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The six candidates across two races for Dublin City Council emphasized public safety and outlined their perspectives on infrastructure, fiscal sustainability and affordability at a forum earlier this month.
The four-person District 2 race to represent central Dublin includes researcher Daniel Hor, intelligence analyst Steve Lorey, principal scientist Richard Thornbury and investor Tejpreet Singh. Singh did not attend the Oct. 12 forum, hosted by Pleasanton Weekly, citing a back injury.
Incumbent Kashef Qaadri and business owner Shivraj Singh, no relation to Tejpreet Singh, are running in the Nov. 3 election to represent District 4 of east Dublin, generally bound on the west by Tassajara Road and on the south by Gleason Drive and Fallon Road. Shivraj Singh was ill and unable to attend the forum.
Meet the District 2 candidates
Hor has spent more than 10 years as a user-experience researcher and seven years in journalism, he said at the forum. He also volunteers for groups including the Dublin Unified School District’s Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and the Shamrock Hills TK-8 Parent Faculty Club. He holds degrees in computer science and psychology, he said.
As a council member, Hor said, he would prioritize maintaining a high quality of life in Dublin by focusing on basic needs and services, including public safety and transportation. He also said he was in favor of smart development to attract businesses, provide new jobs and address housing affordability, as well as balanced budgeting.
The most important issue in District 2, he said, is the speculated reuse of the Federal Correction Institution in Dublin, which closed permanently in 2024 amid findings of systemic sexual abuse by prison staff, as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. On the City Council, Hor said, he would “stand in solidarity” with the community in opposition to the facility.
Lorey, a 27-year retired U.S. Army veteran who hold’s a master’s in public administration, said he prioritizes public safety, fiscal sustainability and transparency and public engagement.
Lorey said the council’s goal should be to maintain and improve the quality of life in Dublin, which doesn’t require “huge changes” because the city is already doing well. He cited the city’s operating budget surplus, hundreds of acres of community parks, tens of sworn officers, school enrollment and strong financial reserves as proof.
Public safety is the top issue for residents in District 2, and Dublin should shift from “reactive-type policing” into community policing practices, Lorey said.
Singh apologized for his absence from the forum in a letter read aloud by the moderator.
He is an immigrant and father of two who graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law with a master of laws degree in business and law, according to the letter. He is also a volunteer at Sikh temples across California, according to his campaign website.
In his letter, he said he prioritizes road and sidewalk repair, downtown revitalization, support for local businesses, affordable housing, cycling and pedestrian safety improvements, public safety and protecting parks and open space. He also said he will advocate for transparent spending, clear project timelines, regular updates on projects and explanations when projects are delayed.
Thornbury has served on the city’s Parks & Community Services Commission for nearly six years and has lived in Dublin since 2019. He and his wife have one son.
Thornbury said he is running to maintain a high quality of life in Dublin while making the city more affordable. His cited his priorities as fiscal sustainability, public safety and housing affordability. The city’s budget must prioritize public safety, which means maintaining emergency responder services and enhancing street safety for pedestrians and cyclists, Thornbury said.
Meet the District 4 candidates
Qaadri, a longtime Dublin resident, is a scientist-by-training who was elected to the City Council in 2022 and served as vice mayor in 2025. During his time on the council, Qaadri said, he has made a point of “showing up, listening, doing the work and delivering results.”
Qaadri said Dublin has made progress in the past four years, but there is room to improve the city’s infrastructure, public safety, economic vitality and its long-term financial footing.
“I want to bring the experience I’ve gained over the last four years to that work and improvement,” he said.
Shivraj Singh is a business owner in the Tri-Valley who has lived in Dublin for more than 15 years, his campaign website states. He also works with local organizations, cultural groups and families to “celebrate the diversity that makes Dublin one of California’s most vibrant cities,” he says on the website.
He said he wants to ensure the city’s infrastructure and public safety keep pace with its development. He also aims to alleviate traffic around the Interstate 580 and Interstate 680 interchange and supports the Dublin Boulevard extension, which he called “long overdue,” according to his website.
Shivraj Singh in an email said invitations to the forum went to his spam folder, and by the time he saw them it was too late to plan around the forum. He said he was also feeling sick on the forum day. He did not respond to an email requesting a headshot.
Candidates who attended the forum addressed the transient occupancy tax Dublin City Council nixed at a July meeting, the Regional Transit Measure and the redevelopment of downtown Dublin.
Candidates’ answers to all questions are available for viewing above and on the Pleasanton Weekly’s YouTube page.
