Editor’s note: This article was prepared from notes taken by our journalist during the forum. After one candidate expressed discomfort with the forum being recorded, Jeffery Joh and Tri-Valley Weekly were asked to delete their recordings.
SAN RAMON–DANVILLE, Calif. — Community safety, anti-Muslim hate, immigration enforcement and accountability in local government were central topics at an Oct. 2 candidate forum hosted by the Muslim Community Center.
Nine candidates seeking offices representing the San Ramon and Danville area attended: Joseph Rubay, State Assembly; Pascallis Ntatsos, San Ramon mayor; Chirag Kathrani and Richard Adler, San Ramon City Council District 2; Jeffery Joh and Marisol Rubio, San Ramon City Council District 4; Pratima Sonavne, Danville Town Council; Amanda Butland, San Ramon Valley Unified School District Area 1; and Joel Woods, SRVUSD Area 5.
Candidates who did not attend included San Ramon mayoral candidates Mark Armstrong and Emma Chigbu, Danville council candidates Robert Storer and Denton Carlson, and SRVUSD Area 5 candidate Rachel Hurd.
Photo credit: OpGov.News. From right to left: Joseph Rubay, Marisol Rubio, Pratima Sonavne, Chirag Kathrani, Pascallis Ntatsos, Richard Adler, Amanda Butland, Joel Woods and Jeffery Joh.
Addressing Anti-Muslim Hate and Community Safety
Organizers asked candidates what steps they would take to ensure Muslims feel safe, heard and represented in their jurisdictions.
Rubio and Sonavne emphasized standing up for all communities.
Kathrani noted that the forum coincided with Gandhi Jayanti, invoking Gandhi’s message of peace. He also emphasized the media’s role in countering hate and criticized what he described as inadequate coverage of Gaza.
Ntatsos said San Ramon’s own police department gives the city an opportunity to take a proactive approach to community safety. He argued that residents’ concerns are not being adequately heard and said restoring respect for community voices is a central reason for his candidacy.
Adler emphasized communication across communities, enforcement of existing laws and education.
Joh drew on his experience living in Europe for a decade, saying it had shaped his appreciation of diversity. He also expressed support for the coordinated, proactive public safety approach described by Ntatsos.
Immigration Enforcement and Local Responsibilities
Candidates were also asked about federal immigration enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the role of local police and other public agencies.
Joh said immigration enforcement is not the responsibility of local police and that he would oppose their involvement.
Woods, a teacher, described encountering families deeply worried about immigration enforcement. He said ensuring school campuses remain safe would be a priority.
Adler emphasized helping immigrants understand their rights and the legal protections available to people who feel targeted.
Ntatsos said his own experiences of being targeted as an immigrant had shaped his understanding of these concerns. He pledged to work with local law enforcement to help residents feel safe and protected, regardless of immigration status
Candidate Priorities Reveal Differences Over Council Decisions
Asked about their priorities and why residents should vote for them, candidates offered contrasting views on environmental protection, representation and economic development.
Rubio highlighted her environmental record, including her role in helping establish a sustainability committee and her work to protect open space.
Kathrani challenged that account, criticizing the council’s handling of Measure G, a voter-approved measure protecting open space. He alleged that the council unlawfully removed its protections without returning the question to voters.
He said former mayors, former council members and 25 community members had raised concerns about the action, which he said was approved through the consent calendar without a separate discussion.
Kathrani also criticized the council’s appointment process, arguing that it disregarded the preferences of voters who had supported his previous candidacy. He said those voters represented 31% of the vote and argued that the decision undermined residents’ confidence that their voices mattered.
Ntatsos emphasized listening to residents and supporting small businesses. He said fees charged through city programs had increased by 14% in 2026 and pledged to strengthen the local business ecosystem.
Joh focused on engaging business leaders and attracting major technology companies to create opportunities for young residents. He also raised concerns about decision-making processes that fail to adequately include community voices.
Source: Supplemental documents for the San Ramon City Council meeting of Oct. 14, 2025.
The forum exposed clear differences over the council’s record, particularly on open-space protections and public participation. While Rubio presented environmental protection as an achievement, Kathrani argued that the council’s handling of Measure G contradicted that record.
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