Justin Brown, a planning commissioner for the city of Pleasanton, has announced that he will be running for a seat on the Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees.

Brown is aiming to represent District 5 if he is elected on Nov. 8, which will be the first election for PUSD in a district-based format that the board approved in March. District 5 includes Vintage Hills and Hearst elementary schools and Pleasanton Middle School, as well as part of Foothill High's attendance area.

"As a planning commissioner dealing with land-use issues, as well as a father to three kids currently attending PUSD schools, I recognize the tremendous value our schools bring to our entire city," Brown said in a news release. "If elected, I will work with my fellow trustees to build trust and communicate effectively based on input from parents, teachers, students, administrators and city officials."

Brown has been the chairperson of the Pleasanton Planning Commission since 2021 where he has been serving for the past six years. Before that, he sat for three years on the city's Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Committee.

Apart from his city experience, Brown works at ServiceNow, an American software company based in Santa Clara as a global partner and developer support. According to his campaign statement, his business and city experience will help him better manage the district as a board trustee.

He said that as trustee, he would strive to ensure that the district moving forward with the Facilities Master Plan, the district office relocation and the potential bond election will be well-executed, financially accountable and well-coordinated with city leaders.

"Our goal should be to always advance the best interests of our students and provide them with both quality education and facilities they need for academic success," Brown said. "I will work tirelessly on behalf of our community and would love to earn the vote of our residents in District 5 this November."

Brown lives in Pleasanton with his wife and three children who all attend Hearst Elementary School. Both he and his wife are active volunteers at the school, and Brown is also a volunteer with the local Cub Scouts.

According to his website, he helps in both the classroom and school events -- from crossing guard to school mascot.

Because of how active he is at his children's school, Brown said that he has seen firsthand the value of Pleasanton's teachers, school facilities and district support programs.

That coupled with his city experience allows him to understand the intersection between the city and the school board, something that he believes will help him as a leader in the board.

"Our current School Board Trustee team is very strong with educator experience but we believe Pleasanton would benefit from someone such as Justin with his strong business experience and as well as the ability to bring a perspective from his school-age kids and regular interactions with teachers within the PUSD system," his website states.

Brown has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of British Columbia and a master's in business administration from the University of Dallas.

To learn more about Brown's candidacy, visit www.votejustinbrown.com.