About Ed

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About Ed

As a member of the Concord City Council, I was at Sunvalley Mall when the looters were turned away by our Police. We need to stop the smash-and-grabbers. Crime – I am currently leading the effort to establish local courts with full authority to adjudicate criminal offenses in an expedited manner. Trust and confidence in government is at an all-time low. When Supervisors voted themselves a 33% raise, I had the courage to stand alone as the only councilmember to oppose them when we turned in 32,000 signatures on our petition. I am the founder and member of Rotary’s local food – 26 tons of food for those in need. I am a staunch supporter of Veterans’ housing and mothers with children homeless projects. My experience and career includes being a small business owner – Maritime Industry – doing business in 47 countries. I earned my BA Degree in History. Organizations I have taken action with: John Muir Health Fund, League of Cities, Economic Development Commission, Lifetime Member – Navy League, President – Friends of the Library, and more. Married to Carol 48 years – my high school sweetheart – two children, two grandkids and a cat.

The Picker Squadron!

Together, Ed and the Concord-Diablo Rotary have donated over 26 TONS of fresh food to local food pantries as well as the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano.

Videos from Concord City Council

EDUCATION

  • College Degree
  • BA from City University of New York (Dual major of Poli Sci and History after starting as a Math Major)
  • Post Graduate Work (degrees not finalized):
    PHd program C.U.N.Y International Relations 2 years
    Masters Program Maritime College Transportation 2 years

Other education

  • Concord Leadership Academy
    • 9 week course on all phases of the city government
  • CERTs (currently enrolled) Citizens Emergency Response Team
    • Preparation to lead local community in response to major disasters (other than political).
  • Citizens Police Academy
    • 9-week course (or three months)
    • Police Dept functions
    • Shooting Simulation
    • Gang Activity, drug enforcement, K-9, police protocols, crime evidence, SET (Special Enforcement Team – SWAT), dispatch, volunteer (VIPS) support activities, traffic enforcement.

CAREER

College Work

  • Editor and historic conflict simulation game design: Strategy and Tacitics Magazine/Poultron Press 1968-69
  • Burns Guard World Trade Center site 1970
  • Diners’ Club VIP Customer Service 1969-1970

Post College Work

  • Interpool Ltd 1973-1986
    • International containerized cargo equipment leasing company.
    • Started as a Clerk and ended up at Assistant Vice President, Pacific Rim (SF), previously Assistant Vice President of Europe, and Africa and the Middle East (based in London), Customer Service Field Manager for Europe (based out of Antwerp, Belgium). Specialized in international equipment recovery and bankruptcy control capital equipment recovery. AS the number two person on 4 continents was the resident trouble shooter.
  • E.D. I. Inc.
    • 1986 – present, president and founder
    • Specialized equipment certifications and inspections.
    • Specialty includes Ammunition Grade Containers, hazardous and food grade tank containers, Domestic Container Storage and Leasing – sales, storage operations and management.
  • Small Business Certified Cargo Inspector & Instructor
  • Steamship Lines for insurance companies, leasing companies, tank containers

ELECTIONS:

  • 2010 ran for Concord City Council and was the runner up
  • 2012-elected to Concord City Council, re-elected 2016 to at large seats
  • 2020 elected to Concord City Council District 4 unopposed

COMMUNITY SERVICE

  • Community Service Commission of the City of Concord-
    Commissioner= worked on $900,000 of grants
    Community Block Grants
  • Friends of the Concord Library past President
  • Pulse of Concord: A community wide web survey site of neutral questions and discussions of responses.
  • Rotary – Rotary Club of Concord-Diablo
    Rotarian of the Year 2010 – Concord/Diablo Rotary Club
    District (71 clubs) Co-Chair of Publicity Committee
    International Service Director to Diablo-Valley 8 working group
    Community Service Director on the Board of Directors worked on:
    Senior Smoke Alarm Project
    Project Second Chance (adult literacy)
    Thanksgiving Food for the Poor/needy
    Santa Claus (400 gifts at Cambridge Child Development Center)
    RotaCare – free medical clinic for uninsured residents
    Picker Squadron– Fruit for food pantries and food banks 25 tons and going
    Books for Africa – used books for people in Africa
  • Concord Library Support
    Fundraising
    Book Sales
  • Get Signage and promotion
  • Election Day Election Clerk – Contra Costa County Elections Department
  • Chamber of Commerce- Vice Chair Government Affairs/Relations
    Committee.
  • Restoration Advisory Board Tidal Area- Army overseeing restoration
    of polluted marsh land in the army base
  • Restoration Advisory Board-Inland Area- Navy overseeing
    restoration of the CNWS for the Reuse plan
  • Monument Community Partnership= Transportation Committee-
  • Worked on the plan to put in a one-mile park/route
  • Worked recently on fixing Detroit Avenue Streets
  • Worked on the Ellis Lake clean up
  • Senior Club Transportation advocate = obtained a $12K grant
  • Senior Mobility Action Committee- county group to advocate
    For seniors
  • Caring Hands- volunteer driver for seniors who do not have transport
  • Concord Concerned Citizens Committee- ad hoc discussion group of

LOCAL POLITICS

  • Historic Association of Concord- member trying to preserve local
    History
  • Sun Terrace Neighborhood Partnerships- deliver door to door
    newsletters for the group and speak about community issues.
  • Hill Crest Neighborhood Partnerships- deliver door to door
    Newsletters, man the dumpsters on Dumpster Day
  • Cambridge Child Development Center-board of Directors, work on
    Securing grants, publicity
  • RotaCare- health care for the uninsured- volunteered and do publicity
    including door to door work
  • Pioneer Newspaper- constant columnist for the Pulse of Concord
  • Columnist Diablo Valley Gazette
  • Lifetime member of the US Navy League.

The Issues

Housing

Homeless

Crime & Justice

Mental Health

Let's sit down and talk about it...

Join me at my favorite place: Peet’s Coffee at Oak Grove and Treat in Concord.

As always, I’ll buy the coffee.

Write to me at: EdiBirsan@gmail.com to set something up or text me at 510 812 8180.

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Edi Birsan for Supervisor 2022 FPPC#1439316

950 Alla Ave. • Concord, CA 94518
(510) 812-8180 • Edi@EdiBirsan.com

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