I am an experienced, grounded civic leader who can guide Palo Alto through change, ensuring growth strengthens our community instead of eroding the quality of life that makes people want to live here in the first place. That requires practical priority setting, responsible budgeting, and leadership that listens carefully and acts decisively.
I am deeply rooted in our community, with more than 20 years of civic leadership and public service in our schools, neighborhoods, and local organizations, as well as years of experience helping the city navigate the challenges of development, transportation, and community planning.
With your support, I hope to bring this experience and approach to the City Council to help Palo Alto navigate change thoughtfully, responsibly, and with a continued focus on the quality of life that makes our city special. Growing up in Palo Alto, I have seen our city change in many ways. Let’s make sure we’re prepared for the changes to come.
Why I'm Running
Presiding during a Planning and Transportation Commission meeting
What I have already delivered for Palo Alto.
Serving on the Planning and Transportation Commission since 2021 has given me the opportunity to turn priorities into real results for Palo Alto. The accomplishments below are among those I am most proud of — concrete actions that reflect the values I will bring to City Council every single day.
HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD GROWTH
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Pushed for genuinely affordable housing. Consistently pushed developers to include larger units at deeper affordability levels for working families — not just studios at 120% AMI.
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Shaped Palo Alto's Housing Element. Directed density to commercial corridors and transit nodes, protected existing neighborhoods from overshadowing heights, and looked for creative solutions for affordable units, like above city-owned parking.
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Championed the El Camino Real Focus Area. Defined increased densities for parcels away from single-family homes, incorporating Builder's Remedy sites to steer developers towards more neighborhood-sensitive development.
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Strengthened renter protections. Extended eviction protections, lowered security deposit limits and expanded relocation assistance beyond CA requirements; established a Rental Registry for better housing data and future decision-making.
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Complied with State Mandates while Protecting Neighborhoods. Worked to ensure Palo Alto met its state housing mandates on our own terms, directing growth to commercial corridors and larger parcels that can accommodate denser housing, not single-family neighborhoods.
LIVABILITY & ENVIRONMENT
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Protected Palo Alto's natural environment. Voted for the updated Tree Ordinance now used as a model by Santa Clara County; crafted Bird-Friendly Design, Dark Skies, and updated Stream Ordinance protections while avoiding onerous requirements for homeowners.
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Advanced safer streets for all. Planned for bike lanes on East Meadow and an improved JLS path; adopted the 2026 Bike and Pedestrian Safety Plan and Safe Streets for All Plan with prioritized projects and a toolkit of quick-build solutions.
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Revitalized University and California Avenues. Expanded the definition of retail, streamlined permits, allowed bars and smaller restaurant chains, and enabled more flexible use of large retail spaces for neighborhood-serving offices.
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Protected retail at Town & Country. Prevented conversion to medical offices during the pandemic. Those spaces are now thriving retail establishments.
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Held developers accountable to neighborhoods. Pushed for daylight planes, additional parking, ground floor retail, reduced office space, increased setbacks and trees, and privacy screening in new projects.
Where I stand on what matters most.
Palo Alto faces real decisions about housing, the environment, public safety, and who City Hall actually serves. These are my priorities:
1. Neighborhoods, Not Skyscrapers
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Turn state housing mandates into real neighborhoods: with parks, schools, retail, and affordable housing
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Fight luxury towers next to single family homes
2. Keep Palo Alto Clean and Green
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Close zoning loopholes to safeguard the Baylands and foothills from density allowed by new state laws
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Preserve our tree-lined city feel
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Prepare our grid for the clean energy transition and climate resilience
3. Scale Public Safety & Infrastructure with New Growth
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Return the police force to pre-pandemic levels
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Fully staff Fire Station 4 in South Palo Alto
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Budget for increased infrastructure investment for wastewater and utilities
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Harden our infrastructure against wildfire and flooding risk
4. City Hall Belongs to Everyone
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Enforce our laws equally across every neighborhood
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Ensure transparent decisions driven by resident voices — not developer dollars
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Reopen City Hall
5. Rooted in Palo Alto. Accountable to Palo Alto.
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Focused only on Palo Alto. No ambition for higher office; no outside agenda
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More local government experience than all other non-incumbent candidates combined
Four commitments to the people who live, work, and raise families here.
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Turning Plans Into Results
Palo Alto has spent years developing ambitious plans and policies. Now the city needs disciplined leadership focused on implementation, accountability, and results. I believe in setting clear priorities, aligning budgets with community needs, and ensuring public projects and city initiatives actually deliver on their promises. That means thoughtful oversight, transparency about tradeoffs, and making practical decisions that move important work forward while maintaining high standards for quality and responsiveness.
02
Investing in Quality of Life
I will focus on protecting the everyday quality of life residents rely on while ensuring Palo Alto continues to thrive for future generations. Strong neighborhoods, safe streets, excellent public services, parks, libraries, and open space are what make Palo Alto special. I believe growth should strengthen the community, not strain it.
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Trusted and Transparent Leadership
I bring a record of steady, informed, and community-centered leadership through years of public service and volunteer work in Palo Alto. I believe good governance starts with listening carefully, weighing tradeoffs honestly, and being transparent about decisions. My approach is practical, collaborative, and focused on long-term stewardship of the community.
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Environmental Sustainability and Resilience
Palo Alto should continue leading on sustainability while also preparing for the climate challenges already underway. From extreme heat and wildfire risk to severe storms and sea level rise, we need practical, forward-looking investments that strengthen infrastructure, protect public safety, and preserve the natural ecosystems residents depend on. Careful planning today will make our community more resilient for generations to come.