Finally. I’ve been waiting for her to run. Go Karla, you can do it.

Karla will make sound citywide decisions that are in the best interest of the residents. She does her due diligence to do the proper research, get the facts, and she will listen to all relevant stakeholders to make sound fiscal decisions. Karla will provide the type of leadership that the city desperately needs to bring the city council together to work together collectively. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the city of Pleasanton, Karla!

Thank you for continuing your service to our community and for your bid for Mayor in November, Karla. You have always responded quickly to my concerns and whenever I email the Council. We need leaders like you to make tough decisions and even stand alone when the other Council members vote in opposition to the concerns of the residents. You have my vote and many of my neighbors who want a representative for them in local government.

Karla will be a great mayor. She has the experience we need and knows what is best for our town and works hard to make it happy.
Congratulations for making the decision to run for mayor of our city.

I support Karla for Mayor, please join me in voting for her in November.

Sharon Morris

Great news! I find Karla listens when she needs to learn and makes me want to listen to her so I can learn. I plan to vote for her and to help her become Pleasanton’s next mayor. JPMaille

Thank you to Karla for always listening and being the voice of the people! She always did her homework on issues, asked the tough questions and voted in the best interests of Pleasanton residents. Karla will be a great mayor!! Pleasanton needs her values and leadership now more than ever!!

What about not accepting any big contributions, period, from any business.

Karla will have a lot of support; she is the right person for the job

Karla will be a great mayor and leader of our fine town.

Karla will make a great Mayor. One that listens to the people and works diligently to find the best solutions and policies. It is commendable that she is not accepting funding from developers. Development is always a big issue in Pleasanton. Every new development is at its heart a political process. For too long political funding from developers and pro-development organizations like the Chamber of Commerce have had an over-sized influence on the Council relative to the the individual voters. As the campaigns commence, but sure to follow the money.

What will the Mayor do when touting conservative residential growth and development evils when the State mandates hundreds of housing units for all income levels instead of a few white privilege estates and wins another lawsuit?

I am confident Karla Brown will work with the state.

Thumbs down on aspiring career politician Karla Brown.

And those who remember her staunch "No on Measure K" support back in 2016, which basically was a Yes to some of the wealthiest, self-centered, NIMBY residents in this city, which included loads upon loads of misinformation outreach (via untruthful and misleading ads, websites, lobbying, etc.), of which Brown fully supported and promoted, would be ill-advised to support her for mayor. And her connections with Matt Sullivan equally distasteful.

Those of us who've lived here as long as Brown also have equally long, good memories, too.

Down on Brown for mayor. Let's get someone better (i.e., someone without all this detrimental political baggage) to succeed Jerry Thorne.

Kathleen, I don't know how you can make that statement. CM Brown voted to make it a priority to plan the eastside in 2019. Now in 2020, she voted not to start planning the eastside despite the fact the general plan of HOW many years ago states that a specific plan will be done for the eastside. Is she planning to put sky scapers on the mall parking lot to meet the housing mandates? Can't believe the westside residents will think that's a good idea including Matt Sullivan who lives near the mall.

If that isn't enough, look at the first name on her endorsement list--CM testa who is totally anti-housing and wants to fight the state.

This does NOT give me confidence she will work with the state.

I am sure she will work with the state. I supported Testa. She isn’t anti housing; for smart growth and for where it makes sense for it to be.

Congratulations, Karla!

Kathleen, Ms Brown has been part of the problem by either delaying, or voting no on new housing. The City of Pleasanton has already been successfully sued over a lack of housing. So her statement that (housing) developers are attempting to influence her vote is kinda a meaningless sound-byte. She's the one that needs to work with our business and builder community, not the State, regarding meeting the mandate to provide housing for all income levels. I fear she will suck us into another setttlement and the taxpayers will have to pay for a lot NIMBY attitudes. BTW, Ms Brown is a realtor. No wonder she doesnt want new homes. No realtor commissions there

Kathleen, Ms Brown has been part of the problem by either delaying, or voting no on new housing. The City of Pleasanton has already been successfully sued over a lack of housing. So her statement that (housing) developers are attempting to influence her vote is kinda a meaningless sound-byte. She's the one that needs to work with our business and builder community, not the State, regarding meeting the mandate to provide housing for all income levels. I fear she will suck us into another setttlement and the taxpayers will have to pay for a lot NIMBY attitudes.

Congratulation Karla. I appreciate that Karla tackles issues by studing the facts, listening, and working collaboratively with others to create solutions. I also appreciate her desire to preserve the small town character of our downtown, while also increasing vibrancy, and of responsible and thoughtful growth. I am confident Karla will tackle whatever housing mandates the state gives Pleasanton in a way that is both legal and best supports our overall community interests.

Great news that Ms. Brown is running for Mayor in November. She has helped our town in many ways with her support of smart growth that doesn't cost the community more traffic problems and school crowding. We will need someone like her who is financially conservative and supports small businesses especially to re-vitalize our downtown. She supports a more vibrant downtown by not putting a lot of 3-4 story tall condos where restaurants and amenities should be to bring more people to spend money in Pleasanton. I agree with the folks who think she'll be a great Mayor as she has demonstrated her leadership skills and that she is in sync with the majority of residents as a Council Member over the past 8 years.

As you vote in Nov., watch out for the OUTSIDE AGITATORS making comments here to further their own political and radical agenda...they don’t give a crap about Pleasanton or current Ptown residents.

Thank you for running, Karla! You will be a great Mayor for the City of Pleasanton. I agree with Karla on her smart growth stance regarding residential housing, as well as the safe water supply, and preserving our historic downtown. Listening to the community is important, and I know Karla will continue to do that. As a City Council candidate, I will also not take developer/builder campaign donations. Best of luck to you on your campaign, Karla!

Karla Brown will be the WORST mayor ever, please don’t vote for here.

Karla is an intelligent woman who could be a positive force in Pleasanton.

The only concern I have is regarding her being against Measure K - development of the Lund Ranch.

I believe she stated she did not support the hillside development aspect of the project and I believe she lives in Kottinger Ranch, in a hillside home. And I believe she makes a lot of money as a local realtor, selling hillside homes.

I may have my facts wrong, but if they are correct she seems to be a bit of a hypocrite.

Do we need more of these games from our city government, of do we need a mayor and city council that will be non-hypocritical and honest with us?

I have no problem with Karla Brown running for mayor of Pleasanton.
I wish her well.

Congrats to Karla Brown thank you for stepping up, let’s keep our downtown the way it is and hold on to those “reins” and slow down that runaway wagon of a developer who wants to run the whole show on the east side development plans, way too much conflict of interests going on there. !!!

@ Ronnie

You need to get your facts.

The lawsuit I believe you are referring to was the voter approved housing cap.

City of Pleasanton won that lawsuit.

@HMMMMMM

Name one politician who is not a hypocrite?

All turn their boat to always catch the best of the political winds at the time.

Just look at the East Side.

In 2015 , planning was stopped because of the drought.

Now, in 2020, Much of CA is still In moderate drought, yet the 3 members of the current council voted to move forward with the planning....and approved Ponderosa Homes to be the selected outside “consultant”

Bryant, I'm pretty sure the city lost the housing cap lawsuit and spent $3 million in losing. I think Ronnie may be refering to the Lund Ranch referendum. Yes at the time Karla DID live on Benedict Ct which is on a hill with slope. I think if proposed today, her mome would not have been built. She supported that referendum and stood along side paid signature gatherers. I won't rehash the paid signature gatherers and have deceitful they were, etc. BTW, the referendum was defeated by the voters.

I'm not talking about other politicians - I'm talking about the current ones.

I think Karla would be a good mayor - I just don't trust her.

Regarding the east side - better to plan it than not. It's a dumpy area full of ugly landscapes, gravel pits, etc - build a few houses and make the rest of it parkland for the rest of us.

I've lived here 50 years - most of where all the no growth people live was nice empty land - now it's full of rich jerks who "have theirs" and want to "keep out" everybody else.

Pleasanton isn't such a pleasant place to live unless your rich - which I am not.

As soon as I no longer need my high tech salary, I'm out of here to someplace "normal" - as far way from this land of rich people entitlement as possible.

Happy to see that Karla Brown is running for Mayor. She's been supporting our City for eight years and was the overwhelming winner at re-election. Just the fact that she was re-elected for a second term shows the majority of Pleasanton residents believe in her. I support Karla Brown as our next Mayor!

I'm happy to see that Karla is running for mayor. My entire family is excited to vote for her!

Also, I am so happy the police chief just announced a ban on the carotid restraint in Pleasanton. I'm sure Karla had something to do with that and I applaud her efforts.

Karla Brown will make a great Mayor and representative for Pleasanton. I have followed her decisions on the City Council and have been impressed with her willingness to take on the important issues of residents and not be a “rubber stamp” for those people who wish to gain financial benefits from the vote of the Council. She has supported our library, was instrumental in protected our hillsides from the beginning, has advocated for safe drinking water when contaminants have closed down wells, has fought to retain our historical and commercially vital downtown, brought the issue of restricting vaping products and nicotine sales to our youth to the Council and most importantly she does all this while remaining courteous and respectful of the opinions of her fellow Council Members and many groups with whom she works. Karla Brown has my support because she has supported what’s best for Pleasanton.

@ Factchecker

Not sure who the original Plantiffs were (maybe habitat for humanity??), but the City did successfully prevail in that lawsuit at the trail court.

ThePlaintiffs appealed and were joined by the State (Jerry Brown), and the Pleasanton did not put up much of a defense.
This resulted in the housing cap to be removed.

Almost everyone in town believes the scare tactics of “we don’t want to get sued again” which is the narrative pushed by developers, special interests, and some elected City Council members.

If I hear Jerry Thorne say (which he has said for years) “if we don’t plan it, the State will plan it for us” I’m going to vomit.

It’s just not true.

Assistant City Manager Dolan spoke knowledgeably to this point earlier in the year.

BTW
The East Side is currently planned:
Light Industrial & warehousing.

Guess there is a lot more $$$ in houses than warehouses.

[Post removed as off topic]

Bryant, you missed my point. The City was sued because of its failure to provide its fair share of housing for all income levels. The City did spend $$$ to defend itself and ultimately when they knew it was fruitless agreed to a settlement agreement to adopt a State compliant Housing Element. Preceding that, the judge banned all building permits for commercial/office/industrial projects (including tenant improvements) in the City and allowed ONLY residential permits to be issued. The Non-profit housing advocacy group who were the plaintiffs joined by then Attorney General Brown are definitely watching and waiting for another so called “slow or smart growth” ruse to avoid providing needed housing for all income levels.
And living near the East Pleasanton area, I would prefer senior and smaller homes, parks, lake trails, bicycle paths, and maybe a school over industrial any day. The transfer station, big equipment storage yards are dusty, noisy, Rio up the streets and have unsheltered people camping out and setting fires.

To Valerie Arkin, arent you running for a City Council seat? If yes, your endorsement of Ms Brown for Mayor strikes me as a slate along with Ms Allen. Is that the case? Anyways, please provide your details of how you define “Smart Growth”. Thank you

WOW, you have to be a 17 year old poser given your rant. Women make up 51% of the population so it is fitting that a qualified woman, and there are many, be selected as a running mate. Don’t worry though, she will only be paid 73 cents to Biden’s dollar and will be judged on her hair and wardrobe. Btw, men have been selecting men based on their sex and race for a millineum. Get over the game change.

Clowns have many different expressions. They come in an assortment of color coordinated outfits, fitting to their personalities. They wear different size/shape of shoes to gain attention. Which one are you, Ronnie?
Council member Pentin does not know what FAR means. What STORY poles are used for? Does not know a creek from a ditch. Does not utilize his cycling advocacy to gain required infrastructure improvements ahead of time, Vintage Apartments, for safety reasons, at the Bernal/Stanley/Valley crossing…leaving to taxpayer dollars. Advocates that he knows why people vote, a certain way, on projects. Does not go the distance to understand a citizens concerns.

Pete, huh? Shoes, coordinated outfits ... WTF are you talking about. I’m a registered Demo and I have degrees in architecture and urban design if that helps you at all.
Regarding Pentin knowledge, Is it Just possible to ask for clarification from staff so that the viewing public understands acronyms and planning issues.
I’ll take that any day of the week over disingenuous CM comments meant to fool the general population

Someone as smart as you, Ronnie, would best be served to ask, directly, via email, what people think…like Valerie Arkin. Or provide your Professionally Educated planning degrees to the test~and educate OUR community…of smart growth?
While you are at that, perhaps, with all those park infested endorsements, of council member Pentin, repaint the curb area in front of Century House on Santa Rita Rd. to eliminate the used car lot…and enjoy the small town flavor of our park system…or tear the house down.
It seems it always becomes what you do for a living to legitimize your comments…Mr. Planner and Urban Designer. Nothing about fooling the public here, except who will best serve Pleasanton…and receive its benefit…over the next 4 years.
BTW, do not think Arkin is a viable candidate for council member…but appreciate her service.

Pete, why so angry?? Why the attacks. I’m muting you.

Pleasanton voters have long memories. Remember Measure K - Lund Ranch and the signature gatherers? Well guess who was in play with those people who did nothing but lie to get signatures for the referendum - none other than Karla Brown. I live in the area affected and Karla will never get my vote after showing her true colors.