Email: robert.shea@patch.com
Phone: 510-672-4663
Hometown: Danville
Birthday: December 2

Rob Shea has worked for 11 years as a reporter and editor in daily newspapers and at a news website. During that time he has covered city and county government, courts, schools, oil refineries, environmental issues, police and public transportation, among other beats.

He has a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Cal State Hayward, now known as Cal State East Bay. He grew up in Contra Costa County and has lived in the East Bay almost his whole life.

Your Beliefs
I believe that members of the press must always remember its democratic function, which is to provide information that people can use to make informed decisions. That sometimes means reporting news that people would rather not hear. It also means giving exposure to inspiring events and people in the community. I will investigate news tips, but I won't write an article based on a single source of information. I also insist on exercising the privilege to have fun and a sense of humor.

Politics
I'm registered as Decline-to-State, although I vote Democrat most of the time. I'd like the Pinole community to know that I have no particular stake in the outcome of local issues, which are seldom based on party affiliation. On social issues I have a generally liberal posture. I'm more flexible on economic policies. Balancing the rights of the individual and the common good has remained a philosophical and practical demand of our nation since its founding. It gives us a fascinating and lasting setting for the drama we call life.

Religion
Reared Catholic, I am not actively "practicing." The Church has helped me see the importance and value of empathy, compassion and tolerance as worthy and personally important underpinnings. I respect and do not ridicule others' beliefs.

Local Hot-Button Issues
Having covered Pinole years ago, I know that some of its problems have been addressed, but many are still the same. Like all local governments, fiscal challenges remain. Tough choices impose serious soul-searching among decision makers, from the City Council to voters and to city staff. The fate of the Pinole Fire Department and the managing of redevelopment projects are examples. Those kinds of decisions have a direct effect on Pinole's function and its sense of itself. With police and fire services comprising most of the city budget (like in most cities), discretionary spending choices are limited. Cities often blame state government for taking away local revenue to save its own skin. While there's a lot of truth to that, voters must share the blame for repeatedly approving statewide ballot measures that have limited state legislators' fiscal choices. This issue is apparent all over California, and addressing it is among the most difficult situations facing state and local government.