Restaurateur Matthew Oliver concedes to opponent David Bass in race for Rocklin City Council

Matthew Oliver has conceded to opponent David Bass in the race for a Rocklin City Council seat.

Oliver, a restaurant owner in Placer County, has 49% of the vote and trails Bass by 468 votes.

“We are not going away,” Oliver and his wife, Siobhan, said in a social media post Thursday. “We are invigorated, excited and passionate for this region and for Rocklin. Look what a couple of kids with no political experience and no formal training did.”

In a phone call Friday, Oliver said he was honored to run and proud of what he accomplished. He said he and his opponent, Bass, shared many values so it was a “win, win situation” for the city.

“I was polarizing,” Oliver said. “... In the end, Rocklin ended up getting somebody who has the values and I get my Tuesdays back.”

“I don’t know what the future holds for me but I’m going to continue to step up for my community,” he added.

David Bass, an attorney and member of the city’s planning commission, said he was “humbled” by the outcome.

“I look forward to bringing our community together and serving with the City’s best interest in mind,” he said in an email to The Bee. “I believe that a majority of Rocklin residents supported my campaign because of my record of service in the community and vision for Rocklin’s future.”

“I ran a positive, honest campaign that attracted a diverse coalition, he added. “I was endorsed by Republicans, Democrats, Rocklin police and fire, the Rocklin Chamber . . . As I committed on the campaign trail I will serve with integrity, transparency and cooperation with our citizens and businesses.”

Oliver drew attention to the race over the last two years through his outspoken challenges to the state over COVID-19 lockdowns and other pandemic measures.

His Roseville restaurant, House of Oliver, became a symbol for pandemic resistance, as he refused to close it after curfew and bucked public health dictates.

His actions drew ire from some — but also shot him to prominence among others. He told The Bee that his experience during the pandemic drove him to become involved in local politics for the first time.

His opponent, David Bass, ran a different campaign. A sitting member of the Rocklin Planning Commission, Bass said he’d draw on his experience as a member of the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce, a deputy district attorney and deputy attorney general to work for the city.

Bass was endorsed by Rocklin Mayor Bill Haldin and City Councilwoman Jill Gayaldo, as well as the city’s police and firefighter unions.

This story was originally published December 2, 2022 at 1:31 PM.