Meet Renee Morgan, Candidate For Danville Town Council

DANVILLE, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates for Danville Town Council and the SRVUSD Board of Education with identical questions. Here are the responses from Renee Morgan, who has been on the Town Council for 12 years.

1. What is your personal, educational, and professional background?

I grew up in a military family, the daughter of a retired Command Sergeant Major who served for more than 30 years. He passed from Agent Orange Cancer. I am the proud mother of two children. Both attended pre-school through high school in Danville. My son in-law is retired military and I have two beautiful grandchildren.I have been an active participant in our schools and youth sports. I was a former youth/high school director of cheer and coach, team mom, room mom and a PTA Executive Board member. I graduated from Leadership San Ramon Valley, Leadership Pleasanton, and Danville Volunteers in Police Academy.

2. How long have you lived in Danville?

34 Wonderful Years!

3. What brought you here?

Growing up in a military family, I had the opportunity to live and travel many different parts of the world When I had children, I wanted to live in a community which had a safe family oriented environment, valued its history, and had highly rated schools. Danville checked all the boxes.

4. How have you been involved in the community?

My service to Danville spans more than 20 years. I was a Danville Planning Commissioner, Heritage Resource Commissioner and on the Historic Design Review Board. During this time I implemented stronger open space guidelines, tightened historic preservation guidelines, and updated two General Plans. I have been on the Danville Town Council for 12 years. I served as Mayor in 2017 and 2021 during the pandemic.

Throughout my tenure, Danville has maintained fiscal responsibility, with no unfunded liabilities. I have safeguarded our high financial reserves. Danville has been named the Safest City in the State of California.

I support our local businesses, preserve our downtown, and defend our open space. I participate in diverse civic and community activities and my recent Board Positions(past/present) include:

• Tri Valley Transportation Council-Board Chair
• San Ramon Valley Emergency Preparedness Citizens Corp-Board Member
• San Ramon Regional Medical Center/Tenet/J.Muir Healthcare-Governing Board Chair
• Meals on Wheels Diablo Region-Executive Board Chair
• Danville Children’s Guild-Member/Parliamentarian
• Museum of the San Ramon Valley-Committee Member/Auction Chair
• American Red Cross-Leadership Board
• Danville Planning Commission-Commissioner
• Southwest Area Transportation-Director
• Danville Historic Design Review-Commissioner
• Danville Heritage Resource-Commissioner
• League of California Cities-Member
• The One Hundred Club-Board Member/Lifetime Member
• On Broadway Gala-Board Member
• Contra Costa County Sheriff's Posse-Member
• Danville Women's Club-VP of Programs
• Relay for Life-Guest Speaker and Team Captain
• Walk to End Alzheimer's-Guest Speaker and Team Captain
• Impact 100-Guest Speaker and Member
• Lunafest-Guest Speaker
• School Site Council/PTA Legislative Advocacy Member
• Contra Costa Transportation Authority-Director
• TRAFFIX-Director

I am also the proud recipient of the 2023 Citizen of the Year Award.

5. What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges facing the community/school district?

• Balancing budgets while offering a high level of public service to our residents. Many cities are facing debt and are providing sub-standard services. Danville, with careful planning and “saving money for a rainy day” has consistently produced a balanced budget with no unfunded liabilities. This also includes maintaining the integrity of our streets, infrastructure and services provided to our residents.
• Providing a high level of public safety and a healthy community. With the increase level of crimes state wide, Danville has managed to be named the Safest City in California year after year. This level of public safety creates a sense of trust and confidence in our community.
• Legislation regarding local control and our Housing Element. This includes current/future development, protecting our local infrastructure and regulation. The state requires Danville to address a housing shortage with unrealistic requirements. Although we must do our fair share, the focus should be on localized factors of each specific town. It is an unrealistic expectation to redo a General Plan to accommodate high rise structures in suburban neighborhoods or lot splits where prohibited by local zoning. This is not a matter of ‘Not in my Backyard,” rather we do not have the backyard to accommodate this level of expansion. We currently have a certified Housing Element accommodating all our allocated RHNA numbers and addressed opportunity sites. We must continue to protect our Town.

6. What are your plans for addressing them?

I have stood strong for Danville residents and I will continue to do so. My dedication, experience and leadership will preserve all that has been and will be beneficial for Danville now and into the future. Past performance is the best indicator of future results. It is imperative to keep experience, especially now, on the Danville Council. It is the many years of daily accomplishments, which will guide Danville now and into the future. I will continue to do what I have consistently done in the past to preserve everything that is wonderful about Danville. Simply put, greatness does not happen overnight or by accident, it is the product of experienced individuals working together over time to achieve a common goal.

7. What makes you the best candidate?

I have a well documented proven track record with more than 20 years of experience with the Town of Danville. I always vote for what is in the best interest of Danville. I have achieved the confidence of residents in three prior elections and have been honored to serve Danville. Being on the Danville council is the most rewarding career of my life (besides becoming a mom and grandma).

8. Outside of politics, what do you enjoy doing?

Spending time with family and friends, volunteering, gardening, painting, reading, listening to music and, of course, shopping and dining in Danville!!

9. Any other comments?

Please feel free to read more about me on my website: ReneeMorganforCouncil.com I am honored to represent you on the Danville Town Council and would be honored, again, with your vote. Thank you.