On Nov. 3, Fremont’s District 3 voters will choose between appointed incumbent City Councilmember Kathy Kimberlin and engineer Vipin Sharma to elect as their new representative for the next four years.
Kimberlin was appointed to the City Council in September 2024, after then-Councilmember Jenny Kassan resigned in the middle of her term.
In the 2022 elections, Kimberlin received the second-highest number of votes after Kassan, prompting city leadership to interview her for the vacant seat.
Now, two years into her first term, Kimberlin will face an election to represent District 3, which includes neighborhoods like Glenmoor, Sundale, 28 Palms, and parts of the Centerville district.
Before her appointment to the City Council, Kimberlin held leadership roles with the Tri-City Nonprofit Coalition, Rotary Club of Fremont, and the Fremont Education Foundation.
Kimberlin’s advocacy and leadership background
In addition to being Councilmember, she serves as the Fremont field director for Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert, helping the city’s residents, businesses, and nonprofits access county resources, according to her candidate statement submitted to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
Her campaign website lists helping small businesses and nonprofits, improving public safety, and creating programs to serve the city’s unhoused population as her priorities if she is elected.
“I have made meaningful progress in addressing traffic issues, advocating for our unhoused neighbors, increasing support for local businesses, strengthening nonprofit partnerships, and enhancing public safety by working collaboratively to develop solutions that move the needle and reflect our community’s values and priorities,” Kimberlin said in her candidate statement.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-Milpitas, Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert and Elisa Marquez, and Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan have endorsed Kimberlin’s candidacy.
Sharma’s key priorities
Kimberlin’s opponent, Sharma, has led engineering teams in the tech sector for the past 30 years. An avid runner, Sharma’s interest in city politics was sparked after he saw on his runs the city’s problems like homelessness and poorly maintained infrastructure.
According to his campaign website, responsible financial stewardship, growth that supports housing, transportation and infrastructure, and public safety are among Sharma’s priorities.
Sharma has not held public office but has been a volunteer with the Fremont Police Department’s Volunteers in Police Service program.
“I am running for City Council because residents deserve thoughtful decisions, clear explanations, and a voice before important choices are made,” Sharma said in his candidate statement. “I will bring an independent, evidence-based approach to public safety, homelessness, responsible budgeting, neighborhood quality of life, and Fremont’s future.”
Sharma’s candidate statement does not list any endorsements for his candidacy.