|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Narum for District 1
I’m supporting Kathy Narum for Pleasanton City Council.
Kathy brings value to our city: experience, good judgment and a long record of service to Pleasanton. She has served on both the Planning Commission, City Council, as well as Zone 7 Water and has continued giving back to our community in other roles.
Pleasanton faces important decisions about water, public safety, our city finances, downtown and the future of Stoneridge Mall. These are issues that require someone who understands how our city works and who will approach decisions thoughtfully and responsibly.
Kathy knows Pleasanton, has demonstrated her commitment to our community for many years, and has the experience to help protect what we value while preparing for the future.
Besides, she is a very nice and friendly person, we need her on the City Council.
– Ken Mano
Why I support Vin
Pleasanton is at an important point in its history. As a longtime Pleasanton resident and homeowner, I care deeply about this community’s future, and I believe the financial challenges facing our city deserve far more attention than they have received. If we don’t vote correctly this November, we may be at the point of no return.
Our structural budget deficit is not something we can continue to put off. We need to think seriously about how we grow our revenue, how we spend taxpayer dollars, and how we make sure Pleasanton remains financially strong for years to come.
That is why I support Vin Kruttiventi for City Council District 1.
Vin has a business background, and I think that experience matters when we’re talking about the city’s finances. He’s willing to look at issues that have been sitting around for years instead of continuing to push them down the road. I also like his focus on bringing more life back to downtown, protecting our pension funds, and being thoughtful about how Pleasanton grows.
I don’t expect every problem facing Pleasanton to have an easy answer: But I do want council members who aren’t afraid to ask tough questions and take a different approach when something clearly isn’t working.
For me, Vin represents that approach. I believe his business experience and focus on Pleasanton’s long term future would bring an important perspective to the City Council, and I am proud to support him.
– Minh Phan
Jamie Yee for District 3
Stepping into contentious elementary school territory as a young mom, PTA leadership was daunting. I went from silent observer to being thrown into the deep end within months. I scrambled, trying to find anyone and everyone who could help.
My ears heard of her first, and then my eyes landed on her sitting on the dais at a school board meeting. Jamie Yee commanded my attention with her poise, intelligence and fearless questions of those in authority.
As trustee for my son’s school, I noticed her visiting, walking through classrooms and talking to staff, kids and parents. She had a full-time county job. How could one person be everywhere, doing it all? She took the time, reading every audit report, cabinet report, and proposed policy that came her way. Why? There was no monetary motivation. She did it because she cared.
Admiring from afar, I eventually reached out and got to know Jamie. She continued crafting solutions with elected leaders, mentored unhoused and underserved youth, and met anyone for coffee simply because they reached out.
She doesn’t just hear us or gather concerns through developing technologies. She builds real connections to channel our voices to the places where change happens.
Many run for council. Far fewer offer Jamie’s breadth of civic and advocacy experience, willingness to get their hands dirty, and to sit in the difficulty and selflessness of civic service.
Ask Jamie for a coffee date. She may just prove to be the change-force you didn’t know you needed.
– Shilpa Panech
We are now dealing with facts
The other shoe just dropped on Pleasanton’s finances, and it turns out the city’s infrastructure maintenance requirements are far short of the claims of the prior city manager and council majority.
While the prior estimate of the city’s 10-year infrastructure needs was a jaw-dropping $900 million, just two years later, this estimate from an exhaustive look at every asset owned by Pleasanton puts the need at $124 million over the same 10-year period.
Can you imagine how we’d be feeling if we voted to raise our taxes two years ago based upon what the city was telling us? On top of inflation driving up prices on virtually everything anyway, we’d be paying even higher prices for most goods purchased in Pleasanton.
Pleasanton faces financial choices, for sure. The magnitude of the challenge, though, is what matters. The cycle of public finances has jurisdictions with enough funding in some years and the need for making cuts in others.
Voters in Pleasanton asked whether the predicted shortfall was real when asked to increase taxes. It was the right question.
We are all better for the careful, calm and fact-based work of the current Pleasanton leadership. Mayor Balch and the current council majority deserve enormous credit for getting back to an open, transparent, rational form of leadership. We are now dealing with facts – not exaggeration to achieve some private aim.
In my opinion, we are lucky to have returned to good governance in Pleasanton and smart fiscal planning.
– Doug Miller
Transit tax
Bay Area voters are increasingly being asked to subsidize public transit through sales taxes, bridge tolls and other regional taxes. Yet only about 8% of Bay Area commuters use public transit as their primary way of getting to work, while 69% commute by car and 17% work from home.
The Bay Area has approximately 7.7 million residents, including five million working-age adults, but only a small fraction regularly relies on transit.
Public transit is a valuable service, but fairness matters. Most residents do not use transit regularly, yet they are repeatedly asked to bear the financial burden of operating and expanding transit systems. In most areas of life, users pay for the services they consume. Transit should be no different.
Rather than imposing new taxes on everyone, transit agencies should focus on a user-pay model. If additional funding is needed, fares should better reflect the actual cost of service through modest rider surcharges or dedicated transit-user fees. Those who benefit most directly from transit should contribute a larger share of its cost.
At a time when family budgets are already strained, taxpayers should not be required to subsidize services they rarely or never use.
– Michael Austin
Julie Testa for mayor
I support Julie Testa for Mayor, and here is why.
Julie Testa passionately advocates for preserving our Pleasanton downtown character and its unique historic identity. Her years of experience and steadfast work at the local and state level support thoughtful urban development that helps preserve our small neighborhood schools, open spaces, historic character, and the local features that make a community unique.
Julie is not opposed to housing development, but it must align with our community needs. Julie believes the goal should be a diverse range of housing options rather than maximizing density without considering who benefits.
Growth should consider traffic congestion, noise, overcrowded schools, loss of green space, and the cumulative impact on residents’ daily lives — not just the number of housing units built.
While Testa served as a councilmember, she advocated for and was instrumental in support for the Pleasanton’s Alternative Response Unit program, which pairs licensed mental health clinicians with non-uniformed police officers trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation. This is a valuable program that supports non-criminal mental health incidents, and this program just received Alameda County’s 2026 Emergency Medical Services Agency Program of the Year award.
Testa’s commitment to mental health and creating opportunities for young people reflects the caring, collaborative leadership Pleasanton deserves!
– Kelly Baehr (formerly Mokashi)
PUSD Board President, endorsing in a personal capacity.
Balch is the right choice for Pleasanton mayor
As a 49-year resident and someone who cares deeply about Pleasanton and the quality of life we share, I want our next mayor to understand city government, respect taxpayers, and focus on practical results. That is why I am proud to support Jack Balch.
Jack has demonstrated his commitment to Pleasanton through public service. His local-government service began in 2009 with appointments to the Parks Commission and later the Planning Commission. He then served a four-year City Council term, including time as vice mayor, before making a significant and positive impact during the past two years as Pleasanton’s mayor.
That experience matters as Pleasanton makes important decisions about public safety, housing, traffic, infrastructure, and the character of our community. We need a mayor who listens to residents, weighs competing priorities, and works with neighbors, businesses and fellow councilmembers to find responsible solutions.
Jack offers the steady, locally grounded leadership Pleasanton needs. His public-service record shows that he understands both the opportunities ahead and the responsibility to manage growth thoughtfully while keeping our city safe, financially sound, and welcoming.
I want a mayor who values what Pleasanton residents have built together and has the judgment to guide us through the challenges ahead. I hope my fellow voters will join me in supporting Jack Balch for mayor.
– Craig Eicher
Pleasanton City Council – District 2
Healthcare crisis coming
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a dangerous new rule beginning Jan. 20 that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments”, will effectively end Americans’ ability to personally import their prescription medicines.
Importing prescription drugs from licensed international pharmacies is the only lifeline for seniors on limited incomes, people with high-deductible health plans, and the uninsured. That’s why CBP and the FDA have allowed it for decades.
Many imported drugs can be less than half the U.S. price. These necessary medicines prevent blood clots, treat diabetes, and much more. This CBP rule will cut off access to the only affordable prescription drugs for millions, and that will lead to unnecessary harm and preventable deaths.
I take a prescription that I obtain through a Canadian pharmacy for a particular medical condition I have. Without it, I suffer from repeated infections that constantly disrupt my school, work, and home life. I am a hardworking, engaged, diligent undergraduate student pursuing a major and a minor, while simultaneously engaged in a research apprenticeship, preparing an honors thesis, and planning for field schools and graduate school.
Without my medication, my ability to succeed academically and prepare for my future career will be significantly hindered, and I may be unable to sufficiently complete the associated workload for all of these endeavors.
I ask readers to immediately call or write our senators and U.S. representatives and demand they stop CBP from implementing any rule-making that restricts Americans from importing personal-use prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies in Canada or other countries.
– MJ Kubala
Kathy Narum: Experience. Intelligence. Knowledge.
I enthusiastically endorse Kathy Narum for Pleasanton City Council and encourage the residents of District 1 to vote for her.
Although I do not live in Kathy Narum’s district, she represented me for eight years when City Council elections were citywide. She served two full terms, winning both elections with majority support from residents who recognized her strong leadership.
After reaching her term limit, Kathy was selected through a rigorous interview process for appointment to the regional Zone 7 Water Agency Board. She subsequently won election to the Zone 7 board and has served for the past 3-1/2 years, gaining valuable regional perspective and working with leaders on the critical complex issues of water quality and availability.
Kathy’s commitment to Pleasanton runs even deeper. She has lived here for more than 35 years and raised her two daughters in this community. Her longstanding investment in Pleasanton, combined with her institutional knowledge, proven City Council experience, and regional water expertise, makes her exceptionally well qualified to serve again.
As Pleasanton confronts important decisions about housing, the city budget, and water resources, Kathy’s experience and informed leadership will be invaluable.
– Susan Hayes, former Human Services Commission member
Why I’m supporting Mayor Jack Balch
My wife, Harriet, and I rarely contribute to political campaigns. As a Pleasanton resident and longtime Silicon Valley entrepreneur and business executive, I’ve generally stayed out of politics. But Mayor Jack Balch has earned our support.
Having spent decades building and leading businesses, I understand the importance of sound financial management, thoughtful planning, and making difficult decisions. These are qualities Jack brings to City Hall.
As a CPA, CFO and experienced public servant, Jack understands that fiscal responsibility isn’t just about balancing budgets. It’s about protecting essential services, investing wisely in infrastructure and ensuring Pleasanton remains financially strong for future generations.
During his first term, Jack has demonstrated that commitment by strengthening public safety, advancing long-term water reliability, streamlining government processes and supporting economic vitality.
Equally important, Jack listens. He engages with residents, welcomes different perspectives and works to bring people together.
Harriet and I support Jack because we believe competence, integrity and thoughtful leadership matter, especially in local government.
Pleasanton deserves experienced leadership that delivers results while protecting what makes our community special.
I encourage my fellow residents to reelect Jack Balch as mayor.
– Ted Fong
Elect Julie Testa! The choice for Pleasanton.
My dad, former Pleasanton Mayor Tom Pico, strongly supported Julie Testa for mayor. In his words:
“Julie is the choice of residents who believe Pleasanton City Council needs a voice for them.”
Dad was proud of Julie’s courage to stand up for Pleasanton. He believed she would work to continue his legacy of protecting our city from overdevelopment, maintaining Pleasanton’s small-town quality and ensuring residents have a strong voice in its future.
His confidence in Julie means a lot to me, and I proudly share his support. Please join me in voting for Julie Testa for Pleasanton mayor.
– Jenny Pico-Moy,
Tom Pico’s daughter
Testa for Pleasanton mayor
I have known Julie Testa for many years, and over that time I have had the opportunity to work with her on several community initiatives. I also consider Julie a friend, so my perspective comes not only from watching her public service, but from seeing firsthand how seriously she takes the concerns of Pleasanton residents.
What has always impressed me about Julie is her willingness to listen, ask questions and stay engaged, even when an issue is difficult or controversial. She does her homework, she is accessible, and she is not afraid to speak up when she believes the city can do better.
Through the years, I have seen Julie devote substantial time and energy to issues affecting our community, including mental health services, public safety, responsible city finances and maintaining the quality of life that makes Pleasanton such a special place to live.
In working with her personally, I have found Julie to be thoughtful, sincere and genuinely motivated by a desire to serve the community. I strongly encourage a Yes vote for Julie for mayor.
– Brian Arkin
Why I’m voting for Jack
My support for Jack comes from personal experience. The permit process for my home at 381 Sycamore Road stretched on for two years. I repeatedly asked then-mayor Brown for help, but the delays continued.
When Jack became involved, the process finally began to move. He arranged meetings with department heads, brought the people responsible together, and helped us obtain a building permit that had remained out of reach despite years of follow-up.
I know two other residents, Sree and Rakesh, who faced similar obstacles and needed help cutting through unnecessary red tape. Their matters were also resolved during Jack’s tenure. Seeing the difference he made for several residents strengthens my confidence in his leadership.
A mayor cannot solve every problem alone, but can listen, take concerns seriously and help make city government responsive. Jack has shown that he is willing to do those things and stay engaged until residents get answers.
Jack is even more seasoned now as a mayor and better prepared to lead. He brings years of experience, a deeper understanding of the city, and a record of helping residents navigate difficult processes. Based on what I have seen, I believe he is the strongest choice for Pleasanton’s next mayor.
I’m voting for Jack and encourage my fellow residents to do the same.
– Kanwar Sunny Gulati
Vote Steve Hilton
Californians can make our state safe, affordable and prosperous again by voting for Steve Hilton for governor.
Hilton will cut taxes for working families and businesses, including eliminating state income tax on the first $150,000 of earnings. He will slash burdensome regulations that are driving employers out of California.
He will aggressively tackle waste, fraud and corruption in government programs. He will suspend unnecessary environmental policies inflating gas prices to bring them closer to the national average. He will restore law and order by enforcing existing laws. He will demand real accountability in our schools so students actually meet math and English standards.
For years, Californians have been told that more Democrat government spending and programs would solve these problems. Instead, many residents are struggling with higher costs, declining public trust, and concerns about the direction of the state.
Based on previous Democratic administrations, I fear that Xavier Becerra will raise taxes, reduce public safety and cause more companies to leave California. We cannot allow this to happen to our once beautiful and prosperous state.
As the saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Californians are tired of all the problems caused by the one-party Democrat rule. We have a choice in this election: continue with the same failed Democrat policies or try a different commonsense approach.
Vote for Steve Hilton for governor. California has nothing to lose — and everything to gain.
– David Ott
Narum for City Council
As a resident of Pleasanton for 30 years, I urge my neighbors in District 1 to support Kathy Narum in the upcoming election for City Council. Not only is Kathy a champion for Pleasanton, but she has the detailed knowledge of local water and flood control issues that are critical as we face the risk of an intense El Niño weather system soon.
As a member of the City Council, Kathy will continue to provide the hands-on leadership that residents know they can rely on. With her skill in solving complex engineering problems, she has consistently delivered results to this community for over two decades.
Kathy is the only Pleasanton City Council candidate who has been a director of the Zone 7 Water Agency to help guide our city to get our water infrastructure back on track with quality maintenance and repairs.
With Kathy’s leadership experience, we can also ensure that our fire responders can be confident in having a reliable emergency water distribution system so that Pleasanton can avoid the type of damage that our neighbors in Tracy experienced with the Medline warehouse fire.
Kathy has an enviable record of dedicated public service in Pleasanton to provide thoughtful, energetic, and common sense solutions to move Pleasanton forward. Please support Kathy Narum for City Council!
– Richard Pugh
Dentures and dental gaps
Five years ago, a FaceTime call with my grandfather, my “Dadu”, changed how I look at healthcare. I noticed he wasn’t wearing his dentures. He admitted he lost his old set but didn’t want to burden my father with the out-of-pocket cost of a replacement.
As a seventh-grader, I assumed his medical insurance covered it. I was wrong; dental care was completely excluded.
That memory stuck with me. Years later, while volunteering at Pleasanton’s senior center, I heard identical stories from our city’s older residents. And the neglect fueled me to act.
I joined the Magic Tooth Bus mobile clinic and quickly realized the crisis wasn’t affecting only seniors — families of all backgrounds lacked a predictable place for checkups. Without a clinical license, I focused on administrative red tape, spending a summer building a database of Bay Area clinics accepting Medi-Cal.
A year ago, I brought this work home to the East Bay by creating the foundation Mind Your Molars. My father and I run neighborhood drives to collect dental supplies across 100 to 150 homes at a time. At community health fairs, we use a tri-fold display to offer step-by-step instructions on navigating Medi-Cal and understanding legal rights within Federally Qualified Health Centers.
While my grandfather has passed away, the burden he carried remains for countless local families. By battling these neighborhood problems through community efforts, we can end the ignorance of dental health.
– Ayan Banerjee
Thoughtful planning for Pleasanton’s future
As a father and longtime resident and Pleasanton planning commissioner, I understand that the decisions we make today shape our community. What we do now impacts the generations that follow after us.
Making the best decisions for the city means thoughtful leadership and willingness to consider many different perspectives. This takes broad engagement across our city, meeting and engaging with the various different groups and neighborhoods within the city, careful planning, and thoughtful balancing of different citizens’ needs and desires and what we need now and in the future.
Mayor Jack Balch understands these challenges and knows how to follow a good decision-making process. Because he has served our city for many years, including as a planning commissioner, he brings valuable experience, he has seen how these decisions should be made and what works.
He knows the importance of planning for our present and our future. Jack also brings a practical approach to addressing complex issues.
Our diverse city has diverse needs. Jack has shown he is willing to listen, ask questions, engage and discuss, and be constructive, even when opinions differ.
I back Jack because of his informed and thoughtful decision making that our diverse community needs. I back Jack because steady leadership will be vital as Pleasanton continues to navigate external forces on our city such as state housing requirements mandates, evolving economic conditions, and infrastructure challenges. I back Jack because he has shown he has what it takes to help our city plan for the future.
– Brandon Pace
Building a safer, more-connected Pleasanton
As someone who cares deeply about bicycling, safe streets, and making Pleasanton a more connected community, I’m proud to support Mayor Jack Balch for reelection.
Whether we’re biking to school, commuting to work, enjoying our trails or simply riding through our neighborhoods, safe and accessible routes matter to all of us.
What I appreciate about Jack is his willingness to listen, engage with residents and recognize that thoughtful transportation planning is essential to our quality of life.
Jack understands that investing in safer streets, improving bicycle connections, and creating opportunities for people to walk and bike benefits everyone, including families, seniors and future generations.
As mayor, Jack brings a practical, balanced approach to addressing our transportation challenges while recognizing the importance of protecting what makes Pleasanton special.
We need leadership that brings people together, considers different perspectives, and works toward solutions that make our community safer and more accessible for everyone.
I believe Jack Balch is that leader, and I encourage my fellow Pleasanton residents to join me in supporting his reelection.
– Jim Van Dyke
Testa for local control
Pleasanton consistently ranks as one of the most desirable cities in the state and U.S. This should never be taken for granted. The biggest ongoing threat to our continued wellbeing comes from an overbearing Sacramento systematically working to undo 130 years of local control.
The state uses legislative mandates, financial penalties and appointed bodies to restrict local decision-making power. For instance, they tell us what type of housing to build, and allow developers to bypass local zoning rules and approval processes. They saddle our city budget with unfunded mandates.
Julie Testa stands out as our city’s leading defender of local control. When several SoCal cities obtained legal exemption (as charter cities) from meddlesome state decrees, Julie immediately seized on the opportunity to begin moving our city into that category, joined by two other proactive Bay Area suburban cities.
Pleasanton government has been accountable to its residents and businesses since 1894. Julie Testa will work hard as mayor to see that your voice is not drowned out by external forces. A vote for Julie is therefore a vote to preserve your say in local government.
– Pierre Bierre
My vote for Julie Testa
I am supporting Julie Testa for Mayor of Pleasanton for many reasons.
I have lived in Pleasanton since 1973 and have had the great pleasure of raising my daughters here. Over the years, I have followed the careers and service of Pleasanton’s mayors and have cared deeply about the direction of our city.
I have read and appreciated Julie’s letters over the years, particularly her thoughtful explanations of her views on the housing crisis and the challenges facing Pleasanton. I find the views she has brought to the City Council to be thoughtful, honest and clear.
After living in Pleasanton for more than five decades, I have a deep appreciation for this community and the qualities that make it such a special place to live and raise a family.
I am proud to know Julie Testa, and I am pleased to support her for mayor.
– Paulette Goodrich
Jack Balch for mayor of Pleasanton
I recently attended the mayoral debate, and the contrast was striking. Jack Balch, a CPA and auditor, came armed with facts, figures and a clear grasp of our city’s finances. At a time when Pleasanton faces real budget and pension challenges, we need a mayor who understands the numbers, and Jack does.
That’s no accident. Jack has pushed for responsible budgeting and helped advance a long-term strategy for managing pensions, one of the biggest financial pressures facing any California city. He has also opened the budget process to residents through town halls, workshops and the Budget Advisory Committee, so that citizens have a real voice in how their money is spent.
Jack knows a growing city needs growing businesses.
Through the budget, he helped create an Economic Development Department that works hand in hand with Planning to find and remove the obstacles facing entrepreneurs. That partnership produced the Pleasanton Playbook, a simple one-page guide to opening a business and getting permits.
Faster approvals mean new storefronts, new jobs, and new tax revenue that supports our parks, schools and public safety without putting more of the burden on homeowners.
As an entrepreneur myself, I know how much time and money red tape can cost a new business. Jack understands that too, and he has done something about it.
Pleasanton deserves a mayor who pairs fiscal responsibility with a clear vision for economic growth. I urge my fellow residents to vote for Jack Balch.
– Evan Shelan
Vote for Julie Testa
I’ll be voting for Julie Testa for mayor of Pleasanton.
Julie’s tireless efforts to bring sense and compassion to how our police department deals with service calls related to mental illness issues resulted in the creation of the Alternative Response Unit (ARU). With the ARU mental health experts are paired with non-uniformed police officers to respond to calls where someone is having a mental health crisis.
Prior to the launching of the ARU, people suffering from mental illness were dealt with by armed police officers who were not adequately prepared, trained or knowledgeable. The ARU’s inclusion of experts with the requisite knowledge not only makes sense, but it will also save lives. Julie Testa is the city council member responsible for this change.
More recently, Julie pushed our City Council to take a stand on formally objecting to the possibility of FCI Dublin becoming an ICE detention center; FCI Dublin is a notorious federal prison just that was closed because of rampant sexual abuse and the existence of mold and asbestos making the facility uninhabitable. While unsuccessful, Julie was one of the dissenting voices on this issue.
And that brings me to another reason for supporting Julie Testa. As noted in the Pleasanton Weekly’s article about Julie, “…she’s not afraid of being the sole dissenting voice as she has been for many council items in the past few years.” We need a dissenting voice and we will lose it if Julie is not elected. Vote for Julie!
– Ward Kanowsky
Keeping Pleasanton a special place to call home
Pleasanton is more than just a city. It’s a community where neighbors care about one another, families build memories, and people take pride in the place we call home.
Things I appreciate about Mayor Jack Balch are his great leadership and commitment to preserving that sense of community while helping Pleasanton prepare for the future.
Jack is present throughout our city, attending community celebrations, supporting local organizations, visiting businesses, and creating opportunities for residents to share their thoughts and concerns.
His “Chat with Jack” conversations reflect an important principle: good government begins with listening. We all should have easy access to our mayor.
Jack has been criticized for voting to “streamline permits for businesses, updating impact fees and reducing planning requirements for some smaller homeowner projects”. Policies born out of listening.
This is a huge plus for our city, incentivizing economic growth, which in turn creates jobs and bolsters sales and property tax revenue as well as filling our empty spaces without threatening our sales tax revenue by pushing shoppers to neighboring cities with lower sales tax rates.
As mayor, Jack has focused on public safety, responsible financial management, reliable infrastructure and supporting the local businesses that contribute so much to our community.
But beyond policies and budgets, what matters is having leadership that recognizes the people behind every decision.
Pleasanton will always face challenges, but our greatest strength is our community and our willingness to work together.
– Shelley and Roger Rittenhouse
