(DANVILLE, Calif.) - Local newspaper DanvilleSanRamon.com hosted a Danville Town Council Candidate Forum at the Family Justice Center in Danville on Sept. 14. Candidates Denton Carlson, Pratima Sonavne, and incumbent Vice Mayor of Danville Robert Storer participated in the forum.
The forum included questions about public safety, town finances, the business and economic future of Danville, housing and growth, and traffic and infrastructure.
Photo Credit: Joel Martinez - The forum was hosted by DanvilleSanRamon.com and the President of the Danville Chamber of Commerce, Amy Millington
The candidates discussed how Danville should manage its development while maintaining the quality of life.
Among the first topics discussed in the forum, housing and the impacts of state-mandated development were discussed.
“What I would look at doing is a proper cumulative analysis, not one project in isolation,” said Sonavne, where she emphasized the “holistic and the long-term” perspective of development.
Storer discussed some challenges Danville faced when it comes to fulfilling state housing requirements, explaining that the town has in the past identified parcels that can be rezoned to accommodate state-mandated housing.
“What we need to do is to continue to work with our legislators to figure out how we can stop losing local control,” Storer said.
Carlson acknowledged that it is difficult to meet state housing requirements for communities. “You have to look at what the impact is today, but what is the impact 10 years from now and use that type of logic when you try to take these numbers from Sacramento and come to the best-case scenario,” said Carlson.
“It’s taking that approach and working with developers and getting to a point where you can reasonably and responsibly manage the growth that is coming and do it in a way where it’s going to maintain the quality of life in Danville.”
Public safety was a key topic during the forum, after a recent spree of burglaries that affected nearby Tri-Valley cities like Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Danville, where multiple businesses were affected.
Carlson, who spent 27 years in law enforcement, explained that maintaining a safe environment in downtown Danville is important not just to the residents, but to the businesses too. “I think it’s working with the businesses to really make Danville an environment where people just go by, and they know it’s not the place to come,” Denton said, referring to making Danville a town where criminals avoid committing crimes.
Denton also believes that the Town of Danville should remain a contract city with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department.
Photo Credit: Joel Martinez - Danville Town Council candidates Denton Carlson and Pratima Sonavne
The candidates were asked hypothetically on how they would spend $1 million in the town's budget.
Sonavne said she would invest the money in public safety; Storer focused on road and park maintenance and animal control; Carlson emphasized that he would invest in emergency preparedness for natural disasters.
Flock cameras were also a point of discussion in the forum. Carlson acknowledged that the license plate reading technology in Flock cameras was “incredible,” but said that the security of information has been mismanaged. “We had automated license plate readers in San Ramon. Unbelievable tool for increasing community safety,” said Carlson. “I understand the concerns about surveillance that come with it. I don’t think it was managed properly by Flock.”
Carlson expressed support for making audits of Flock camera searches being mandatory.
“I think technology is absolutely good if it is used correctly,” said Sonavne. “Having regular audits to make sure that they are doing the right thing.”
Storer came out in support of the Flock cameras. “I can tell you that our automated license plate readers have been invaluable,” said Storer. “I am 100% a believer in the automated license plate reader.”
The candidates are running for two at-large positions on the Town Council in the Nov. 3, 2026 election, with Storer being the incumbent while the other seat will be open due to Councilmember Karen Stepper not seeking reelection.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at joel.m@lead4earth.org or leave a comment below with your thoughts.
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