Q: How many years have you served in public service?

“Happy with this council? Re-elect them. Want change? Vote for change.”

“None — and I think that’s exactly what San Carlos needs right now. I’ve spent over two decades being held accountable for real budgets, real deadlines, and real results at companies like Oracle and SAIC. In business, you never forget that the customer pays the bills. In San Carlos, taxpayers are the customers — they pay for every service and every salary at City Hall — and too often the City doesn’t act like it. If you’re happy with what the current council has delivered, by all means, vote them back in. But if you want change, vote for change.”

Q: With zero public service experience, why should voters trust you with a city budget instead of someone who actually knows how city government works?

“Because knowing how city government works and holding it accountable are two different things. I’m not claiming to know every procedure on day one — I am claiming that I know how to read a budget, ask hard questions, and hold people accountable for results. That’s the skill San Carlos needs right now, and it’s the skill I’ve built over two decades.”

Q: Sounds like you just want to cut services that residents rely on.

“I want to be clear: cutting waste is not the same as cutting services. I’m talking about eliminating inefficiency, redundancy, and poor spending decisions — not cutting the things residents count on. If anything, cutting waste is what protects those services long-term, because it means we’re not forced to raise taxes or make painful cuts later.”

Q: Where do you stand on state housing mandates (RHNA) and how they affect San Carlos?

“I understand the state has set housing targets for every city, including San Carlos, and I know that’s frustrating for residents who feel decisions are being made in Sacramento instead of here. My approach is to comply with what the law requires while fighting to keep as much local control as possible over where and how that growth happens, so it fits our community instead of being dictated to us.” MTC/ABAG Bay Area Housing and Land Use Viewer

Q: How do you balance new development with preserving the city’s small-town character?

“I want development that’s thoughtful: the right scale, in the right places, with real investment in infrastructure and parking to match. I’m not anti-growth, I’m anti-growth-without-a-plan.”

Q: Will new development make traffic and parking worse in my neighborhood?

“Neighbors know their streets better than any study. They get a seat at the table before anything gets built.”

“My first priority is to listen to the people who live next to a proposed project. They know their neighborhood better than any consultant’s traffic study does, and they deserve a real seat at the table before a project is approved — not after. The City Council shouldn’t be making decisions for residents; it should be making them with residents.”

Q: What’s your position on building height limits and density downtown?

“San Carlos can meet its state-mandated housing requirements and preserve the character of downtown. The right approach is targeted height increases, smart density near transit, and strong design rules that ensure growth enhances — not erodes — what people love about Laurel Street.”

Q: How would you make housing more affordable, especially for young families and seniors on fixed incomes?

“Faster permits, simpler rules, and home-sharing so the people who built San Carlos can afford to stay.”

“We can only fix what we can control — and the City controls how fast it processes permits and how complicated it makes the process. I’ll push to speed up and simplify both. For seniors, one of the most practical Bay Area solutions is home-sharing: matching seniors who have extra space with people who need an affordable place to live, with City programs to make that easy and safe. I also support focusing new housing near Caltrain and services, which lowers transportation costs and protects established neighborhoods. I want the people who built this community to be able to stay in it.”

Q: If you’re committed to “no new taxes,” what specifically would you cut to balance the budget?

“No new taxes requires fiscal discipline. We cut waste first, demand accountability, and make sure every dollar is spent wisely before ever asking residents to pay more. Funding our infrastructure — roads, storm drains, and long-deferred maintenance — begins with spending smartly and managing the budget responsibly. When the City proves it can use existing resources efficiently, we protect residents from unnecessary tax increases.”

Q: Do you support Measure K?

“Fix the funding formula in Sacramento and Redwood City — don’t put the shortfall on San Carlos property owners.”

“No. Our school funding shortfall is a formula problem, and the fix belongs with the County and the State — not another parcel tax on our homes. We’ve seen this work before: when the Vehicle License Fee funding formula shortchanged cities like ours, local leaders pushed the State to correct it. We should do the same here — petition the County and State to fix the formula that shortchanges our schools, instead of raising local taxes to cover it.”

Q: Do you support law enforcement?

“I support law enforcement. Enforce the law, and if you don’t like it, change it.”

“Absolutely. Our deputies do a hard job, and they deserve our support. My view is simple: we enforce the laws on the books, and if people don’t like a law, the right answer is to change it through the democratic process — not to ignore it.”

Q: Where do you stand on funding for police and fire services?

“Public safety is a core function of city government — it’s one of the first things a ‘no new taxes’ budget has to protect, not one of the things you look at cutting. I’ll make sure police and fire are fully resourced before anything else gets funded.”

Q: What’s your view on wildfire and emergency preparedness for San Carlos?

“Given what we’ve seen across California, this isn’t optional. I want to make sure San Carlos has real evacuation planning, defensible space enforcement where it applies, and coordination with county and regional emergency resources.”

Q: What’s your position on traffic safety and speeding in residential neighborhoods?

“This is the kind of issue that doesn’t get enough attention until something bad happens. I want to hear directly from neighborhoods about where the problem spots are and look at practical fixes — traffic calming, better signage, enforcement — rather than a one-size-fits-all citywide policy.”

Q: What can the City Council do to support our teachers?

“The Council doesn’t run the schools, but we can help teachers live here.”

“The school district is run by its own elected board, not the City Council. But the City can help teachers afford to live in the community where they teach — with the same programs I want for seniors: home-sharing, help adding ADUs, and better local transportation options.”

Q: What would you do to support youth sports, libraries, or after-school programs?

“As a former athlete, this one’s personal to me. Youth sports and after-school programs keep kids engaged and give families real value for their tax dollars. I’d want to protect funding for these programs and look for ways to expand access, especially for families who might not otherwise be able to afford it.”

Q: Do you support voter ID?

“We show ID at the bank and the pharmacy. Voting deserves the same care — and ID should be free and simple to get.”

“Voter ID is decided at the state and county level, not by the City Council, but I’m happy to tell you where I stand: I support it. Most of us already show ID at the bank, the pharmacy, and the airport, and voting deserves that same care. For anyone who doesn’t have an ID, it should be free and simple to get, and the City could help with local programs, like transportation to the DMV.”

Q: How have you been involved in the community?

“I volunteer my time mentoring military veterans and college athletes as they transition into the business world — helping people navigate a big change is something I care about, on and off the field. Beyond that, I’m just a longtime San Carlos resident who loves this town and wants to see it thrive.”

Q: Why run now, at this stage of your life?

“Decades of experience, zero political ambition. I’m here to get things done.”

“I’m not doing this for the money, the recognition, or a career in politics. I have decades of experience, and I want to put it to work for the community I live in. I’m not here to build a career — I’m here to get things done.”

Q: What’s your commitment to residents?

“I’ll listen first and make decisions with you, not for you.”

“Our residents and business owners are facing real challenges because of decisions made without them. I’ve talked with restaurant owners across town, and I keep hearing the same thing: this Council makes decisions for them, not with them. That changes when I’m on the Council. You’ll get a seat at the table before decisions are made — not after.”

Q: Who has endorsed you?

“I’m not backed by political insiders or long-standing public-service groups. My endorsement is my experience: more than twenty years in business, developing companies and practicing real fiscal discipline. I actually see my lack of political endorsements as a strength — it means I can bring common-sense decision-making, accountability, and a fresh perspective to the Council without being tied to past political commitments.”

Q: Are you aligned with any political party or local group/slate?

“City Council is nonpartisan, and I think it should stay that way — potholes and budgets aren’t Democrat or Republican issues. I’m running as an independent voice focused on San Carlos, not on behalf of any party or slate.”

Q: What would you do to revitalize San Carlos?

“San Carlos should update its formula-business restrictions. A mix of local shops and a few well-chosen national brands would increase foot traffic and strengthen downtown. Mom-and-pop stores benefit when more people come to Laurel Street. Also, I believe the City has not meaningfully included our downtown businesses in its decision-making. I’ve spoken with several owners, and they expressed real frustration that their input is not being heard. These are the people who keep our downtown vibrant, and their voices should be central to any planning effort. And I want a council that actually plans for the traffic impact of a project before approving it, not after residents are already stuck dealing with it.”

Q: What do you think about the Harrington Park makeover?

“600 residents asked to save the park. The Council spent $7 million and cut down 12 protected trees anyway.”

“I believe the Harrington Park makeover was a poor decision. More than 600 residents signed a petition to preserve it as the quaint village park it was. The Council went ahead anyway with a $7 million project — one I believe should have cost less than $2 million — and removed 12 mature, protected trees. The City replaced a charming, tree-filled park that fit the character of our village-like downtown, and it awarded the project to a contractor whose federal legal history raises serious questions about whether it met the City’s responsible-bidder standard. This combination of design missteps, financial overreach, and contractor-vetting failures is exactly why we need stronger oversight and more community-aligned planning.” Read my questions to City Council →