|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Jeff Schmidt, vice chair of the Menlo Park Environmental Quality Commission, is running for Menlo Park City Council’s District 3 seat, which is on the November ballot, he told The Almanac on Wednesday, April 3. Schmidt, who is the first candidate to announce their candidacy for the upcoming council race, said he’s running on a platform of community building, bolstering climate policy and youth engagement.
His announcement comes in the wake of District 3 incumbent Jen Wolosin’s recent decision to not run for reelection in November. Maria Doerr’s District 5 seat will also be on the ballot, though Doerr hasn’t announced if she will seek reelection.
District 3 includes the section of Menlo Park between Palo Alto and Atherton. It includes the Caltrain station, the Civic Center, and the neighborhoods of Felton Gables, Linfield Oaks, Vintage Oaks and parts of Menlo Oaks.
Schmidt said that he thinks the role of a City Council member is “really to be the individual who shares the viewpoints of their district,” he said.
“Anyone who focuses on just one issue won’t be an effective council member,” he said.
Schmidt’s background
Originally from Texas, Schmidt moved to Menlo Park four and a half years ago with his family. He resides in the Menlo Oaks neighborhood. He works as the senior director of strategy and communications for Stanford University’s Student Affairs Division.
He joined the Environmental Quality Commission in April 2022. He co-founded a local speaker series called Green, Blue, and You, which aims to engage the community on environmental topics.
He serves on the steering committee for the Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects, which aims to increase understanding of environmental topics in school-age children. He is also a member of the Menlo Park climate outreach team at 350 Silicon Valley, a local climate policy group.
Policy priorities
Schmidt’s first priority, if elected, would be building community. He said he would help do that by championing “balanced, reasonable and affordable housing development,” moving forward with the Caltrain quiet zone project and continuing to invest in safe street projects.
When asked about his thoughts on the proposed builder’s remedy project at the former Sunset Magazine headquarters site, Schmidt said, “Since there’s no formal application yet, it’s hard to tell what’s real, but like many residents, I’m going to keep a very close eye on it. In the meantime, our residents, students, city staff, school leaders, and nonprofits are leading lots of other amazing work every day to improve Menlo Park and that needs our energy and attention.”
“My kids came up through (the) Menlo Park City School District and they are at Menlo-Atherton (High School) now. Safe streets and making sure that the routes to school are safe for everybody who is driving, biking and walking is really important,” he said.
Schmidt would also continue to prioritize combating climate change.
“Think about extreme heat, storms, power outages and wildfires. There are a lot of things we need to do to be ready for that,” he said. “A lot’s already going on, but there’s a lot more to do.”
As a council member, he would want to make environmental policy choices that would help slow carbon emissions “easier, faster and more affordable” for all residents.
His third concern is assisting the city’s youth. He wants young Menlo Park residents to participate in the city’s programs, planning and projects, as well as in volunteer work.
“Our city is changing for them too, and they have great ideas and insights,” Schmidt said on his campaign website.
He also wants to focus on workforce development for local students. He said that it’s important to ensure that rewarding careers, such as in data science, are visible to students.
Though this run for council is his first campaign for public office, Schmidt said his time serving on the Environmental Quality Commission and attending council meetings has given him the right background to be an effective council member.
“I think it’s really educated me. I’ve had the chance to interact with the council a lot, and it’s moments of collaboration and working together where things really get done,” he said.
Schmidt plans to embark on a walking tour of District 3, starting next week, to hear what residents are thinking.
“If you get a knock on the door and it’s from me, I’m just here to listen,” he said.
No candidates have pulled nomination papers for the election thus far, according to the City Clerk’s office. Schmidt intends to do so soon, he said.
For more information on Schmidt, go to jeffmenlopark.com.
