Meet Keith Parker, Your Fremont District 2 Candidate

FREMONT, CA — As the November elections approach, Patch has reached out to candidates to ask about their professional experience and why they're the best fit for the role.

In Fremont, Candidates are vying for positions in one of three council seats.

Keith Parker, who currently sits on the council for District 2, is seeking re-election. Get to know him below:

What is your educational background?

I have a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University.

What is your professional background?

I have spent my career in the tech sector. Fundamentally, my job has been to do what we need more of in our city: to bring people together to get things done.

I have led marketing for data storage, networking, and AI, but my real work has been in communication. I specialize in listening to different perspectives to find common ground and solve problems.

I am running for office because we face real challenges, and I want to use my experience to deliver real, meaningful results for our community.

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

I currently serve on the Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee for Washington Hospital.

I am also a board member of the Ohlone College Foundation, an executive board member of the Fremont Education Foundation, and a trustee of the Washington Health Foundation.

I also serve on the board of the Centerville PTSA as Treasurer.

What are the top three issues facing Fremont's District 2 right now?

The top issues are reducing homelessness, building public safety, and driving economic development while improving affordability.

Our unhoused population grew 6% in the last two years, while dropping 13% across Alameda County. Clearly, what we are doing isn't working. I want to implement targeted solutions rather than one-size-fits-all programs. People become unhoused for many reasons. The needs of the person who got sick and lost their job are different from someone with mental health issues. We need to address those issues directly.

Public safety must be a priority. Our Police Department has been understaffed for years. We see this in a lack of traffic enforcement, slow responses to property crimes, and more. We need a fully staffed department that works with the community, so that every person feels safe.

We must streamline our city's permitting process. It shouldn’t take months or years just to open a business in Fremont. Delays drive up costs and make it harder to succeed.

What is one specific action you would prioritize during your first year as a council member?

As a Councilmember, my top priority will be reducing our unhoused population.

By coordinating city resources with local non-profits, we can build a thoughtful, comprehensive program tailored to the specific needs of our unhoused population.

I will sit down with our community's non-profits to understand their strengths and challenges, allowing us to create a unified, city-wide response.

While we have significant resources available, the primary challenge has been connecting them to the people who need them most.

I will work to ensure these resources are utilized efficiently, so that we can help as many people as possible.

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

Effective communication with the people of Fremont is a core responsibility of a City Councilmember.

I will actively engage with our diverse residents, neighborhood groups, and community organizations to learn what is working well in our city and where we need to improve.

My commitment to listening and working alongside you means I will never stop engaging with our community.