John Pimentel

John Pimentel earned an associate degree from San Joaquin Delta College in 1985, a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1988, and a graduate degree from Harvard Business School in 1998. Pimentel's career experience includes working as a business owner and president.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m John Pimentel, a first-generation college student, clean energy executive, and elected Member of the Board of Trustees of the San Mateo County Community College District. In public service and in business, I’ve focused on one question: how do we make systems work better for people? I helped lead the effort to make community college tuition-free for county residents, opening doors for tens of thousands of students. I’ve also built more than $1.5 billion in clean energy and water infrastructure projects that created thousands of jobs. I’m running for the California Board of Equalization to lower costs, improve fairness, and bring accountability and practical leadership to government.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Government should deliver real results for working people. I’m running for Board of Equalization to lower costs, eliminate the sales tax on food, close unfair tax loopholes, and make our tax system more fair, accountable, and effective. Too often, government asks more from taxpayers without doing the hard work to use public resources wisely. I believe public office is a responsibility to improve the lives and opportunities for those I serve, not a title, and my record reflects that.I have a record of getting hard things done. As a Trustee of the San Mateo County Community College District, I helped make community college tuition-free for all county residents (including undocumented students) expanding access and opportunity for tens of thousands of students. I also fought corruption, pushed for transparency, and hired an internal inspector to improve accountability in the district. In the private sector, I built clean energy and sustainability projects that created thousands of jobs and reduced energy costs for communities and businesses.California needs leaders who can successfully combine progressive values with practical execution. I’ve worked in state government, local government, and the private sector, and I know how to move big hairy audacious ideas and reforms from concept to reality. As California’s former Deputy Secretary for Transportation, I helped rebuild Southern California's highway infrastructure in record time using unique incentive-based contracts, improve performance, and reduce waste. On the Board of Equalization, I will focus on tax fairness, competent administration, and making government work better for the people it serves.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I care deeply about affordability, education, tax fairness, clean energy, and government accountability. As a first-generation college student, I know how life-changing educational opportunity can be. That’s one reason I fought to make community college tuition-free locally. I’m also passionate about reducing everyday costs for working families, including by eliminating the sales tax on food and closing unfair loopholes that shift the burden onto regular taxpayers. I believe climate action and economic growth can go hand in hand, and that government should be transparent, competent, and focused on measurable results.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father, Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Frankin D. Roosevelt, Hiram Johnson, Edmund Brown Sr.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

accountability, integrity, independence, fiscal acumen and responsibility

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

willingness to challenge the status quo, focus on accountability and fairness

What legacy would you like to leave?

Helping California find a sustainable balance between economic, social, and environmental prosperity

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

washing dishes and cleaning toilets at the Waterloo Gun and Bocce Club

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My mother's murder and my two sisters suicides

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

accountability, effectiveness, fairness

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

My campaign has earned support from leaders across California who value practical results and accountable government. Supporters include State Treasurer Fiona Ma, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Members of Congress Sam Liccardo and Kevin Mullin, former Members of Congress Anna Eshoo and Tom Campbell, CA State Senators Josh Becker and Tim Grayson, CA Assemblymembers Marc Berman, Diane Papan, Matt Haney, and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, former Assembly Speaker and San Franciso Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., Jerry Hill, Bill Dodd, Phil Ting, Bill Dodd, Steve Glazer, county supervisors Ray Mueller, David Canepa, Lisa Gauthier, and Margaret Abe-Koga, and many other local leaders. public safety unions and building and trades unions.