Jim's first experience out of high school was two-fold – playing guitar in John Lee Hooker's band, and leading his own five-piece band, Colefeat. His first "day job" was as a copy boy at the Oakland Tribune in the mid and late 1970s, the last days of the old-school newspaper men and women. Cigarettes, coffee and alcohol were the fuels that drove those newsrooms, along with an unmitigated love of the business, and the integrity of the people's right to know.
In the 1980s, Jim was a reporter for the Martinez News Gazette, the Oakland Tribune, and other publications. After a brief stint at the Antioch Daily Ledger, Jim returned to the city of Martinez as public information officer, deputy city clerk, and assistant city manager. He went on to work in corporate communications for the Bayer Corp. and Kaiser Permanente before launching Martinez Patch.
My Beliefs: I believe that government needs everyone's participation to work correctly. I believe it is the media's job to inspire and inform that participation. I believe everyone has a fascinating story to tell. I believe that shouting your opinions makes you less likely to be understood. I believe that music is essential to happiness, and that auto-tune is detrimental to music. I believe that my responsibility as a journalist in your community is a sacred trust, one that I will do everything in my power to live up to and fulfill.
Politics: I am a social liberal, and a fiscal moderate. I believe the worst thing to happen in politics lately is the entrenched, dogmatic "us vs. them" attitude inspired by and fed by cable TV talking heads. The key to political success: listening.
Religion: I am a practicing Buddhist.
Local Hot-Button Issues: Should downtown strive for constant growth and renewal, or should it maintain a small-town feel? This seems to be the overriding question in terms of development. The balance between spending on cultural enhancement vs. police and public safety services also seems constantly at odds.
Update: National organization would leave it up to local groups to decide whether to accept gay Scouts and leaders; Moraga Scout's case helped focus issue.
Jeff and Isabelle Magidson have made French and American music together for more than 20 years. Jeff Magidson is musical director of Red House Studios of Walnut Creek.
Jeff and Isabelle Magidson have made French and American music together for more than 20 years.
The following information was taken from the Daily Police Log and rewritten by Martinez Patch.
The great Jimmy Cliff in a soulful tune from the film "The Harder They Come."
Did you miss some stories from Martinez Patch earlier this week?
A 47-year-old man was arrested for firing at an unoccupied vehicle.
The following information was taken from the Clayton Police Log and rewritten by Concord Patch.
The following information was taken from the Walnut Creek Police Log and rewritten by Walnut Creek Patch.
Kids of all ages gather on Tuesday nights to sing their favorite songs over pizza.
PG&E is blaming equipment failure for the outage.
The following information was taken from the Pleasant Hill Police Log and rewritten by Pleasant Hill Patch.
Police charge Papa Murphy's Pizza manager with invasion of privacy.
The American Alliance of Museums honors one of Walnut Creek's most beloved destinations.
Moraga police and firefighters found a dead body in Canyon on Monday.
Technology has changed the recording industry, but not the need for experience and expertise, says Michael Peterson, owner of Harvest Moon Studios.
The following information was taken from the Moraga Police Log and rewritten by Lamorinda Patch.
The Contra Costa County Office of Education is seeing legal professionals to assist in this year's Mock Trial event, scheduled to begin in early February.
The following information was supplied by the Clayton Police Department and rewritten by Concord Patch.
A Walnut Creek Patch user found a bit of wildlife at Heather Farm Park.
