Meet Thomas Soules, Candidate For Livermore City Council District 4

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 4.

Responses have not been edited.

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

I have a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Purdue University. I worked for many years as a scientist and engineer for GE Lighting in Cleveland before coming to Livermore in 2002 to work for LLNL. I am currently an expert witness and consultant and have over 50 patents mostly in lighting.

2. How long have you lived in Livermore?

Since 2002.

3. What brought you here?

A job offer at LLNL.

4. How have you been involved in the community?

I have been a volunteer for several Livermore non-profits including Open Heart Kitchen and the Livermore Heritage Guild. Currently I teach English as a 2nd language (ESL) in one-on-one sessions five days a week. My students are from China, Taiwan, Venezuela and previously South Korea. I do this through the Pleasanton Library.

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

I feel the city government is not transparent and is not listening to its citizens as, for example, not putting the Eden Housing referendum on the ballot. The 130 unit Eden rental apartments will not dent the affordable housing problem but will destroy the character of the city in my opinion. Affordable housing is a huge problem and needs to be addressed in a big way. The city needs to let people know how it can help (what funds it can make available, what sites it may be able to build on, etc.) and what this will mean to those who cannot afford housing. The school system is another major problem as evidenced by the projected $4 M deficit, the turnover, the schools scores, lack of funding for the high school music program, etc.

6. What are your plans for addressing them?

First I will be totally transparent. Folks will know where I stand. They will know what the City's budget is and where it is going. To be honest I don't even know how what the total liquid assets of the City are. Perhaps there should be reallocation. Let the voters decide.

7. What makes you the best candidate?

I love doing my ESL tutoring. Barbara and I enjoy the shows at the Bankhead, traveling and getting outdoors.

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

I love doing my ESL tutoring. Barbara and I enjoy the shows at the Bankhead, traveling and getting outdoors.

9. Any other comments?

I will bring my integrity to city council. I also endorse Jeff Kaskey and Ben Barrenitos who like me will not be cozy with developers.

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