Pleasanton Entrepreneur Reena Gupta Launches District 3 Council Bid

PLEASANTON, CA — Pleasanton mother and entrepreneur Reena Gupta announced her candidacy to represent District 3 on the Pleasanton City Council, a seat currently held by Julie Testa. In April, former school board member Jamie Yee also announced her candidacy for the seat.

Gupta is a 15-year Pleasanton resident and mother of two PUSD graduates. She has also founded numerous organizations focused on workforce development, including the FutureScape Program, which connects students with industry professionals and career opportunities; the Mom Relaunch Foundation, which has helped women return to meaningful careers after taking time off to raise families; and Wisdocity, an AI-powered platform focused on preparing individuals and organizations for the future of works.

She has previously served on Pleasanton’s Economic Vitality Commission, where she helped develop the city’s Economic Development Strategic Plan. She has also served as an ambassador for Pleasanton Connects, an advisory board member for the Three Valleys Community Foundation, a member of the Rotary Club of Pleasanton, and a CTE advisor to the Pleasanton Unified School District.

Gupta said she is running on a platform of economic vitality and greater civic participation, among other goals. Gupta said she hopes to bring community voices to city government, and is beginning her campaign by asking residents the question, “Do you know what’s happening at City Hall and how it impacts your daily life?”

“Most people tell me, ‘Not really,’” Gupta said in a news release. “That convinced me the first step isn't asking people for votes. It's making it easier for people to understand what's happening, share their ideas and become part of the conversation.”

As part of her campaign, Gupta launched a community engagement platform that provides residents with summaries of upcoming City Council agenda items, and invites them to share their ideas through her website or by scanning the QR code on the campaign’s magnetic community card. Before every council meeting, she reviews resident feedback and shares a summary of the issues. After each meeting, she follows up with an explanation of what occurred, and its significance for the community.

Additionally, Gupta said she wants to help “ensure Pleasanton remains a place where our children can build their futures and one day raise families of their own.”

Her platform, which is informed by data from a city satisfaction survey, is centered around balancing the budget, investing in downtown, ensuring safe and affordable drinking water, building housing that fits with the community, improving city services, and ensuring youth career readiness.

Gupta said she hopes to better utilize assets like the downtown, Hacienda Crossings, the BART corridors, and the Stoneridge Shopping Center to generate revenue. She also called for protecting core services like public safety, parks, libraries, and road maintenance while pursuing grants and other funding sources before asking residents to shoulder additional costs.

Gupta emphasized long-term investment in the city’s future through housing, water infrastructure, and workforce development. She supports meeting state housing requirements while concentrating near growth near BART and Hacienda, and preserving neighborhood character elsewhere. She advocated seeking outside funding for water infrastructure projects, encouraging conservation, and expanding job training and AI readiness.

“I’m passionate about community because it's how I was raised,” Gupta said. “Living with so many people taught me that everyone brings different perspectives, but the best solutions come when we listen to one another, collaborate and work toward a shared goal. That's the kind of leadership I want to bring to Pleasanton.”

Visit reenaforpleasanton.com for information.

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• Pleasanton Mayor Jack Balch Launches Re-Election Campaign