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Ambitious young people from the San Ramon Valley regularly make headlines on the regional, state and national stages for their accomplishments in a range of competitions, educational and business endeavors.
This year, that list is also set to include the local ballot, with 19-year-old San Ramon resident Emma Chigbu kicking off her mayoral campaign in recent weeks after qualifying for the general election earlier this month.
A political newcomer, Chigbu enters the race following a second year of successful national competitions with the Diablo Valley College speech and debate team, taking home both a gold and silver medal from the most recent event in Virginia earlier this year.
Chigbu told DanvilleSanRamon on Tuesday that she continues to attend Diablo Valley College and works as a speech and debate coach.
“As a young professional still living in San Ramon, I have witnessed how young families are struggling to live in our beautiful city,” Chigbu said on her campaign site. “City council is not representative of the younger residents of San Ramon. I feel it is my duty to give back to the city that made me who I am. Young families and professionals should have the same opportunities to live here that my family was blessed to have.”
A first-time candidate, Chigbu is vying against incumbent Mark Armstrong and newcomer Paschalis Ntatsos, a local swim coach, for the mayor’s seat on the Nov. 3 ballot.
As a lifelong resident of the city, Chigbu said she was a product of the high quality of life and focus on family and education that have drawn young families to San Ramon since its inception, including her own parents when they first came to California.
“When my parents first immigrated from Nigeria to California, they knew San Ramon would be the city that would give their children a strong quality of life,” Chigbu said. “I’ve benefitted first-hand from our exceptional schools, beautiful parks and open spaces, and safe community.”
Maintaining those qualities are top priorities under Chigbu’s platform, which centers on fiscal responsibility, increased community engagement and preventing overdevelopment.
“While it is important to increase affordable housing and build new commercial spaces, City Council must continue to protect the heart and soul of our city,” Chigbu said. “This means being mindful of how development impacts existing residents. We need to grow our city with intention.”
Chigbu is advocating for additional consideration of residents’ perspectives overall, and intentionality in community outreach.
“The residents of San Ramon deserve to be consistently informed of any decisions that impact their community,” Chigbu said. “We must intentionally include residents in conversations about projects, developments, and budgeting.”
More information is available at www.chigbu4mayor.com.
