BENICIA, Calif. — Steve Young could have enjoyed a nice, quiet retirement in this charming waterfront community in the northern part of the Bay Area.
But Young is a sociable type and was eager to make new acquaintances after he and his wife moved here in 2012. He's not the kind to hang out in bars, the 70-year-old Young said, and he doesn't play any competitive sports. So one way to meet folks, he figured, was to serve on a local board or commission.
After several interviews, Young landed a spot on Benicia's Planning Commission; it helped that he had spent his career in local government, retiring as a leader of Sacramento's Housing and Redevelopment Agency. His appointment to the commission led to his election to the City Council, which in turn positioned Young for a successful 2020 run for mayor — and a fight with the oil company that looms large in this small city.
