Photo Credit: Kiran Mohammed
(DUBLIN, Calif.) – In federal and state politics, the two major political parties — Democratic and Republican — dominate the ballot. According to Ballotpedia, this election year alone, 95% to 99% of districts have at least one major-party candidate on their ballots. At the local level, however, this political landscape shifts dramatically with more than 75% of municipal elections in American cities holding nonpartisan elections where no party labels appear on the ballot.
It is within the localized arena of district politics that political newcomers find their footing and drive for politics — and where Kiran Mohammed, a candidate for Mayor of Dublin, is carving out an independent path as she seeks to help Dublin establish a distinct civic identity. She disclosed this and more in an exclusive interview with OpGov.News.
Mohammed explained that her years of professional experience assisting individuals with navigating financial and logistical challenges have shaped her campaign. She said her experience taught her to approach difficult situations pragmatically, focusing on solutions and plans rather than reassurances alone. Mohammed said that she believes she can overcome partisan politics and bring this plan to Dublin’s core municipal systems.
“I didn’t come to politics through politics,” Mohammed said. “What I’ve experienced for many years working with people through the hardest moments of their lives… helping them gather their finances and logistics and giving them a plan so they no longer have to think about what happens next.”
This background, combined with her experience as a researcher and author, helped her understand “how people and systems shape each other.” It also led Mohammed to examine the City of Dublin more closely. What she saw was a bustling, growing city struggling with basic operational challenges: slow permitting processes for local business, rising commercial rents, half-finished infrastructure projects, and a lack of dedicated services for youth, seniors, and unhoused residents.
For Mohammed, one of Dublin’s most pressing challenges is its lack of a distinct identity and functional gathering space. She argues that without a true downtown, potential revenue for the city flows into neighboring cities like Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Livermore. According to Mohammed, this leaves Dublin operating largely as a “bedroom community.”
Rather than committing immediately to costly new mega-projects, Mohammed wants to advocate for more practical revenue-generating strategies. When asked how she would address these needs, she pointed to recent state legislation allowing small businesses or pop-ups to operate in front of prolonged vacant storefronts as an opportunity to revitalize commercial life in Dublin.
Further research suggests that she is referring to California Assembly Bill 1679, which was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on September 30, 2026. This legislation creates a statewide framework authorizing local governments to provide expedited permits to businesses to open temporary pop-ups in eligible vacant commercial spaces for up to 120 days.
On infrastructure, Mohammed said, “Sometimes you don’t have to build new infrastructure; you have to build community.” She emphasized that her immediate platform prioritizes completing existing projects, saying, “I'm going to finish the ones that are half finished because that's taxpayer money.”
Mohammed then explained how representation and municipal responsiveness are pillars of her platform. When asked if she saw immigrants as the most underrepresented group within local politics, she said that she did, explaining that as a first-generation American, she sees the gaps between local decision-makers and the city’s large immigrant population.
She also noted that standard local bureaucratic practices and meetings often fail to accommodate busy working families.
To address this, Mohammed plans to introduce accessible neighborhood meetings across East, West, Central, and Downtown Dublin — quickly correcting herself by saying “that [Downtown Dublin] doesn’t exist” — to include residents who cannot attend a 7 p.m. city council meeting but are entitled to be heard.
She also pointed out specific gaps in current city services, such as a lack of dedicated senior facilities on the east side of town and limited activities for teens over the age of 13. She recalled speaking with a group of seniors gathered on park benches in Tassajara Hills, who said previous candidates promised them designated facilities years ago. Mohammed said the encounter reinforced her commitment to direct action rather than vague guarantees. “I’m not just going to give you big promises,” she said. “I’m listening to you and as your needs are unmet, I will meet your needs.”
If elected mayor, Mohammed said that she plans to reform how the city communicates with its residents starting from the ground up. This, she said, begins with a full redesign of the city’s websites, which she encouraged this reporter to examine to see firsthand “how confusing” it was.
In reviewing the website for the City of Dublin, there was no evidence of overly confusing language or navigation. Sections are divided into clear categories based on the type of inquiry, and the site includes an “I want to…” section dedicated to organizing users into which action they want to take or what information they want to find.
That said, the website utilizes a specific keyword search rather than a broad conceptual search, which can hinder searchability if exact wording is not used. In that regard, further research into residents’ experiences would help determine whether the website is confusing or not conducive to civic engagement.
Central to Mohammed’s campaign is its independence from large donors. Running a grassroots campaign exclusively supported by small local donations, Mohammed underscored that she accepts no money from real estate developers, special interest groups, or political factions.
When asked for a final takeaway that she would like voters to consider when they fill out their ballots, she replied, “I want voters to understand that I am completely independent…[and] here to answer to locals. Before I fund anything else using their money, I want them to know that I will complete their promises for them first.”
Correction or Addition? If you would like to add information to this report or suggest a correction, please contact me at alizeh.i@lead4earth.org.
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