In the upcoming Nov. 3 election, Fremont City Councilmember Desrie Campbell will run against marketing director Keith Parker to retain her seat.
Campbell and Parker ran against each other in 2022 too, and the former won the election to City Council to represent District 2, which includes the city’s northern neighborhoods like Niles, Brookvale, Parkmont, and Cabrillo.
Campbell, a clinical operations director, served on the Fremont Unified School District board before her election to the City Council.
According to her campaign website, Campbell contributed to the City Council adding more than 800 units of affordable housing during her term and prioritized public safety through the appointment of new officers and investigative tools in her first term.
As she seeks reelection, Campbell said in her candidate statement submitted to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters that her focus will be on increasing access to public parks and open spaces and fixing roads and public infrastructure.
“Together, we have helped make Fremont the ‘best place to raise a family,’ ‘the happiest city,’ and one of the ‘best run cities in America.’ And there is still much more good work to be done,” Campbell said in her candidate statement.
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, state Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-Milpitas, Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert and Elisa Marquez, Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, and Councilmembers Raymond Liu and Teresa Keng have endorsed Campbell’s candidacy.
Parker outlines plans for Fremont
Up against Campbell is Parker, a marketing director who unsuccessfully ran for the District 2 seat in 2022.
According to his candidate statement, Parker has served as board member for the Ohlone College and the Fremont Education foundations. He is also a part of the Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee for the Washington Health hospital.
Parker believes that the growing unhoused population, businesses leaving, and crime are some of the major problems that Fremont faces.
“I have a clear, actionable plan to move us forward,” Parker said in his candidate statement. “I will implement individualized solutions for our unhoused neighbors, moving away from failed, one-size-fits-all programs. I will collaborate with the Police Department to increase staffing, protect property, and ensure every resident feels safe.”
Parker’s candidate statement does not list any endorsements for his candidacy.