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A Bay Area native and practicing attorney who has been seeking to deepen his understanding of the city’s operations in recent months is among the two newcomers in this year’s race for the San Ramon City Council’s District 1 seat amid the incumbent’s decision not to seek another term.
Robert Jweinat is competing with fellow newcomer Vasanth Shetty for the seat that is set to be vacated by longtime Councilmember Scott Perkins at the the end of his current term, with the successor set to be decided by local voters in November’s general election.
On his campaign website launched earlier in the month, Jweinat listed his priorities as economic growth, sustainable development, public safety and support for the safety and well-being of first responders, safeguarding property values and community engagement.
“As times change, our approach to city government must evolve as well,” Jweinat said on his campaign website. “The challenges we face today — be it in economic growth, public safety, or sustainability — require fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.”
“Our city government must remain agile, responsive, and forward-thinking, adapting to new realities while upholding the values that define our community,” he continued. “By embracing change and working together, we can ensure San Ramon remains a vibrant, thriving place for all residents.”
Jweinat has served on the city’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, a role in which he said sought to support local enterprises and ensure commercial developments’ conformance with community standards and sought to advocate for affordable housing and “thoughtful redevelopment projects that benefited our entire city.” He also points to his graduation from the city’s Community Academy as valuable insight and experience related to the city’s public safety operations.
“I gained a deeper understanding of public safety, which is one of the core responsibilities of city governance,” Jweinat said on his campaign site. “This experience not only built a stronger connection with the community but it also equipped me with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions on policies that impact the safety and wellbeing of residents.”
Prior to becoming an attorney and working in leadership roles in tech startups, Jweinat – born in San Francisco and raised in Castro Valley – said that he worked in his family’s restaurant and at UPS in San Ramon, “helping me bootstrap my way through college and law school.”
“These experiences taught me the values of empathy, hard work, community, and resilience, which continue to drive my commitment as a father, a business owner, and as an attorney to my clients and to public service,” Jweinat said.
More information on Jweinat’s campaign is available at robert4citycouncil.com.
