SAN RAMON — Rene Matsumoto is running for San Ramon City Council in the Nov. 5 election.
She is one of four candidates for two seats on the council. Also running are San Ramon Vice Mayor Dave Hudson, litigation attorney Thomas von Thury, and Fremont Unified School District teacher Harry Sachs. The winners will serve four-year terms.
Matsumoto has been an active PTA/PTSA member for 15 years, having served in a variety of capacities, including treasurer, auditor, parliamentarian, vice president and executive vice president, and received Honorary Service Awards. She has been president of the Coyote Creek PTA, the Iron Horse Middle School PTSA, and the Gale Ranch Middle School PTSA. A Dougherty Valley High School soccer team and baseball team parent, she has served as secretary and membership chair of the school’s Athletic Booster Club.
A Leadership San Ramon Valley graduate, Matsumoto is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, a member of the Dougherty Valley San Ramon Rotary, and a member of the San Ramon Unified School District Safety Committee.
During her 10 years in the nonprofit sector, she was chapter director of special dvents for the Greater Bay Area March of Dimes, director of development for Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Hospital at Stanford, and fund development director for the Diabetes Society of Santa Clara.
“As your councilmember, you can count on me to be an accessible, effective, collaborative leader who is committed to the success of our city,” Matsumoto said in a statement. “San Ramon has been my home for 17 years. It’s a wonderful place to live and raise a family. My husband Frank, an electrical engineer, and I have three children: one in college and two at Dougherty Valley High School. I want to ensure that the San Ramon community continues to enjoy the quality of life that we have enjoyed.
“As San Ramon continues to grow and evolve, we must elect smart leaders who will build upon the city’s rich history and engage all segments of our diverse community in planning and decision-making. As an active, engaged member of the San Ramon community, I have built strong relationships that give me a broad perspective of the desires of the citizens and the needs of the city …
“I believe that all candidates should be commended for their interest in representing our beautiful city of 30 years. What makes me unique is that I have been representing San Ramon for years as a volunteer, wife, mother and businesswoman.”
Her priorities are: open space preservation; protecting the environment; strict fiscal accountability; public safety; less traffic congestion; development that pays for itself; youth and senior organizations; improved communications and city awareness; building unity amongst neighborhoods; planned economic development; and continued city partnerships with schools and local agencies.
Matsumoto’s endorsers include the following:
Bill Clarkson, mayor of San Ramon
Rachel Hurd and Denise Jennison, San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education trustees
Ann Katzburg, president of San Ramon Valley Education Association
Gus Kramer, Contra Costa County assessor
Newell Arnerich, mayor of Danville
John Mills, San Ramon Parks and Community Services Commission member
Ken Mintz, SRVUSD Board of Education trustee
Phil O’Loane and Scott Perkins, San Ramon City Council members
Glenn Ruley, former trustee of Contra Costa County Board of Education
Carol Ruley, past president of California State PTA
Christopher Sherry, state law enforcement commander
Matt Stamey, director San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
NO HOV RAMPS Coalition
Sierra Club
League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay
San Ramon for Open Government
For more information, visit www.renematsumoto4sanramon.com/.