Meet Jack Balch, Candidate For Pleasanton Mayor

PLEASANTON, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates for Pleasanton Mayor and and City Council with identical questions. Here are the responses from Jack Balch, a council member running for mayor. Responses have not been edited.

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

I am a lifelong resident of the region and dedicated public servant with deep roots in the Pleasanton community. Growing up on the Sunol/Fremont border, I attended Sunol Glen Elementary School, then Mission San Jose High School, and I later graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Professionally, I have approximately 25 years of experience in business finance, including audit of several large and small companies, benefit plans, and I am currently the Chief Financial Officer of my family’s commercial real estate company located in the east bay. I am a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), an accredited Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and a licensed Real Estate Broker.

2. How long have you lived in Pleasanton?

I have lived in Pleasanton for more than 20 years but grew up on the Sunol/Fremont border and visited Pleasanton numerous times in my youth before locating in town after college.

3. What brought you here?

Pleasanton has always felt like home. My connection to Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley area runs deep, with family roots in the region. As a young Sunol 4-H member, I spent many summers of my youth showing animals at the Alameda County Fair, exploring our downtown, enjoying the shadow cliffs water slides, and eating ice cream with my childhood friends. As a young adult looking to rent after college, I wanted somewhere safe, comfortable, and convenient to an abundance of activities such as the sierras, the coast, the City and a good job. Starting my own family with the support of my parents and siblings nearby, my friends in the region, and the quality of life I enjoyed in my youth made it a ‘no brainer’.

4. How have you been involved in the community?

My elected and appointed official involvement in the Pleasanton community spans over 15 years of public service. I was elected to the City Council in 2020 and have served as our immediate past Vice Mayor in 2023. Before my council tenure, I served on the Planning Commission for six years and the Parks & Recreation Commission for five years. I have also been actively involved in several task forces and boards, including the AVA Community Energy Joint Powers Authority and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Joint Powers Authority and now have the honor to serve on over 17 boards and committees representing Pleasanton.

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

Pleasanton faces several critical challenges—fiscal responsibility, public safety, and affordable, clean water. There is also a deep-seated mistrust of City officials the likes of which I’ve never seen before. Our city is at a crossroads, grappling with the financial strain of increased spending without making the hard choices necessary to live within our means. We must ensure the safety and well-being of our residents, particularly considering rising crime rates and longer police response times we’re now experiencing. Additionally, affordable, clean water is essential for all of us.

6. What are your plans for addressing them?

To address these challenges, I plan to first rebuild trust by restoring decorum and emphasizing collaboration and transparency on our City Council and for the community we are to serve. I then plan to refocus our efforts on core issues: promoting transparent and fiscally responsible governance so that we can build on the quality of life we enjoy here. This means detailed but understandable information on our fiscal health, fully evaluating the long-term impacts of our decisions for investment in Pleasanton to improve vitality, improve our tax base, and deliver the services and amenities our community desires while looking to what costs we can constrain to manage our bottom line. We must have robust public safety services and work with our departments to develop a plan to reduce emergency response times, which have been increasing each year. We should be investing in license plate reading cameras and diligently work to achieve a fully staffed police and fire department. Affordable, clean water is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. I’m committed to ensuring Pleasanton’s water supply is secure and sustainable. We must continue to explore alternative water sources with our regional partners while working to address our PFAS challenges we face, either with the new wells on the West side of town, or one of the other contingency plans we have tentatively explored. Water must be affordable, and any rate increases need to have robust public input and transparent information. My approach will emphasize collaboration, transparency, and common sense.

7. What makes you the best candidate?

I believe I am the best candidate for Mayor of Pleasanton because of my deep-rooted connection to the community, extensive experience in public service, and professional expertise in finance and strategic planning. My vision for Pleasanton is rooted in fiscal discipline, robust public safety, and inclusive community engagement, ensuring that our city not only meets its current challenges but also thrives for future generations.

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

Outside of my public service, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, fishing, and camping. I deeply enjoy being in nature, particularly at sunrise or sunset. The ability for it to connect, recharge, and inspire is more than impressive. When my son was younger, I was also a coach for Pleasanton Little League and now I volunteer with various other local organizations.

9. Any other comments?

I am running for Mayor of Pleasanton because we need a change in direction, and I care deeply about this community and want to ensure that Pleasanton remains a place where families can thrive for generations to come. To do this, our city needs a renewed focus on fiscal responsibility, public safety, and genuine community engagement. Pleasanton has drifted from its tradition of “Planned Progress,” where decisions were made with long-term thinking and common sense. Instead, we’ve seen a rise in divisive politics and misdirected spending. My goal is to restore Pleasanton’s reputation as a well-managed, forward-thinking city that prioritizes the quality of life for all its residents while preserving what makes Pleasanton special. We deserve leadership that is transparent, fiscally responsible, and committed to the safety and well-being of all residents. Let’s work together to restore the community’s trust in our local government where residents are connected and engaged in the decision-making process. I’d like to be part of creating a vibrant, resilient Pleasanton that honors its traditions while embracing our future.