With Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Solano, set to retire at the end of the year, a special election will likely be held to fill out the remainder of his term.

The first to announce an intent to fill the seat in the 11th District, which now includes all of Solano County as of the newest redistricting map, is a longtime Solano resident and one of its top elected officials: Suisun City Mayor Lori Wilson.

Wilson kicked off her campaign with a small gathering Wednesday in the parking lot of One Harbor Center. The kickoff was initially scheduled for Sheldon Plaza near the waterfront, but rainy weather forced a change in venue, with attendees standing underneath a solar panel along a walkway.

This is a fact that was noted by Wilson's husband, Chavares, self-described as the "first gentleman of Suisun City."

"We had plans to be out on the waterfront in the sunny weather, but I think it's actually interesting and fortuitous that we have plans," he said. "We think we're gonna be somewhere, we think we know what we're gonna be doing and, all of a sudden, we're called to be somewhere else, and that place where we're called to be is where we need to be. We need to be right here today, and you know what I'm talking about of why we're here."

California State Assemblyman, Jim Frazier (D-Solano) (left) stands with Suisun City Mayor, Lori Wilson Wednesday in Suisun City during her announcement of her intention to run fill his seat following his retirement at the end of the year.
(Joel Rosenbaum / The Reporter)

The gathering was attended by several elected county officials who have already lent their endorsement to Wilson, including Frazier, Rep. John Garamendi, County Supervisor Erin Hannigan, Vacaville City Councilwoman Jeanette Wylie, Fairfield City Councilwoman Doriss Panduro, Fairfield-Suisun school board Trustee Ana Petero and Benicia school board Trustee Dr. Gethsemane Moss.

All were there to honor Wilson, a longtime Suisun resident who previously served as president of the Suisun City Community Services Foundation and vice chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission before being elected to the City Council in 2012. Wilson was re-elected in 2016 and served six years as vice mayor before running for Mayor in 2018. She won that post, becoming the first Black female mayor in not only Suisun City but all of Solano County.

Some of the elected officials even spoke in support of Wilson at the event. Garamendi said that over the course of his career, he has met many people involved in public life "whose entire purpose is to try and make their community a better place for all the citizens of that community, particularly those who have not had the advantages" and hoped they could climb the ladder and make a bigger impact.

"I happen to have here an individual who fits that perfectly," he said. "Lori Wilson is that kind of a person."

Whenever Garamendi and Wilson have communicated, he said she has always shared what is happening in Suisun, what needed to be done and how the federal government could help.

Suisun City Mayor, Lori Wilson addresses her supporters Wednesday to announce her candidacy for California State Assembly hoping to represent the 11th Assembly District currently held by Jim Frazier (D-Solano) who is planning to retire Dec. 31.
(Joel Rosenbaum / The Reporter)

"That same empathy, that same determination and that drive to improve the community is going to go beyond Suisun City," he said. "You're the person I want to work with because I know that if I'm able to work with you, you will make sure that I will get things done."

Frazier, who was first elected in 2012, said his retirement from the Assembly was an emotional experience for him.

"This job that I was able to perform on your behalf was a honor and the best job I've ever had in my life," he said.

Frazier said he has built many relationships over the last nine years, and described Wilson as "a consummate relationship builder."

"I know she'll go out and do you proud," he said. "I would not be in this position to endorse her if I thought she couldn't do the job. I know she can."

Frazier said he looked forward to reading in the local papers about Wilson going to Sacramento to "kick butt and take names."

United States Congressman John Garamendi (D-Solano) (right) delivers his support of Suisun City Mayor, Lori Wilson's intention to run for California's 11th Assembly District during an event Wednesday in Suisun City.
(Joel Rosenbaum / The Reporter)

"I've been in public office 14 years," he said. "It's your turn, and I look forward to you being successful."

Frazier then introduced Wilson, who talked about her accomplishments.

"One of the things I've been able to do in this community is create an atmosphere of transparency to get us on a path to sustainability to making sure that we have smart development," she said.

Wilson said when she was first elected to the council, the most recent development was the Hampton Inn & Suites, which was completed in 2009.

"When I became mayor and stepped into that leadership role, I told people, 'You send me there, we'll have good development to make sure we're on a pathway to sustainability,'" she said. "In that first year, we got over 15 entitlement projects done before COVID hit. Even when COVID came, I took the time to continue to develop those relationships."

Wilson also touted her accessibility, always answering her cellphone or email, even going as far as to take questions from constituents just about anywhere.

"If I go to Raley's and I may be shopping, those are City Hall hours as well," she said.

The impetus for Wilson to run for an Assembly seat was her service on regional boards such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Association of Bay Area Governments.

"Those opportunities, at that regional level helped me see what it means to have an impact statewide on what we can do in those particular areas," she said. "Right here, in AD11, we can have a great impact that impacts the entire state."

When Frazier leaves the Assembly, Gov. Gavin Newsom will have 14 days to call for a special election which can be within 140 days or consolidated with the primary election in June. The top two winners of the primary election will face off in the general election, making for possibly two or three campaigns in 2022 for Wilson, depending on when the special election is held. She will also be eligible to run for another term for mayor, but Wilson said she is focusing on the Assembly campaign for now. Currently, she is the only candidate in the race.

"I'm here to serve, I'm here to listen, and I'm here to work hard," she said.

Hannigan said Wilson would be the first Assembly member to serve all of Solano since her father, Tom Hannigan, who served from 1978 to 1998. The newly redrawn 11th District also includes a portion of Contra Costa County.

For more information on Wilson's campaign, visit Electloriwilson.com.