Meet Lynna Do, Candidate For Dublin City Council

DUBLIN, CA — Learn more about Lynna Do, a former planning commissioner and Rotary Club member running for Council.

1. Why are you running for Dublin City Council?

I am running on 3 C’s – Change, Compassion, and Community. I want to reaffirm our sense of COMMUNITY and COMPASSION for others and move forward together to affect the kind of CHANGE that will make our Dublin a better Dublin for all.

While I have spent the last two decades of my life working in the private sector my first jobs were in the public/governmental sector working as a political aide to various elected officials. I felt that it was important to be at the table to influence decisions that would contribute to positive change for our communities. Even after I left public/governmental work, I never left public service.

I have always been an active member/participant of my community who believes in giving back. I believe that all of us should be active members of our communities and give back whenever possible. I have done this through serving on various boards and commissions since I was in high school. But now I feel it was time to make the move to gain a seat at the table where I am the decision maker and help enact change directly. When I previously applied for an appointment to the City Council, I stated that I wanted to work on a downtown for our city. I know that we have a plan now and if elected, I will ensure that the vision becomes a reality. My vision for a downtown is one where we as members of the community can gather all year long and just enjoy our city, where we can gather with our friends and families and just be proud to be Dubliners.

I finally decided to run for Dublin City Council because as a resident of Dublin, I have always wanted to be at the seat at the table to enact change. This decision came after years of thinking about it and in the past, I applied to appointments to open seats on the City Council and have been unsuccessful. But I felt it was time to actual run for the position if I wanted to be on the City Council. As someone who has dedicated her life to public service and believing that I should be an active member of community, City Council felt like my next step in public service. I have been volunteering with my community since I was 12. I have served on many Boards and Commission, including the City of Dublin’s Planning Commission.

2. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your constituents?

The biggest issue I see for the City’s future is infrastructure and rapid growth. We are growing at a rate that we are not able to sustain. Our roads, water, energy, and other resources are being stretched thin. As well as our schools, we are not able to accommodate the growing amount of children that will need to educated in our public schools.

3. How do you intend to address it?

As a City Council member, I will work with our local agencies, as well as other elected officials to see what we can do collectively and collaboratively to help elevate these issues and challenges and find ways to remedy these issues so that Dublin can continue to grow and thrive in the future.

4. What should be done to solve the affordable housing crisis?

This is where smart growth and planning comes into play. We need to come up with ‘creative’ methods to meet state mandates. Dublin is ‘America’s Backyard’ and we need to have the rural feel and open spaces to still be called someone’s backyard. As a City Council member, I will work to ensure that we create a balance between the two needs.

5. What do you think the city can do to conserve water?

The City needs to lead by example. If we want the residents to conserve water, we need to not waste water on watering unnecessary things. Also, we need to change all landscaping to drought resistant and tolerant landscaping – look at more hardscaping.

6. What can the city do to help its downtown and small businesses?

As for the downtown, the City needs to look at the plan and ensure that the plan for the downtown is one that is pedestrian friendly and one that allows businesses to thrive, as well as our community to gather (Imagine something similar to City Center at Bishop Ranch). As for small businesses, the City should provide more outreach to our small businesses. Having someone on City staff responsible/liaison with the small business community. But ultimately just being a resource and supporting our small businesses is key and important.

7. What other issues are important to you?

Mental Health, Leadership and mentorship of girls and women.

8. If applicable, what is your political party?

I am a lifelong registered Democrat.

9. How long have you lived in Dublin?

I have lived in Dublin for 10 years – moved here in October 2012

10. If you didn’t grow up there, what brought you to the city?

In 2012 when I decided to settle down and buy a home of my own, I looked all over the Bay Area, but no where felt like home. I found myself often returning to Dublin to look at houses, in fact the day I saw the house that was to become my home, I was ready to put a down payment on a new development. But before the appointment time, I went to visit this house. And immediately I knew this was my home.

So, what drew me to Dublin, the green open spaces and a community that felt like I was meant to be part of. I have fond memories (both as a child and young adult) of driving east on 580 and seeing nothing but open space around Dublin. I first saw Dublin on a family car trip and was struck by its beautiful open spaces/landscape. When I was in the market to find a place to call home, Dublin was at the top of my list. I felt drawn to this community.

11. What experience do you have serving the community?

I was a former City of Dublin Planning Commissioner and a member of the Dublin Rotary Club. Beyond the City, I am a Past President of the Junior League of Oakland East Bay and current Sustainer. I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Association of Junior Leagues International. I have devoted most of my life giving back to my community – through volunteering and public service.

12. Of which accomplishments are you most proud?

The accomplishments that I am most proud of are creating a Trans and Non-Binary Policy for my sorority. Help facilitate the organization of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ affinity groups for both my sorority and the Association of Junior Leagues International, working with organizations and facilitating dialogue on Anti-AAPI Hate and working with AAPI small businesses to help them with Anti-AAPI Hate.

13. What is your education?

I have a BA in Politics, minor in Business and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. I also have a Master of Philosophy in Psychology from Walden University, where I am also completing my Ph.D. in Psychology.

14. Tell us about your family.

I live in Dublin with my wife (of four years) and our two dogs, Bruno and Zoe.

15. What is the best advice you ever received?

There is never a ‘right time’ – but if you keep dreaming about it, then it is the ‘right time’ for you to just take the leap.

16. Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am 46 years old, first generation Asian American of Vietnamese Ancestry woman. I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community. I vow to be a Council member of the people and represent voices that are not often heard. I also vow to be always accessible to the people of Dublin and that I will rely on their experiences and expertise in guiding my decisions on what will be best for our City.

17. Please provide links to websites and social media.

Website: www.LynnaDo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lynna