Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 8, 2020

CONTACT: Cari Templeton, ‪(650) 275-2386, hello@cariforcouncil.com

Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission Chair Cari Templeton Launches Bid for City Council

Palo Alto, CA — Cari Templeton, a 15 year Palo Alto resident and current Chair of the Planning and Transportation Commission, announced her candidacy for Palo Alto City Council today.

Palo Alto, like so many cities across the nation, is facing unprecedented levels of disruption with the COVID-19 health emergency, followed by the wave of financial impacts to residents, businesses, city staff and services, and set in the context of growing nationwide civil unrest. These crises have highlighted inequities in the community and shortcomings in city government that must be overcome.

“I am encouraged by the community coming together to face these challenges, whether sheltering-in-place to prevent the spread of COVID, providing feedback about City service cutbacks, or gathering peacefully to demand criminal justice reform. There is more work to do. We must use this momentum to transform our good intentions into action, to create a stronger, more equitable city that is efficient, responsive to its residents, and delivers justice for all.”

This moment calls on leaders to choose how to use their skills, platforms, and expertise to elevate this moment and drive systemic change. For Templeton, this means bringing her proven track record of getting things done and resolving conflict to the City Council.

“I will bring professional and collaborative energy to the City Council, like I have brought to the Planning and Transportation Commission and before that, Google. Crisis requires leadership, and I am ready to apply my experience as a high-tech professional, a mother, and a committed community activist to rebuild according to our community's needs and shared values.”

Templeton’s top priorities include implementing inclusion goals across all city programs, improving our transportation ecosystem to reduce traffic and emissions, and encouraging innovation in city governance, including rolling out community policing strategies.

Cari lives in Barron Park and has two children who attend Palo Alto’s public schools. After over ten years at Google, she retired in 2017 from Program Management to complete her master’s degree at Stanford and now dedicates her time to public service and non-profit organizations.

To learn more, please visit www.cariforcouncil.com.

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