Meet The Dublin Candidate: Steven Lorey

DUBLIN, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates running for mayor and city council in Dublin, and reprinted their answers to our questionnaire verbatim.

In Dublin, three candidates are running for mayor, including incumbent Sherry Hu. Four candidates are running for Council District 2, in the northeastern part of the city; and two candidates are running for District 4 in the southeast, including incumbent Kashef Qaadri.

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Dublin switched to district-based elections in 2024, and this is the first year that Districts 2 and 4 are electing their own candidates.

Below, read the responses of Steven Lorey, a military intelligence analyst and Camp Park executive running to represent District 2.

What is your educational background?

I have a BS is Public Safety Administration, a MA in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Policy, and a MA in Leadership studies with an emphasis in Community Engagement.

What is your professional background?

I have recently retired from a 27 year career in the US Army that included combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of my military time was as an Chief Intelligence Analyst. My career culminated as an executive at Camp Parks. In this role I operated as the equivalent to a City Manager and coordinated closely with the City of Dublin on all things military related.

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

I have never held a public office, however my role at Camp Parks would be the military equivalent of leading city level government. On staff we had a Department of Public Works, a Department of Public Safety including emergency management, a police department and a fire department. Additionally, we had 114 homes and families we were responsible providing services for.

What are the top three issues facing Dublin right now?

In my time meeting people in the city, the same few topics always come up. Public Safety remains a top priority. People want to be safe in their homes and businesses want to operate without burglary and other crimes. Fiscal sustainability is a top priority for the current council and city leadership and will remain so. Dublin's current budget is in very good shape, however we are facing a budget deficit as early as 2030. Affordable housing in a problem across Dublin, the Tri-Valley and California as a whole. Dubliners are concerned that our city is become more and more unaffordable each year.

What is one specific action you would prioritize during your first year in office?

In year one I want clearly address two controversial concerns of our citizens. People are worried about ICE in our city. I want to make it clear that ICE isn't welcome to terrorize the citizens of Dublin. I do not support repurposing FCI Dublin for ICE use. Second, I want to educate the public regarding the responsible use of automated license plate reader technology and transparently demonstrate how the city prioritizes public safety and public privacy. I believe tackling these issues publicly and taking a clear stand will quell citizens concerns and provide opportunities for honest dialog about polarizing topics.

Dublin continues to add housing and consider new developments. How should the city determine where additional growth belongs, and how should it ensure that transportation, schools and other infrastructure keep pace?

Housing is a critical topic locally and California-wide. The city needs to meet state requirements for affordable housing. However, we need a systems approach any type of growth. We cannot afford to move too far foward with building without first aligning our ability to support and sustain any new construction. Our infrastructure and transportation requirements need to be addressed smartly via capital improvements. The cheapest project is the one you get right the first time. We cannot look at band-aid solutions to growth, but rather solutions grounded in strategic planning with a long-term outlook. We need to balance responsible growth while ensuring that we don't lose the high quality of life Dublin presently enjoys.

What is your vision for Downtown Dublin, and what concrete action would you take to create a more distinctive, walkable and economically successful city center?

Dublin, for all of its immense quality of life, does not have a downtown like our neighbors. I would love to see a walkable downtown lined with local businesses and diverse cuisine that families can enjoy year round. To make that happen, we need to review the bike/walk/public transportation options connecting downtown to the neighborhoods within Dublin. Depending on how a downtown is built, we may need to consider using or building a parking structure nearby to reduce congestion away from pedestrians and in areas better supported by high volume traffic. We need to capitalize on our great weather and city diversity to attract businesses that thrive on foot traffic and contribute positively to our communities. Additionally, a cohesive downtown should serve as microcosm of Dublin itself, capitalizing on the rich culture of our citizens while celebrating minority owned small businesses. Done properly, Downtown Dublin could be the center point of our community.

How do we best ensure Dublin remains a safe community?

Dublin is in great shape from a public safety perspective. However. It is important that we earn the public trust regarding Flock camera use. Unfortunately, Flock as a company has been disingenuous with their responses to public criticism and although Dublin has several safeguards in place, I think we need to and ongoing effort to communicate transparently regarding our use of Automated License Plate reader technology. It is a great tool for law enforcement to leverage, however I want to see more public dialog regarding Dublin's safeguards including the 30 day delete of data, not sharing data with federal agencies, and ensuring access to information is tied to a current case or investigation. In order for us to focus on proactive community policing, we need our officers to be able to leverage technology ethically and effectively. I believe we are using this technology responsibly, but it is our responsibility to explain that to the public.

Other programs to help Dublin remain safe include community engagement efforts such as the citizen's academy, neighborhood watches, coffee with the Chief, and the Ring camera optional registration program allow our LE personnel to interact with citizens with ongoing touchpoints that aren't related to active crime. This bolsters public trust and gives officers the opportunity to convey ways everyone can be a part of keeping Dublin Safe.

Why do you feel you're a better candidate than your opponents?

I think Dublin is fortunate to have many people strong candidates interested in serving on City Council. My strength includes my lifelong experiences in public service and my focused educational background. Having served in the military for 27 years, I've always been on the forefront of issues public concerns. My BA in Public Safety Administration was focused on the ethical and effective execution of public safety policies. My MA in Public Administration has given me the theoretical framework for public governance and my MA in Leadership Studies with an emphasis in Community Engagement has helped me refine my leadership philosophy. I have ample academic and realistic frameworks for improving the relationship with all relevant stakeholders including our citizens and public servants, school boards, county and state representatives, and our Tri-Valley neighbors.