Alameda Releases Final List Of Mayoral And City Council Candidates

ALAMEDA, CA — The city of Alameda has released its final roster of candidates for city offices ahead of the general elections in November.

Three candidates have filed to run for mayor of Alameda. Six candidates, meanwhile, are running for a city council seat, according to official city records.

Mayoral Candidates

Tracy L. Jensen

Jensen is a current councilmember and fourth-generation Alamedan, according to her city profile. She also worked on the Clinton Administration’s Universal Health Care initiative in the late 90s.

She also served on Alameda's Board of Education, where she helped open up one of the city's first schools in 20 years, according to her profile.

"Tracy Jensen has served our community with distinction for decades," Jensen's campaign website reads. "Tracy understands Alameda deeply, and she knows how to navigate around complex bureaucracies to get results for the people who live here."

A list of Jensen's priorities as Mayor can be found here. They include establishing the city's first community garden and addressing the risks of sea level rise.

Malia Vella

A former city councilmember and vice mayor of Alameda, Vella is currently Vice President of State & Strategic Partnerships at Amira Learning, a company that created " the first AI-powered reading tutor and assessment platform that listens as students read aloud, continuously assessing reading mastery to inform instruction," according to the The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting.

She ran for California State Assembly to represent District 18 in 2021 and came in third, receiving just over 10,000 votes.

Justice reform, housing and equity were her main goals during the campaign.

"I have spent my entire career fighting for worker's rights and working families, said in a 2021 survey. "As a woman of color with two young children, I know how important quality education and early childhood development are to our societal well-being, which is why I will fight to fully fund education and make quality child care accessible and affordable for all families."

Tony Daysog

Daysog, a UC Berkeley almunis currently, has served on the Alameda city council for more than 20 years.

In 2024, Daysog ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 12th Congressional District but lost out in the primaries, according to Ballotpedia.

He ran on a platform of unciversal healthcare, climate change and making education more affordable.

"My family’s experience with the Nagasaki atomic bomb is what separates me from others — it helps explain the pride I take in helping to convert Alameda's former military base, and it helps explain my emphasis on reducing our military budget to achieve peaceful change," Daysog said in a 2024 survey. "I take special pride in having helped convert Alameda's former military base, by making sure we build not only multi-million dollar homes in a transit-oriented development manner, but also set-aside more than 200 units for families that are formerly homeless."

City Council Candidates

Marcie Johnson

Johnson serves as the Friends of the Alameda Free Lubrary's Executive Director and previosuly worked as the Social Services Manager in the city.

"I have spent the last several years listening to and serving this community. I've come to love it deeply," Johnson said in a statement online. "Now, I'm asking for the opportunity to serve in a great capacity."

Tyler Savage

East Bay born and bred, Savage moved to Alameda in 2014, where he's coached the city;s little league and youth basketball teams, volunteered at the warming shelter and meals on wheels, according to his campaign website.

His background is in energy and environmental policy.

"Our lives unfold here every day, in our neighborhoods, schools, parks, local businesses, and community events, and every person adds something unique to the fabric of this Island," Savage said online. "I'm excited for the opportunity to work alongside each of you."

A list of Savages's priorities if he's elected to the city council can be found here.

Thushan Amarasiriwardena

Amarasiriwardena has a background as a software product manager. He's also served on the Alameda Free Library Board and as a writer and former board member of the Alameda Post, according to Ballotpedia.

Amarasiriwardena says he wants to bolster the city's economy and create safer streets.

"I'm investing in this town so my two young daughters can benefit from a thriving community that shapes them positively," Amarasiriwardena said on his campaign website. "I believe the best version of our future isn’t built by holding back, but through making more of the best of this island."

Steve Slauson

Slauson previously ran for council in 2024. He's also previously run State Assembly District 18 and the U.S. House of Representatives District 12.

Amos White

White is the co-founder and chief planting officer of 100K Trees for Humanity, a Black-led urban reforestation tree planting organization.

He's also on the Board of Advisors for the California Urban Forest Advisory Committee and an Urban Ag Chair for the Alameda County Agricultural Advisory Committee, according to his LinkedIn.

Maria L. Bondonno

Bondonno is listed by the city of Alameda as a public servce attorney.