Meet Tom Evans, Candidate For Dublin Mayor

DUBLIN, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates for Dublin Mayor and City Council with identical questions. Here are the responses from Tom Evans, a candidate for mayor.

Responses have not been edited.

1. What is your personal, educational, and professional background?

I’ve lived in the Bay Area my entire life. Grew up in Dublin in a middle class family, so I am a Dubliner! Worked at a grocery store while going to school. Graduated from U.C. Berkeley in civil engineering. My career in engineering has guided me toward practical solutions. Later in my career, I was a product manager which required the practicality of engineering and the foresight to plan for the future –skills that are beneficial to a city government.

2. How long have you lived in Dublin?

Lived in Dublin 1963-1973, and again 1994-present. 40 years total in Dublin.

3. What brought you here?

I came back to Dublin 30 years ago because of the great memories I had of a quiet, happy, hard-working community and the green, rolling hills. I still see lots of hard-working people but life seems to be more hectic. I would like our residents to experience some of that happy life that I had growing up here and to be able to see some vestige of those green, rolling hills.

4. How have you been involved in the community?

My involvement in the community has been partly with kids – Little League coach, science fair organizer/mentor. I served in the California National Guard (all stateside). I often attend City Council meetings with comments and suggestions.

5. What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges facing Dublin?

People with good paying jobs have to commute a long ways. People with low paying jobs have to come in from other areas because they can’t afford to live in Dublin. Demographics are such that elementary schools may have more room in 5 years or so, but for now they are very crowded. Then Emerald High School may become very crowded. Buying a house in Dublin is impossible for most young families – as our kids grow up they will have to leave the Tri-Valley.

6. What are your plans for addressing for them?

I want to focus on attracting businesses with high paying jobs – find incentives. Some of that is already being done. I think it would be useful to look at the demand side of housing (e.g. discouraging large corporations from buying new homes as rentals). I will work with the school district to look for solutions that will reduce our crowded conditions. City parks need to be available for school use and organized sports. I will push for standard enforcement of our Inclusionary [Housing] Zoning Ordinance

7. What makes you the best candidate?

I will make the best mayor because I won’t just rubber stamp every plan that is presented to the City Council. I will ask questions that get to the purpose and cost of new projects. I won’t upzone housing density. I will improve the relationship between the City and Dublin Unified School District.

8. Outside of politics, what do you enjoy doing?

Playing music. Recording music. Helping my wife take care of her horse.

9. Any other comments?

This city needs to have a long-term vision. Our massive growth in the last 10 years has only focused on short term development based on short-sighted goals. This has led to a patchwork of neighborhoods, schools, and traffic patterns that don’t operate smoothly. Our budget is currently at a surplus, but in about 5-6 years we are predicting going into debt. Therefore we need to be careful with our spending. The City needs to communicate with its residents how much the new Downtown will cost the taxpayer. We need to get input from residents as to what their priorities are and at what price.

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