There is a reason that I’ve raised my family in Walnut Creek, after growing up in this area. It’s because of the wonderful Quality Of Life that Walnut Creek offers every day! The community services, all the amenities that are offered, the amazing array of restaurants and stores, the beautiful parks, open space, recreational opportunities, theatre, neighborhoods, and so much more make Walnut Creek the best place to live that I’ve ever seen!
I have a 40-year history with – and passion for – Walnut Creek.
My family first came to the community in 1973, and I graduated high school here. While I went off to college and start my career, my parents continued to live here – and, after 40 years, still do. Twenty-five years ago, my wife, Jill, and I returned to Walnut Creek to raise our family in a community we have long known, loved, and believe with all our hearts is uniquely special in the quality of life it offers.
We feel fortunate and blessed to have been able to raise our children here. Our daughter, Darielle, is a Northgate High School graduate and graduated from the University of Arizona. Our son, Shane, is also a Northgate High school graduate, and graduated from the California State University, Long Beach.
Giving back to this community that has given so much to us has always been an important part of our life here. I’m grateful for the opportunity to apply all that I have learned here – as a father, a business person, a youth athletic coach, a community volunteer, a city commissioner, a City Councilmember and a member of a multi-generation Walnut Creek family – to preserve and enhance our shared way of life.
My Education
Political Science Degree from UCLA
“A life-long interest in community issues and involvement”
After graduating from high school in Walnut Creek, I attended the University of California, Berkeley, for two years before graduating from UCLA with a degree in political science, sparking my life-long interest in community issues and involvement.
My Business Experience and Career
Internet Business Director for Fortune 500s and Start-ups
“Big business skills combined with entrepreneurial resourcefulness”
Over my 30-year professional career, I’ve worked for some of the largest, most successful companies in the world – Microsoft, Yahoo, Experian – giving me experience in large-scale planning, budgeting and financial management, sales and marketing, and leadership. But I have also worked for small, entrepreneurial starts ups and I founded and ran two small businesses of my own – all of which gives me an understanding of how to accomplish a lot on a small budget and how to run a lean and efficient organization. Today I help companies of all sizes to leverage the internet to achieve business success.
My Involvement as a Community Volunteer
City Councilmember, City Transportation Commissioner, Arts Commissioner, Community Service Day, Schools and Youth Sports
“A history of caring, contributing and connecting with Walnut Creek”
When Jill and I moved to Walnut Creek, we loved everything about it, The schools, the parks and open spaces, the downtown shops and restaurants, the different neighborhoods, the Lesher Center for the Arts, and so much more! We saw our children thriving, our community flourishing, and we were inspired to be more than just residents — we wanted to participate, contribute and connect. We have both volunteered in the schools, with Jill taking on committee and leadership roles. Over 10 years, I coached 15 different youth sports teams. We have been on the committee that organizes Community Service Day. And I have put my political science degree and business experience to work serving on City Council, City Commissions and community campaigns.
Whether I was spearheading getting the City Council to vote on 100% clean energy for our city-owned buildings, chairing the City’s Transportation Commission or coaching my son’s and daughter’s soccer teams, my involvement in the community has given me significant experience and insights into our community strengths and local opportunities.
Walnut Creek City Councilmember, 2016-current
During my two terms on the City Council, I have been able to bring new ideas to Walnut Creek and see them implemented. I led the effort to bring free WiFi downtown for all residents and visitors and helped to reaffirm Walnut Creek’s leadership in technology. In spearheading the effort to make Walnut Creek “greener”, I was able to bring Walnut Creek’s adoption of 100% Clean Energy to all of our City-owned buildings, and added another all-electric bus route. My votes also ensured that we retained the sanctity of our neighborhoods, while ensuring that state-mandated housing goals were met. My experience in transportation, also helped in opening up additional safe paths to school, and more biking lanes.
As mayor in 2021, we were in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I worked with residents and businesses to help jumpstart Walnut Creek back to economic prosperity. Immediately implementing outdoor dining was one of the ways we kept Walnut Creek’s restaurants to survive, and we also required all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Walnut Creek ended up having one of the lowest % cases of COVID-19 in the state.
In my current term, I’m proud that I helped lead the effort to ban flavored vapes, enact safe gun storage laws, and protect women’s rights and patient’s privacy by approving a “buffer zone” keeping protestors a minimum distance away from patients and staff. Recently, we enhanced that by adding a ban on amplified noise, and preventing harrassment of patients and healthcare staff via amplified means (like megaphones).
With the rise in antisemitism and hate speech nationwide, and unfortunately even darkening our doors at city council meetings, I’ve been a leading regional voice in standing up and speaking out against hate in all its forms. In addition, I have lead statewide seminars at the League of California Cities on how Elected Officials can stand up against Hate Speech and Hate Crimes in their cities.
At a regional level, I serve on the Board of Directors for Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) helping to enhance Bay Area public transportation, and ensuring our continued movement towards more all-electric bus routes. As a Board Member for MCE, our Community energy provider, I have taken an active position in seeing Walnut Creek become more of a leader in sustainability and the environment. The League of California Cities recognized my environmental activity by appointing me to a position on their Environmental Quality Policy Committee, which further supports that California embraces sustainability. In addition, The Contra Costa Mayors Conference appointed me to be their representative to the Family Justice Center.
Walnut Creek Transportation Commissioner, 2008-2016
Two Terms, Three Years as Chairman
As a three-time chair of the Transportation Commission, I led our efforts to increase the availability of downtown parking; improve traffic flows throughout the city, including along Ygnacio Valley Road; invest in major roadway improvements, including the widening of Geary Road and the signal changes at YV and San Carlos Drive; and develop and implement a bicycle master plan. My eight years as a Transportation Commissioner gave me a deep understanding of our local and regional transportation, traffic and parking issues – and for the need for creative solutions to these challenges.
Downtown Parking Task Force Member
Through our two years of work, the Downtown Parking Task Force developed a set of strategic recommendations for how to increase the inventory of public and private parking in downtown and also improve the overall parking experience. Many of these solutions are underway, including “first-hour-free” parking in downtown garages, better signage to make it easier to find available parking, and technology-based parking meters and pay stations.
Shadelands Gateway Advisory Committee Member
As a member of this committee, I worked for two years to gather community input on how to redevelop the 25-acre property at the corner of Ygnacio and Oak Grove and then, based on the input, to develop a plan that will provide better neighborhood shopping opportunities for area residents and improve the long-range viability of Shadelands Business Park.
Walnut Creek Arts Commissioner, 1999 – 2005
Walnut Creek is a center for arts in the Bay Area. As an Arts Commissioner, I provided public oversight on the City’s arts programs – from the budget to programming. Most significantly, during my tenure as chair, we completed the City’s first Public Art Master Plan, which has literally put Walnut Creek on the world map for public art.
Walnut Creek Citizens Police Academy Graduate
My experience with the Citizens Police Academy gave me first-hand insight into the community’s safety needs and priorities – from downtown to our neighborhoods, from our schools to our parks and community facilities. The Academy gave me a strong understanding of the strategies our police use to effectively manage these challenges and the resources they need to serve the community’s needs.
Youth Sports Coach
Over 10 years I coached 15 different youth sports teams: Soccer, baseball, basketball, and track, giving me valuable lessons about the needs of our local youth and critical insights on our parks and recreational facilities. And, those years gave me a great chance to engage with hundreds of Walnut Creek families on a variety of civic issues!
