(SAN RAMON) --- These last two weeks have been amazing.
Last year, I made this video highlighting how participation drops when races go unchallenged. I explain that after running for mayor in San Ramon, I took the loss to Mayor Mark Armstrong and made it a win.
Founding OpGov.news has raised more awareness of what is wrong in San Ramon politics than I could have as the mayor. That silver lining led me to challenge citizens to make a change they are often too scared to make.
Rather than wait for residents to step up, I have stepped out into the community seeking citizens who believe in change and will fight for it.
Suzanne Chenault's level of experience on so many levels continues to impress me.
The parent, educator, and attorney said she is running as an Independent for the 14th Congressional District because she wishes to voice the diverse yet related interests of this area.
"I plan to work beyond party politics to foster union between divided parties," Chenault said.
With experience, including humble experience as a French and AP English Teacher at Berkeley High School for 9 years and prestigious work as the Defense Counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for 2.5 years, Chenault's knowledge is priceless on a congressional level.
As a U.S. Federal Public Defender and a private attorney, she has an extensive record of litigation, advocacy, and case management.
Not to mention her broad experience and people skills in supervising professional teams from diverse backgrounds in government, commercial, and international human rights and community outreach programs.
Additionally, her 15 years of experience as a Senior Legal Officer and Jurist Linguist, Diplomatic Grade P4, at The Chambers of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Arusha, Tanzania, is something no other candidate can bring to the 14th district.
Her decade-long work in the country led Chenault to found Teach Me To Fish, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainable skills development in Tanzania. Her involvement in the country led her daughter, Amari, to teach English in Tanzania.
Don't let the next candidate's last name confuse. Kismat Kathrani, my brother, is running for Contra Costa County Assessor because in his words, "our county deserves accountability, transparency, and measurable results."
"I am running for Contra Costa County Assessor because after 32 years of the same leadership, our county deserves accountability, transparency, and measurable results," he said. "I stepped forward after seeing serious concerns within the Assessor’s office — including a Civil Grand Jury finding of willful misconduct, a nearly $1 million taxpayer-funded settlement over workplace retaliation, campaign finance violations, and ongoing lawsuits related to improper property valuations."
He said "These are not just headlines — they reflect a system that is no longer serving the public the way it should."
My brother, who is the President of the Bay Area chapter of ITServe Alliance, a nonprofit organization supporting technology companies, generating regional employment opportunities adds he is also running because "public trust must be earned, protected, and restored," he said, "Our residents deserve an Assessor’s office that operates with integrity, uses modern systems, delivers timely results, and treats every taxpayer fairly."
"I am an engineer, a management graduate, an entrepreneur, a husband, and a father of two children who study at UC Berkeley," Kathrani said, adding he built his businesses from the ground up, self-funded, without outside investors, through discipline, innovation, and accountability.
"Over 18+ years, I have created thousands of jobs across the United States, helping families build careers while delivering results for major clients," Kathrani. "Through my work, I have led complex organizations, managed multimillion-dollar operations, and worked closely with both private and public sector partners."
My experience includes overseeing compliance, financial management, and large-scale operational systems directly relevant to running an efficient and responsible Assessor’s office.
"On day one, I will modernize systems, improve appeal turnaround times, ensure fair and consistent assessments, and increase transparency and accountability," he said. "I will work tirelessly to ensure taxpayers are not burdened by unnecessary increases by improving accuracy and efficiency, while supporting tax relief programs for senior citizens, disabled residents, and veterans."
Next, Pratima Sonavne is so excited to run for Contra Costa County Clerk Recorder bringing so much to the ticket .
An accomplished businesswoman, Pratima brings nearly two decades of experience in Human Resources. She could help move constituents in the right direction, creating people-friendly policy rather than politician-driven law.
Had Pratima not stepped up at the last moment, people would not have been even given a choice. As a Clerk Recorder, her goal is to rethink our approach to civic participation. As a Human Resources executive, she identified multiple strategies to encourage more people to run for office.
"I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for County Clerk-Recorder," Sonavne said. "My goal is to develop an administration that is truly engaged, fair, simple, and meaningful for all.
It is time to rethink our approach to civic participation, and I am here to start that conversation. My experience as an accomplished business and HR leader, with 20 years of creating productive teams, is what the district needs.
One of my greatest strengths is fostering operational excellence, and I look forward to bringing that to the County Clerk-Recorder's Office.
Next I met Deepika Naharas it is obvious she is the perfect fit for Contra Costa Auditor-Controller.
She will be the first to tell you why she is perfect for the post.
“I am a seasoned Financial Controller with an MBA and 25 years of private-sector experience managing complex budgets, and that is why I am running for Auditor-Controller to provide independent oversight and ensure that every tax dollar in our $7.1 billion county budget is protected through modern, cloud-based financial infrastructure.”
She has even more to say.
"I am committed to bringing fiscal accountability and enterprise-level digital transformation to our county's financial office," she said, adding she believes Contra Costa residents deserve a financial steward who is truly independent, highly qualified, and ready to future-proof our local government."
Rishabh Rao. was one of the first to respond. He has previously volunteered in my campaign.
The young business owner comes to the table with so much experience and character. His master's degree in Business Analytics and his bachelor's degree in Science, Business Administration, Economics, and Computer Systems make him the perfect candidate for Alameda County Zone 7 Water Agency Board.
He is originally from San Ramon and recently moved to Dublin.
His recent software, Oswald LMS, strengthens parents, instructors, and students, speaking to a passion for future generations. Additionally, Competition Robotics also helps adolescents excel in technology. The former Adjunct Professor of Business Analytics has a desire for change that is refreshing and needed in our district.
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