Meet Dean
A 22-year resident of the Tri-Valley, Dean Wallace has over a decade of experience serving the East Bay on behalf of local elected officials. He has worked extensively to engage community groups, local governments, and a diverse range of organizations and stakeholders to address some of the most pressing issues facing our community and our region.
Dean graduated high school in the Tri-Valley, then returned after college to live close to family. He has experienced firsthand the challenges facing young families and young professionals who wish to live here.
Currently serving as District Director for Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Dean manages a team tasked with listening to people’s needs and responding with support. This includes constituent inquiries, assisting constituents who are experiencing issues with state agencies, and assisting local governments and community organizations in securing grants and funding from the state.
Dean was born in Dublin, Ireland and immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was a young child. He proudly became an American citizen in 2011. He has a BA from Stanford University.
When he’s not working, or campaigning, you can find Dean at one of Pleasanton’s many parks with his two dogs Eliza and Olly.
Priorities for Pleasanton
Experienced Leadership with a Fresh Perspective
Sustainability and Affordability
For working families and young professionals to be able to live near work and family, we need careful, smart growth to create more affordable housing options. My priority is for housing near transit and Pleasanton jobs. In this post-COVID era, we understand that new housing design should accommodate working from home — with reliable power, connectivity, and sustainability.
Public Safety
To keep residents safe, I support preserving funding for public safety, and supporting efforts aimed at improving neighborhood partnership with our first responders for everyone's safety. I also support enhanced training for our police officers with the goal of eliminating bias, improving de-escalation techniques, and providing the appropriate responses to mental health crises.
City Services
Pleasanton's high quality of life is due to our exceptional city services that maintain our library, parks, open spaces, and other public resources. In order to maintain these services, I will pursue prudent fiscal policies and responsible budgeting.
Economic Development
District 1 is home to many of our city’s businesses and will be central to Pleasanton’s future. I support policies that will spur job growth and innovation and sustain a healthy local economy.
Transparency
Open communication and community engagement are vitally important to cultivate a thriving, inclusive, and welcoming city that residents love and feel at home in. This requires transparency when our City Council is making decisions, so that you can trust that your city government is working for you.
Education
Pleasanton has some of the best schools in our region and state. I believe the city must continue to be a strong and collaborative partner with our school district, so that we keep our children safe and allow them to focus on the things that help them thrive. We must work to maintain the educational excellence that keeps Pleasanton a highly attractive place for families with kids.
Stoneridge Mall
Any new framework for re-imagining Stoneridge Mall must have public input and a clear timeline for completion. My goals include a mixed-use development that is pedestrian, transit, and family-friendly. I will pursue a balanced approach to affordable housing options, and want to see a vibrant community that maintains Pleasanton's hometown character and charm.
Dean In THE MEDIA
Editorial: Vote Wallace for Pleasanton City Council, District 1
District 1: The northwest district seat is wide open in this campaign, as incumbent Councilmember Kathy Narum is ineligible after hitting the city's temporary term limit.
With the slate clean, we see an opportunity with Dean Wallace to add the perspective of a young professional with deep Tri-Valley ties and political experience to the Pleasanton dais.
He presents well-reasoned ideas for addressing top priority goals such as sustainability and affordability, public safety, economic development, transparency, city services and the Stoneridge Shopping Center redevelopment planning process -- the latter of which will probably be the most important project in District 1 over the upcoming four-year term.
Wallace, who works as a staffer for Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Berkeley), did a savvy job differentiating himself and his approach from that of his boss when called out at our candidate forum on Sept. 12. We're also impressed by his wide-ranging coalition of supporters this campaign, including elected officials at the local, state and federal levels, unions and trade associations and other stakeholder groups.
Also challenging for the District 1 seat is Planning Commissioner Jeff Nibert, a longtime resident whose platform focuses on quality of life, the environment, safe drinking water, "smart and measured growth" including affordable housing, and Pleasanton's small-town character.
Nibert has gained some key city experience on the Planning Commission, without question, but we do note that he has not yet truly separated himself as an authority among the commission dais. He brought up smart talking points during our forum and in his public campaigning, but often just at that cursory level without the added depth of actionable solutions. In that way, his opponent stands apart.
Pleasanton council wants to move forward with Stoneridge Mall redevelopment framework planning
...One of the other key points made by the council was to prioritize public input and make sure that everyone that would be affected in the area is noticed so they can participate in community outreach events that staff will facilitate.
That point was echoed by Dean Wallace, a resident and council candidate who lives across from the mall, who said he has spoken with various neighbors who all support reimagining what the mall will look like, but only if it is done right.
"They want to make sure that it's done right, and I share that desire," Wallace said. "I think there's a lot of anxiety, concern and a bit of confusion about the various different plans that the city is currently considering."
He said there should be more community outreach being done to inform the public about the framework process and what the timeline for the redevelopment will look like. Wallace is currently a candidate running for the City Council District 1 seat, which represents the Stoneridge area...
Endorsements
"Dean’s ready to roll up his sleeves and work hard on behalf of the residents of Pleasanton, because I’ve already seen him do it. I’m proud to support him in his campaign for Pleasanton City Council."
Congressman Eric Swalwell
Congressional District 15
We Endorse Dean
for City Council
Alameda County Democratic Party
Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus
Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County
Bay East Association of Realtors
Pleasanton Police Officers Association
Pleasanton Weekly
Sheet Metal Workers, Local 104
NorCal Carpenters Union
Congressman Eric Swalwell
State Senator Steve Glazer
Assemblymember Bill Quirk
Jennifer Hosterman, Former Pleasanton Mayor
Kathy Narum, Pleasanton City Councilmember
Jack Balch, Pleasanton City Councilmember
Becky Dennis, Former Pleasanton City Councilmember
Arne Olson, Former Pleasanton City Councilmember
Cheryl Cook-Kallio, Alameda County Board of Education Trustee, Former Pleasanton City Councilmember
Mary Jo Carreon, Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees
Joan Laursen, Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees
Steve Maher, Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees
Mark Miller, President, Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees
Dawn Benson, Zone 7 Water Agency Board
Dennis Gambs, Zone 7 Water Agency Board
Olivia Sanwong, Zone 7 Water Agency Board
Michelle Smith McDonald, Former Zone 7 Water Agency Board
Justin Brown, Former Pleasanton Planning Commissioner, Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustee-Elect
Herb Ritter, Former Pleasanton Planning Commissioner
Janeen Rubino-Brumm, Pleasanton Human Services Commissioner
Susan Hayes, Former Pleasanton Human Services Commissioner
Partial List
Titles for Identification Purposes Only
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