Deborah Lewis-Virges has long been a local leader, both in the congregation she serves as pastor, and in East Palo Alto at large, around issues of social and environmental justice. Running for a seat on the City Council, she wants to apply her experience engaging and motivating community members to the tasks of making housing more affordable, strengthening the local economy, and improving the quality of life for all East Palo Alto residents.

Key among her priorities is moving the city toward the targets set in the Paris Climate Agreement by phasing out fossil fuel infrastructure, setting up more EV charging stations, and expanding home electrification programs. She brings more than six years of experience working on these issues as an active member of the EPA Climate Change Community Team, Climate Resilient Communities (CRC), and Interfaith Power and Light.  “I have provided ongoing educational workshops and resources for our local community, and served as a panelist for the San Mateo County Climate Summit on matters concerning environmental justice.” She has also served on East Palo Alto’s Public Works and Transportation Commission, and is the chair of the East Palo Alto Sanitary District. 

As a member of the City Council, Deborah plans to continue working to integrate climate action into planning and procurement, and to empower local residents to take action around climate resiliency, with an emphasis on emergency preparedness, air quality, and environmental justice.

Campaign website: https://votelewisvirges.weebly.com

Volunteer some time: https://votelewisvirges.weebly.com/join-us.html