 5 in central Vallejo will be an open contest after Councilmember Peter Bregenzer decided not to run for re-election. Bregenzer, who won the seat in 2022, cited time commitments when explaining his decision.
“I could not commit to the amount of time it takes to be a council member for another 4 years.”Three candidates completed paperwork to run for the District 5 seat:
- Tanya Hall — current Architectural Heritage & Landmarks commissioner.
- Tara Beasley-Stansberry — current Planning Commissioner and a 2022 candidate for the same seat.
- Rebekah Truemper — business owner.
Both Hall and Beasley-Stansberry previously ran for the District 5 seat in 2022, when Bregenzer prevailed. The reopened timeline after Bregenzer’s decision included a short extension to allow additional candidates to file; none entered during that period beyond those already on record.
District 4 sees multiple challengers
Downtown and Mare Island residents in District 4 will also have multiple options. Incumbent Councilmember Charles Palmares filed for re-election and will appear on the ballot alongside two challengers:
- Chris Platzer — two-time council candidate and former Planning Commissioner; ran unsuccessfully in District 4 in 2022 and for a citywide seat in 2013.
- Brianna Rogers — community foundation strategist.
The final roster submitted by the Vallejo City Clerk’s Office showed Palmares pulled papers on July 17 and filed prior to the Aug. 7 deadline. Platzer has remained a visible figure in recent election cycles, while Rogers is the newest name on the District 4 ballot.
District 2 returns incumbent unopposed
In North Vallejo’s District 2, Councilman Diosdado “JR” Matulac is the only candidate listed for the coming election, according to county filings. Matulac defeated three challengers when he won the seat in November 2022, a field that included then-senior community development specialist Cassandra James, who later won election to the Solano County Board of Supervisors in 2024. The 2022 challengers also included realtor Don Jordan and community member Garrett Toles.
| District | Incumbent | Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| District 2 (North Vallejo) | Diosdado “JR” Matulac | Matulac (only candidate listed) |
| District 4 (Downtown/Mare Island) | Charles Palmares | Charles Palmares; Chris Platzer; Brianna Rogers |
| District 5 (Central Vallejo) | Peter Bregenzer (not running) | Tanya Hall; Tara Beasley-Stansberry; Rebekah Truemper |
The finalized rosters came from the Vallejo City Clerk’s Office and the Solano County Registrar of Voters candidate filed logs. One candidate, Roxann Reyes, began paperwork for District 4 but did not complete filing by the deadline.
Local context and what’s next
These contests will determine representation for neighborhoods spanning North Vallejo, downtown, Mare Island and central Vallejo. Open seats and repeat matchups can influence council priorities on development, historic preservation, public safety and community services. Voters should watch candidate forums, statements and campaign filings in the weeks ahead to compare platforms and endorsements.
Ballot timelines and election administration fall under county jurisdiction; residents seeking official candidate lists, filing details or voting information can consult the Solano County Registrar of Voters and the Vallejo City Clerk’s Office for updates as the campaign season progresses.
