Two candidates are competing in the Nov. 3 election for San Rafael City Council’s District 3 seat being vacated by Maribeth Bushey, who has served on the council for 12 years and is not running for reelection. Incumbent Eli Hill is running unopposed in District 2.
The candidates for the District 3 seat are business owner Daryoush Davidi and attorney Robert Sandoval. The district encompasses areas north of the San Rafael Canal, including the Peacock Gap neighborhood and the Marin County Civic Center and Fairgrounds.
Both candidates emphasize public safety, infrastructure improvements and downtown revitalization, but bring different professional backgrounds to the race.
Daryoush Davidi
Davidi, 51, founded an organic specialty produce business and chairs the San Rafael Police Advisory and Accountability Committee. His story is that of an immigrant who moved to the United States as a child and was raised by a single mother. He said this experience has shaped his commitment to community service.
Davidi said he worked his way through school, earning a doctoral degree in multicultural community clinical psychology from Alliant University. He said he has worked with people experiencing homelessness and those living with serious mental health challenges.
“I am not running to build a political career, but to build partnerships that protect our environment and community and elevate our city,” he said.
Davidi is endorsed by the San Rafael Police Association union, the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Vice Mayor Rachel Kertz and former Mayor Gary Phillips, among others.
Robert Sandoval
Sandoval, 35, is a senior legal counsel and former California deputy attorney general. The son of Mexican American and Jewish parents, he has a law degree from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Occidental College.
Sandoval serves on the Marin County Planning Commission and has chaired the San Rafael Park and Recreation Commission. He also sits on the board of the nonprofit Point San Pedro Road Coalition, which works with local and state government agencies on traffic safety and disaster preparedness. At the park commission, he said he oversaw playground and park improvements and participated in developing the city’s first Parks Master Plan.
He said San Rafael faces several interconnected challenges.
“We need to maintain essential services and address aging infrastructure while being responsible with limited public resources,” Sandoval said. “We need more housing, but our anticipated growth should be right sized for our infrastructure.”
Sandoval is endorsed by U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, Hill, and the Marin County Democratic Party, among other community leaders.
Eli Hill and uncontested races
Hill, 49, is running unopposed for a second term representing District 2, which includes the downtown and Sun Valley neighborhoods.
Before joining the council, he served on the planning and fire commissions and later became president of the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from UC Berkeley and works for a consulting firm that helps government organizations use data and new technologies to solve complex challenges.
There are also several unopposed candidates nominated for the San Rafael City Schools Board of Trustees. Under state law, when only one candidate has been nominated, an election is not held, and candidates are appointed by the board.
As governing board members, Wing Keung Jason Lau will serve a four-year term in Area 2, Carolina Martin will serve four years in Area 4, and Kennedy Rodas-Dias will serve a two-year term in Area 5.
