Greg Tanaka Announces Re-election Bid for Palo Alto City Council

PALO ALTO —  Palo Alto City Councilmember Greg Tanaka on July 22 announced his campaign for re-election with endorsements from over 200 elected officials and community leaders and members, more than all the other candidates have on their websites currently put together: https://youtu.be/rBrb4VnXXk4

“The City of Palo Alto faces a number of challenges: a public health emergency precipitating an economic one,” said Tanaka. “Meeting these challenges calls for experienced leadership, and sensible spending in a time of limited resources.”

Tanaka’s first term on council reflected his understanding that quality of life, residential values, and economic viability are interconnected. As City Council finance chair, he worked to eliminate wasteful spending, frequently the lone vote against unaffordable staff raises. He worked to minimize city tax increases while funding critical priorities, such as for safety and youth.

“I care deeply and passionately about my community,” he said. “I hope to continue to serve Palo Alto and make City Hall work for all residents, as we work together to preserve and improve Palo Alto’s future.”

Tanaka began his community service in Palo Alto by leading the College Terrace Residents’ Association, as president, in a pioneering parking program that became the model for city-wide Residential Parking Permit policies.

He next served on the Planning and Transportation Commission as chair and the Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Commission. There he worked on issues of housing, traffic, infrastructure, land use, and the updating of Palo Alto’s long-term Comprehensive Plan.

Tanaka is best known for leading the California Avenue streetscape project that revitalized the business district.

As a Palo Alto homeowner with school-age kids in public schools, the founder and CEO of a Palo Alto-based technology company that services retailers, and a current City Council member,Tanaka says he is uniquely positioned to understand and help Palo Alto meet its significant challenges.

“By listening to and understanding all perspectives, we can overcome the challenges the city faces,” he said.

Endorsers include:

Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View mayor

Patrick Ahrens, Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Governing Board

Peter Ballew, San Leandro vice mayor

John Barton, former Palo Alto City Council member, former Palo Alto Unified School District Board president

Betsy Bechtel, Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Board of Trustees, former Palo Alto mayor

Catherine Carlton, Menlo Park City Council member, former mayor

Melissa Baten Caswell, Santa Clara County School Boards Assocition former president, Palo Alto UnifieD School District trustee and former board president

Suzanne Chan, Ohlone College Board of Trustees, former Fremont mayor

Michael Chang, former Cupertino mayor

George K. Chen, Torrance City Council member

David Cortese, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

Mason Fong, Sunnyvale City Council member

Paul Fong, former California State Assembly member

Jeff Gee, former Redwood City Council member, former mayor

Rich Gordan, former California State Assembly member, former San Mateo County supervisor

Cecilia Hupp, Brea City Council member, former mayor

Mike Kasperzak, former Mountain View mayor

Teresa Keng, Fremont City Council member

Larry Klein, Sunnyvale mayor

Larry Klein, former Palo Alto mayor

Liz Kniss, Palo Alto City Council member, former mayor; former Santa Clara County supervisor; former Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education president

Cathy Kroymann, former Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education president.

Conrad Lee, Bellevue, Wash. City Council member, former mayor

Wayne Lee, Millbrae City Council member and former mayor

Amourence Lee, San Mateo City Council member; former executive director, Parents Club of Palo Alto and Menlo Park

Jerry Liu, Cupertino Union School District Governing Board

Evan Low, California State Assembly member, former mayor of Cupertino

Grace Mah, board member, Santa Clara County Office of Education

Jack Morton, former Palo Alto City Council member

Anthony Phan, Milpitas City Council member

Eric Rodriguez, San Mateo deputy mayor

Raj Salwan, Fremont City Council member

Bruce Swenson, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees

Camille Townsend, former Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education trustee and former president

Lanie Wheeler, former Palo Alto mayor

Mickie Winkler, former Menlo Park mayor

Gilbert Wong, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees, former Cupertino mayor

Yan Zhao, Saratoga City Council member