Meet David Farley, Candidate For Livermore City Council District 3

LIVERMORE, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates for running for Livermore mayor and city council with identical questions. Here are the responses from David Farley, a candidate for Livermore's City Council District 3.

Responses have not been edited.

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

I am originally from San Diego, and received my B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo prior to attending Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) in Pensacola, FL to become a Naval Officer and then trained as a military pilot. I later obtained my PhD in Engineering Physics from UC San Diego. I became the Asian Technical Manager for the Electric Power Research Institute, based in Japan for 4 years, and spent a decade managing energy-related projects around the world. I worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab on magnetic fusion energy before moving here in 2010 to work at Lawrence Livermore National Lab on fusion energy, and now I am at Sandia National Labs conducting research on clean energy, machine learning, quantum optics and nuclear nonproliferation. I have my own high-technology company, and we have a contract to develop a quantum technology education program at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Maryland.

2. How long have you lived in Livermore?

I have lived in Livermore since 2010

3. What brought you here?

I was hired by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to work at the National Ignition Facility (NIF)

4. How have you been involved in the community?

I am a Commissioner for Livermore Airport. I was a girls lacrosse coach for Livermore Phantoms from 2020-2023, and am now Head Coach at Granada High School for the Junior Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team.

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

I believe housing affordability and the state-mandated requirement to build about 5,000 new homes by 2031 are difficult issues. Most people cannot afford a single family home in Livermore, and the national labs have an attrition problem in part because of home unaffordability. The Bay Area is experiencing significant crime, and I believe it is only a matter of time before the crime wave arrives here. If we have another serious drought over multiple years, there will be significant effects on our standard of living and agricultural businesses. Also, energy prices are getting higher and Livermore's Climate Action Plan is behind schedule.

6. What are your plans for addressing them?

Regarding housing availability and affordability, I submitted my "empty nester" idea to the local newspaper and to Livermore's General Plan Advisory Committee. The empty nester concept recognizes that many single family homeowners are living in a house too big for them after the kids have left, and they would like to downsize, but there are no attractive "empty nester friendly" alternatives in Livermore. For example, rather than current plans to build high density commuter housing surrounding a potential "Valley Link" train station, that may or may not actually get built, maybe we should build single floor homes attractive to empty nesters, and the walking distance amenities might include pickle ball courts and medical offices, for example. We get a 2-for-1 housing increase because the empty nester's large single family house is now available. I have further refinements regarding financial incentives.

Regarding public safety, I fully support our law enforcement officials to do their jobs. I have heard law enforcement officials state that today's criminals have no fear of real punishment, and at the same time our law enforcement are not able to fully perform their job functions. As a Council Member I will have no tolerance for crime and will engage closely with our law enforcement as to practical actions, if and when increased crime comes to Livermore. Regarding water and energy, these are related and I am an expert on appropriate mitigation technologies. Generating clean water takes significant energy, and I am qualified and ready from Day 1 to take part and lead efforts to mitigate the effects of drought and energy availability (and cost).

7. What makes you the best candidate?

I am by far the most broadly qualified candidate. I have decades of experience as a leader, and at developing unbiased, analytic solutions to problems. I have worked at both national labs here, Livermore's largest employer, and am fully aware of their mission and needs. I am a small business owner specializing in emerging technologies. I am also personable and open to hearing all sides of an issue. I am known for providing clear and convincing arguments supporting my positions, and then executing. As a Council Member, I will analyze and assess each issue affecting Livermore carefully, considering the opinions of City Staff and any experts on the issues, and then use all that information to produce convincing arguments and solutions that other Council Members and our constituents can agree is smart, fair and just. I have always served, whether as a patriot to my country or for my local community as a girls lacrosse coach, or airport commissioner. No other candidate has my depth of knowledge, experience, and demonstrated ability to lead.

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

I enjoy DIY projects around the house, regular exercise, trying the local wineries, and checking out local live bands when possible.

9. Any other comments?

I am running for Livermore City Council from a personal, lifelong motivation to serve, encouraged to do so by family and friends. Unlike my opponents, I am not backed by, or beholden to, the local political cabal who desire yet another "Yes Man" on Council; nor am I a "No Man" supported by those who believe lawsuits are a way affect the City's direction. I will provide unbiased, smart leadership on issues facing the City of Livermore.

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