Meet John
A Lifetime of Leadership:
I grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa, a hard working small town with a warm and close-knit community very much like San Carlos. I played a lot of sports growing up and my first job was as a summer field hand detasseling hybrid seed corn for $4.11 an hour. After attending public schools, I earned a full scholarship to West Point where I studied political science and civil engineering. After West Point I served in the U.S. Army leading Artillery units for four years rising to the rank of Captain. After the Army I earned a law degree at Stanford and have pursued a business career in Silicon Valley. I currently work as the COO of Denteractive, a heath tech company. I met my amazing wife Julia at Stanford and we have made a home in San Carlos because we love the community, the schools and all that Laurel Street offers. We have three great children, Jake, Jackie and Joya and also a great big basset hound named Juggernaut.
Engaged in the Community at Every Step:
As a twenty-year resident of San Carlos, I feel there is no better community in which to live. My wife Julia and I have raised three children here – Jake (19), Jackie (15) and Joya (10) – and feel very fortunate to be part of such a strong and supportive community. Having played football through high school, I spent several years on the Bayside Broncos / Pop Warner coaching staff, helping take them to a championship in 2014.
My wife Julia is a former professional ballerina. We met at Stanford where I attended law school and where she founded Stanford’s first ballet performance group in the late 1990’s. She is the founder and artistic director of the Academy of American Dance in Redwood City, which many know through our annual Nutcracker Ballet at the Fox Theatre. This show is a big production for our family, and we all pitch in and have fun with it – I’m the dancing bear most years and it has been very special to perform with my girls over the years! Julia and I own this business together and it gives me a good perspective on the challenges of running a small business on the Peninsula especially in this very challenging year.
I think it is important to be involved and to give back and in 2018 I earned an appointment to the San Carlos Planning Commission, serving as the Chairman from 2019-2020. The role has not only given me insight into the challenges and opportunities facing our city and our region, it has inspired me to run for City Council.
Engaged in the Community at Every Step:
As a twenty-year resident of San Carlos, I feel there is no better community in which to live. My wife Julia and I have raised three children here – Jake (19), Jackie (15) and Joya (10) – and feel very fortunate to be part of such a strong and supportive community. Having played football through high school, I spent several years on the Bayside Broncos / Pop Warner coaching staff, helping take them to a championship in 2014.
My wife Julia is a former professional ballerina. We met at Stanford where I attended law school and where she founded Stanford’s first ballet performance group in the late 1990’s. She is the founder and artistic director of the Academy of American Dance in Redwood City, which many know through our annual Nutcracker Ballet at the Fox Theatre. This show is a big production for our family, and we all pitch in and have fun with it – I’m the dancing bear most years and it has been very special to perform with my girls over the years! Julia and I own this business together and it gives me a good perspective on the challenges of running a small business on the Peninsula especially in this very challenging year.
I think it is important to be involved and to give back and in 2018 I earned an appointment to the San Carlos Planning Commission, serving as the Chairman from 2019-2020. The role has not only given me insight into the challenges and opportunities facing our city and our region, it has inspired me to run for City Council.
My Priorities and Approach:
We are certainly facing unprecedented challenges in this difficult year. My priorities for San Carlos and the region include supporting our local small businesses, housing balance, public safety, traffic and childcare. The COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous fires now threatening our State and our County require that our leaders work collaboratively and decisively to protect our communities. I hope you’ll join me to ensure San Carlos remains the City of Good Living while we work together to address our challenges and keep this a community that we are all proud to call home.
Responding to Covid-19
As we struggle with the COVID-19 public health crisis, John will be focused on:
- Maintaining essential city services and public safety operations.
- Allowing for city programs like libraries, parks & recreation, and senior nutrition to continue with strict safety protocols.
- Supporting local small businesses to operate as allowed to keep people safe and avoid permanent closures.
- Addressing the financial impacts of COVID-19 on the city’s budget by prioritizing funding of essential city programs and services.
- Working with the County Health Department to ensure residents and staff in San Carlos’ senior living facilities are protected against infection.
- Working with the San Carlos District and the Sequoia Union High School District to support planning for a safe return to campus.
- Ensuring San Carlos residents are informed with accurate information on a timely basis.
- Access to funds for emergency small business grants.
- Vital Senior programs remaining in place.
- Virtual recreation services for residents of all ages.
- Ensure PPE used by the city during critical services.
Priorities for San Carlos
Economic Development
Public Safety
Housing
Traffic and Infrastructure
Childcare