Joel Liu Announces Pleasanton City Council Candidacy

PLEASANTON, CA — Joel Liu, an engineer who currently serves as chair of the Pleasanton Committee on Energy and the Environment, announced his candidacy to represent Pleasanton’s newly-formed District Three. Liu will run against incumbent Julie Testa, who announced her candidacy Tuesday.

Liu listed safety, sustainability, and strengthening the city/school partnership as the three pillars of his campaign.

“I passionately advocate for these issues because these are what make an ideal community. Therefore, I feel a strong calling to step up and revitalize Pleasanton’s charm,” Liu said in a statement. “With two pieces of luggage, very little money, and determination, I landed in the United States over twenty years ago to pursue my Ph.D. degree. I had a dream and willingness to work hard which allowed me to get my doctorate and become the electrical engineer I am today. I feel honored to call Pleasanton my home and compelled to serve this community even more.”

Liu said would “support initiatives that continue to provide the sufficient resources and equipment to law-enforcement, fire safety, and emergency services units to ensure the continued well-being of our community.”

Liu also said that he would work to ensure that the Climate Action Plan he helped draft, which aims to achieve a 70% reduction from 1990 carbon levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045, is executed. Liu also said he will work with other leaders from the Zone 7 Water Agency to make sure the city has a plentiful supply of safe drinking water amid an ongoing megadrought.

Liu also pledged to “work collaboratively with our school officials and other parents to strengthen the city-school partnership,” and noted that he has two students in PUSD and serves on the School Site Council at Harvest Park Middle School.

Liu is a first-generation immigrant who has obtained a masters and doctorate in electrical engineering from Arizona State University. In his early career, he helped design the electrical systems of Boeing and military aircraft. He was one of eight of 90,000 employees to earn the James R. Stover Volunteerism Award, and served on the organizing committee for the Asian American Engineer of the Year Award.

Since moving to Pleasanton with his family in 2007, Liu has served on a number of boards and committees. In addition to serving on the Committee on Energy and the Environment since 2018, he represents Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore to East Bay Community Energy. He is a co-founder and board member of the Tri-Valley Asian Association, and served as chair of the board of the San Francisco chapter of the Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA.

“Our shared goal should be to build a better Pleasanton together," Liu said in a statement. "This involves listening and harmonizing the needs of all community members from all backgrounds, and then working collaboratively and creatively to find the best solution for Pleasanton. It is not an easy task. I believe the rigor of my academic pursuit, my corporate leadership experience, and my involvement in city government equip me with the right skills and temperament to achieve the
best result for Pleasanton.”

Visit votejoelliu.com to learn more.