For more than two decades, Paul Donahue has served his neighbors in Mountain View as a member of city boards and commissions, advocating for a livable, sustainable, and affordable city. Now, as a candidate for City Council, he aims to bring his experience as a collaborative leader, along with an engineering mindset, to address the challenges the City currently faces. 

“Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetime, which is why I have made environmental sustainability one of the three top issues of my candidacy,” he says, adding that the transition away from fossil fuels must be an urgent priority. On the City Council, he will work to incentivize electrification projects through subsidies and reducing or waiving permitting fees.

As a member and Vice Chair of the Environmental Planning Commission, Paul has pushed for more equitable and sustainable zoning and housing policies, pointing to the disproportionate impact on air and water quality in low-income neighborhoods. On the Urban Forestry Board, he has been a strong advocate for expanded tree canopy targets with new biodiversity provisions.

While he does not categorically oppose the construction of data centers, noting that Mountain View is unlikely to be a candidate for a data center in the near future, he would work to ensure transparency and public involvement in decisions that impact air, water, grid, or noise levels. “As a parent, I am committed to creating a brighter, better future for our children and generations to come.”

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

Volunteer some time: https://www.electpauldonahue.com/