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The Pleasanton City Council election is set to feature four candidates vying for two seats this fall after local resident Joseph Ledoux joined the fray by filing candidacy papers on Wednesday.
Ledoux, who works as a Berkeley Police Department officer, was certified for the Nov. 6 ballot several hours after submitting his nomination paperwork to city clerk Karen Diaz early Wednesday afternoon — the final day to qualify for the election.
“This town has been wonderful to my family. As a police officer I love serving my community, and this would be an opportunity to serve the residents of the town I reside in too,” Ledoux told the Weekly about his decision to compete for City Council.
Ledoux will face off against City Councilwoman Kathy Narum, former parks commissioner Joe Streng and former human services commissioner Julie Testa during the general election, with two spots on the dais up for grabs.
Narum, Streng and Testa each qualified for the ballot before the initial filing deadline passed last Friday afternoon. The deadline was extended by five days after Vice Mayor Arne Olson confirmed his earlier decision not to seek a second term.
With one incumbent bowing out, that gave Ledoux extra time to ponder joining the race, which he did officially by submitting completed candidacy papers less than four hours before the 5 p.m. deadline.
With four candidates on the ballot, residents will have one Pleasanton-specific election to decide this fall.
Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne and school board members Joan Laursen and Mark Miller stood without any challengers in their re-election bids when the candidacy deadline expired last Friday.
Will his police work prevent him from attending city council meetings?
Will he be carrying fire arm during city council meetings?
Running the city well, keeping crime low, providing low income housing for seniors, battling neighborhood disputes, and continuing economic prosperity with our local businesses are all a part of the roles of the council leaders. Costco is one tiny part of the skill set required to lead our city. Mr Austin, you have a myopic view of city leadersip. I’m going to vote based on many issiues- not just one.
Interesting, Michael wants to know if Joe Ledoux will be carrying a gun to council meetings and his point is? Appears to be just another anti gun nut, I would welcome a Police Officer at meetings to provide additional safety for all, including Michael
We have 82,000 people in this town, schools are jam packed, we cannot attract teacher applicants to fill open jobs, yet thanks to overcrowding, are now talking about expanding two schools into K-8. This is the problem that not enough people are talking about. Four teachers left my children’s school this past year to work in other districts. Base pay for a teacher is $58k, which if you’re scoring at home is HALF of the $117k low income line. THIS is a problem that’s going to spill out into other areas of our community if we don’t start building schools and restoring the school district. Thus far, the only thing our new superintendent has done is make sure everyone refers to him as “Doctor Haglund.” Maybe a cop who has seen what a lack of quality education does to a city firsthand is just what we need.
Chuck:
I am a supporter of the Pleasanton Police Officers Association and donate money to their Association every year.
How about you? Do you support the Pleasanton Police officers Association with any contribution?
It’s great that Mr. Ledoux wants to serve the community in which he lives; what has he done so far?
yeah, you’re right kathleen. you really seem to have a grip on the school issues. maybe you should run for school board…
Kathleen….never met a topic she wouldn’t comment on and act as if she is the leading authority and correct opinion, as if there were such a thing.
Tell me Kathleen…does your husband ever get to watch what he wants to watch on TV?
Michael;
Based on your first post, I’m taken back that you are a supporter of the Police, but great, the “Thin Blue Line” welcomes all supporters.
Police officers as City Council members?!
NOPE.
Sounds too much like a cultural conflict of interest, at the very least.
“Police officers as City Council members?!
NOPE.
Sounds too much like a cultural conflict of interest, at the very least.”
Not quite sure what a “cultural conflict of interest” is exactly, but someone’s profession should not prevent them from running for office. Everyone has some type of conflict (though some are admittedly more problematic than others). Business people will have conflicts with their former partners/competitors. Public servants will have their unions. Gardeners will be too apt to approve landscaping projects. Baristas will be too quick to defer to Starbucks. Etc. Etc. People should vote for the most qualified candidate rather than dismissing someone outright because of some perception of their profession.
City Council negotiates police contracts this would be an unacceptable conflict of interest.
Most public servants go into those careers because they want to make a difference and take an oath to abide by our constitution. Engaging in other public service roles is an extension of similar public service commitments. In general many public servants serve in the community they live in and and the one where they work so this is can be viewed as a bonus. And frankly many politicians started as police, probation, Attorney’s and even doctors so let’s encourage more involvement in our communities.
CM sounds like a union response from outside Pleasanton. Is this a union supported campaign?
Not sure why some people see police officers as some kind of “other” – separate from the community and city they live in. They’re people… Having met Mr. Ledoux, he is as much a Pleasanton resident, with a house and family, as anyone else. He cares about the city, the schools, the library, the downtown, the commerce, the parks, etc., as much as anyone else who is looking to serve the community.
And folks should know that he’s re-arranged his job schedule to enable a full commitment to the City Council should he be elected… I encourage you to get to know him personally.
Jake, negotiating contracts with police is just a tiny, tiny part of the councils responsibility. So to say he should not be on council because of that one reason is ridiculous. And if necessary, he can recuse himself. He may bring many good qualities to the council, let’s not dismiss him so quickly for his job.
Conflict of interest for police contracts? I’d say the opposite, probably the best person to advise the rest of the council on a reasonable contract for the police force his tax dollars support. And if he doesn’t, then vote him out the following term.
Not to mention his probable intricate knowledge of the crazyness that Berkeley endures, and how to steer clear of that in Pleasanton.
The comment, “Not sure why some people see police officers as some kind of “other” – separate from the community and city they live in.”, by Pleasanton Resident: Of course Police officers are people, just like the rest of us in our community. But the reality is that Police are not legally recognized, as regular people, or civilians. Have you ever checked out the Police Officers Bill of Rights? Please do. Police officers are subjected to less scrutiny by the law, and judicial system. Police, essentially have more rights than civilians, and even the military. So, yes, of course, Police are people. But Police institutions are also bodies of power, and influence over our communities. There must be a check and balance.
Well I encourage you to get to know Joe Ledoux then, because he certainly doesn’t come across as rigid or partisan in any way. I also found him to be both articulate and thoughtful. What I meant about him not being an “other – separate from the community” is that his interests and ideas for Pleasanton are similar to other residents here and not shaped specifically by his profession; rather by being a home-owner and a father in Pleasanton. In that context, I think he’s as qualified as anyone to be on the Council, and if his experience can bring helpful perspective all the better. But a single City Council Member does not individually make or break a “check and balance” of the police department. And given the extremely high support residents have for our PD, I don’t think there’s really any crisis to be worked up about either.
I’ll only vote for candidates who have shown interest in serving Pleasanton before running for City Council. Where has this candidate been? He’s never served on a committee or a commission and now he wants to be on City Council? Why?
No way. Demonstrate your commitment to your city by working on its behalf when no one is looking and giving you accolades – THEN run for City Council.
@slenderbutter. Less scrutiny? check out the news, seems they are subject to more scrutiny than anyone. The fact that you would disqualify him based on his employment in another city exemplifies this. I vote for the individual, their ideas and platforms, not some misguided idealogy about institutions and checks and balances.
If elected will you promise to lead and direct the city staff to do what is right and do what the voters of Pleasanton want and need, instead of acting like a member of an advisory committee?
Richard, the City Council is a separate entity, separate set of tax dollars. The Board of Education is who we need to push. Too many complications in teacher pay, benefits, and pension contributions to explain here, and it’s not part of this topic.
Hey Loose! I served already. Ran again in 2016, lost fair and square in a squeaker. Your turn perhaps?
Ive seen police officers on boards and commissions. I highly respect them. However Im not sure they make the best elected officials. Unless this candidate is a very rare exception, field police officers are usually ridgid.