Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez is seeking reelection to a second term this fall, appearing on the citywide Nov. 8 ballot alone as no opponents came forward to challenge the incumbent.

Hernandez was first elected to Dublin City Council in 2016 and served as vice mayor from 2018 to 2019. She was then elected to her current position in 2020, making her the first Latina mayor within the Tri-Valley region.

"Having done the job for two years, serving as the city's chief advocate, it is important to me that I continue to work on the quality of life of our residents in the city of Dublin," Hernandez said. "Two years is not enough to reach all of the goals I've set forth as mayor, and there are many projects that I have been working on that I would like to see our city complete or advance before I leave office."

As mayor, Hernandez is a city representative on various regional and state committees. She serves on the boards of the Alameda County Transportation Commission, East Bay Community Energy and Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, among others.

Although she is uncontested for reelection as mayor, Hernandez must still appear on the ballot -- as opposed to being directly appointed without an election, as the only candidate -- because the Dublin City Council election is contested this fall.

As for the coming term, Hernandez said one of her main priorities includes progressing the Downtown Preferred Vision project. "The ability to get the town square and downtown vibe that this community has long desired is a huge driver for me," she said.

In addition, Hernandez said she will continue working to ensure the City decision making is transparent and fiscally accountable.

"In these difficult financial times, our city continues to maintain healthy emergency reserves and a budget surplus," she said, highlighting the impact of her leadership and campaign. "I value the teamwork of our city staff and our City Council as well, and it's my hope that voters feel confident in the trust they bestow on all of us to not only represent the city of Dublin regionally, but to advance it forward with the best planning and forethought possible."

Hernandez spoke on her connection and dedication to the residents of Dublin.

"I care deeply about this community and all of the residents we serve," Hernandez added. "It's important to me that all of our residents have a voice in our city and feel comfortable talking with me at the grocery store or at a community event."

Hernandez views some of her main accomplishments as Mayor as establishing Dublin as a 'Green City' and championing mental health resources. She played a pivotal role in designing a Climate Action Plan that would transform the city's electricity supply to renewable solar and wind sources, with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045.

She also oversaw the incorporation of a behavioral health unit within law enforcement services in Dublin. The program was developed with the intention to better support both residents and officers.

To find out more about Hernandez and her reelection campaign, visit her website at MayorMelissaHernandez.com.

Editor's note: This is an update of an article that was first published earlier this election season. The prior version inadvertently included outdated information from Melissa Hernandez's campaign website as well as improperly attributed the nature of an original quote. Embarcadero Media regrets the confusion with the original article.