Jovanka Beckles

Jovanka Beckles (born 1963) is an American politician serving as a member of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit Board for Ward 1. She previously served as a member of the Richmond City Council.

Early life, education, and career
Beckles was born in Panama City, Panama and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1972. She attended Florida A&M University on a full basketball scholarship, and graduated cum laude in 1988 with a BA degree in Psychology. She later earned an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix. She moved to the Bay Area in 1989 and worked as a counselor, youth educator, housing case manager for the homeless, and mental health specialist.

Richmond City Council
In 2008 she first ran for the Richmond City Council as part of the Richmond Progressive Alliance and lost. She ran again in 2010 and won, and in 2014 she was reelected despite Chevron spending $3 million on opposing candidates, and became vice mayor. She was Richmond's first openly lesbian councilwoman.

During her time on the City Council, Beckles worked on implementing rent control in Richmond. She voted against or abstained on several proposals to build housing in Richmond.

Campaign for California State Assembly
In 2018, she ran for California State Assembly in the 15th District to replace Tony Thurmond, who chose to run for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. She was endorsed by fellow Richmond City Councilmember (and former mayor) Gayle McLaughlin, former Black Panther Ericka Huggins, Senator Bernie Sanders, the Sierra Club, SEIU 1021, Our Revolution, and the Democratic Socialists of America. She took second place in the June 12 primary, but lost to Buffy Wicks in the general election.

During the campaign, Beckles said she wanted to retain local control over housing, "I really think that cities need to be able to have more control in terms of building, because they know best." On housing, she argued that cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley are "building lots of new housing" but that the problem is that the housing is not affordable. She added, "I don't think that we have a housing crisis. I think that we have an affordable housing crisis." She called for a repeal of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which would enable cities in California to expand rent control.

AC Transit Board
On July 18, 2020, Beckles announced she would run for AC Transit Board in Ward 1 against 20-year incumbent Joe Wallace. Her platform included keeping transit fare-free and strengthening labor rights for transit workers. She won the general election with 50% of the vote, defeating Wallace and a third candidate, Ben Fong. She was sworn in on December 4, 2020.

Campaign for California State Senate
In 2023, Beckles announced she would run for California State Senate in the 7th District to replace Nancy Skinner, who is term-limited.

Personal life
Beckles is openly lesbian. She married Nicole Valentino in 2013.