A social justice attorney for over 20 years, Latika Malkani has served on the Orinda City Council since 2022 and as mayor in 2025. She also serves as a commissioner and Vice-Chair of Orinda’s Supplemental Sales Tax Oversight Commission, monitoring the expenditure of sales tax funds generated by a local measure passed in 2020.

Latika is excited to help move Orinda forward on both climate resiliency and climate mitigation.

On the resiliency front, she works to prioritize wildfire mitigation efforts, aiming at clear plans for both residents and the local fire departments (including the collaboration between Orinda and Moraga). 

Her climate action work includes:

• Community Choice Aggregation (MCE) – Since 2020, Latika has consistently advocated for Orinda to join MCE or another community choice energy provider, giving residents an alternative to PG&E and access to renewable electricity. 

• Regional partnership – She would also like to see a more active partnership with SCOCO (Sustainable Contra Costa). 

• Gas leaf blower ban – After meeting with concerned Orinda citizens who asked for action, Latika brought a matter to the Council to consider banning gas-powered leaf blowers; it is now heading to a Council agenda.

• Smart climate design – To be used in city planning decision-making, now and in the future.

We look forward to Latika’s continued, unwavering, climate-conscious presence on the Orinda City Council.

Campaign website: https://www.latika4orinda.com/ 

Volunteer some time: https://www.latika4orinda.com/get-involved