Tom Patti

Tom Patti was born in Stockton, California. He attended Delta College. His career experience includes working as a business owner.[1]

He has been affiliated with the following organizations:[2]

Child Abuse Prevention Council

March of Dimes

Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee

Stockton Crime Stoppers, board of directors

African American Chamber, “Man about Town”

National Federation of Independent Business Owners

Stockton Builder’s Exchange

San Joaquin County Farm Bureau

Delta College Foundation

Patti served on the following committees for the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors:

Aviation Advisory Committee

Bay Area Regional Airport Planning Committee

Behavioral Health Board

Children & Youth Task Force

City/County/Port/Union Liaison Committee

City/County/Transit District Liaison Committee

Community Corrections Partnership

Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee

Countywide Oversight Board

Economic Development Association

Health Care Services Review Project

Hospital Joint Conference Committee

Integrated Waste Management Plan Task Force

Local Agency Formation Commission

Mountain House Public Financing Authority

San Joaquin Flood Control Agency

Lathrop/County Ad Hoc Committee

Manteca/County Ad Hoc Committee

Education Ad Hoc Committee

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Tom Patti is a man of action. And that is what Stockton needs right now.

It's time for real action and results to reduce the impact of homelessness, ensure the safety of our families, boost job creation, create more opportunity, increase pay, and make City Hall more responsive to issues that affect our daily lives - like fighting crime, reducing homelessness, fixing potholes, making government more accessible to the public, and holding people accountable.

Tom Patti is a second-generation Stocktonian who graduated from local schools and attended Delta College.

As a single dad, Tom is passionate about ensuring safe communities and opportunities for families. He understands the importance of affordable education and is working to ensure our youth have the opportunities for higher education or career training.

As a second-generation local business owner, Tom knows that small businesses are the job creators of our community – the engine that drives our society. He is a member of the National Federation of Independent Business Owners, Stockton Builder’s Exchange, and the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau. Tom’s vision is smart economic growth with an eye on the future of sustainable communities.

Tom has been elected to the Board of Supervisors twice. During that time he led efforts to transform how the County deals with homelessness, fought for higher salaries to retain Deputy Sheriffs and Nurses, and helped bring in new jobs and businesses like Tesla and Unifab.

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?

Transform how the city deals with homelessness. It's time to acknowledge that "housing first" has failed - CA has spent billions of dollars with worse than no results - we're actually going backwards.

We need to reclaim our streets, get people into shelters with treatment, and create a real path out of addiction and homelessness.Ensure safer neighborhoods. Crime has gotten worse. Stockton was named one of the worst cities in the state for violent crimes. I won't let that continue.

As County Supervisor, I took unprecedented action when the county started losing Deputies to other communities - I reopened the contract and raised their pay to the median. The result has helped ensure we are keeping the best trained Deputies who know and are from our community.

As Mayor, I will push to rebuild our Police Department, ensure Officers are paid a fair wage, restore neighborhood police stations and community policing, and crack down on criminals who are preying on our community.We need to revitalize downtown and the Miracle Mile - bringing new venues to give families and young people creative and productive activities, create more jobs, and make downtown an economic powerhouse.

I'll push for redevelopment to create entertainment districts with community center, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. This will bring jobs, reduce crime, provide young people with outlets, and generate revenue for businesses and the city.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Economic Development, Public safety, homelessness, and redevelopment.

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

My father. He cared deeply for his family and his community. He taught the value of hard work and determination.

Cus D'Amato. Cus was a legendy boxing coach, but he was also a mentor, and the lessons he taught in the ring were also a driving force in my life after boxing.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Wisdom of Crowds, the Last Lion, and Reinventing Government have all had an influence on my political philosophy.

More recently, Answers Behind The Red Door: Battling the Homeless Epidemic helped me gain greater understanding of the homeless crisis - and ways we could help solve it.

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

Results. Our citizens hear politicians talk all the time. We need action & results.

Honesty. Everyone makes mistakes. A good leader admits when they make a mistake, then works to fix them.

Energy & Passion. Stockton needs leaders who are passionate about getting results.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Determination. I will never quit and never stop trying.

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

Results.

The most fundamental responsibility is public safety - nothing else works if our residents are not safe in the homes, schools, parks, and businesses.

Government doesn't create jobs, but it can facilitate economic growth by working with the business community to tear down barriers and create opportunities.

Stockton needs a solution to the homeless epidemic. At the county, we have transformed the way we approach the problem. Instead of pouring money into housing (the failed Housing First model - which became housing only and housing forever), we've expanded shelter beds and treatment. We created a rapid response team that gets into encampments and gets the people into shelters and treatment. We have nearly eliminated encampments on county land. We also partnered with cities like Manteca to coordinate efforts - last year Manteca not only reduce encampments, but actualy reduced the number of homeless.

I'll bring the lessons, connections, and progress we have made at the county level to the city of Stockton.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to make a real transformative change in how we address the homeless crisis - giving people hope and path out of homelessness.

I want to change the trajectory of downtown, creating vitality and energy and opportunity that will ensure our children and grandchildren can build a life here.

I want to demand action and create a culture in city government that demands results and isn't afraid to try something new and innovative.

I want Stockton to be a place where my daughter can find enrichment, safety, activities, recreation, and opportunity to build a future here in Stockton.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Sept 11 was a shocking and terrible moment in history. I was horrified by the attack and the collapse of the Twin Towers, awed by the courage of the passengers on Flight 93, and humbled by the sacrifice of the police and firefighters who ran into danger.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

They need to push for solutions and results - not wait for staff or for solutions to present themselves.

The Mayor needs to be able to forge coalitions to get those results, but cannot become lost in "analysis paralysis" or fail to take action by trying to please everyone... there is no universal coalition of everyone.

The Mayor needs to be the "head cheerleader" for the city, bringing civic, business, academic, and philanthropic leaders together to solve problems and make our city better, safer, and more prosperous.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

The mayor and city council need to create a vision, set the agenda, establish goals, provide oversight, and demand results.

The city manager and other executives' jobs are to implement the agenda.

Mayors need to be able forge coalitions to demand action, not try to appease every interest.

As Chair of the Board of Supervisors, I forged a coalition of my colleagues, leaders in the community, and experts to set the agenda -- then we demanded results from the staff whose job it was to implement it. As a leader, we cannot be afraid to make changes - including changing staff if they are not getting the job done. Sometimes, I ruffled feathers or even pushed too hard, but we got results that helped make the lives of our constituents better.

I did that as a Supervisor. I will do the same as Mayor.

What do you love most about your city?

Stockton is full of incredible people, enormous resources (ranging the best ag land in the country to a deep water port) and untapped potential.

We have faced hard times and found ways to thrive - we can do the same again.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Creating more jobs, building on the Ag-Tech opportunities with more eduction, apprenticeships, and technical training opportunities.

Revitalizing downtown by bringing in new venues, educational facilities (like a college!), and opprtunities.

Fighting crime. We need to tackle the new and growing problems associated with Fentanyl and gangs.

Homelessness. We have a real opportunity to be one of the first cities to functionally eliminate homeless encampments and give people a pathway out of addiction, hopelessness, and homelessness.

Housing. We need more quality, more quantity, and more affordable options.

I will also work to help engage, educate, and enrich our youth. Starting in my first month, I will create and empower a Mayors Youth Council to identify and implement entertainment, opportunity, and other options for our youth.

Finally, transportation and infrastructure. We must protect and restore the Delta, improve roads, create new (and more affordable) energy options, and maximize the use of our airport and port.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

The state is one of the biggest barriers to solving problems. I have built strong relationship with our state representatives and will work side by side with them to forge solutions -- sometimes the best option is just getting the state to get out of the way.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

It's a big country. Stockton has had some outstanding Congressmembers who fought to ensure our issues were front and center - and solutions moved forward.

We need to be vigilant, especially in regards to infrastructure, water, flood control and other issues.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

We will improve the relationship and establish regular lines of communication with the department and the Stockton POA who represent the men & women on the front lines of keeping us safe.

I am proud to be endorsed by the Stockton Police Officers Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association, and Police Officers Research Association of CA.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Stockton Police Officers Association.

Stockton Business Alliance.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Government should be 100% transparent - and we need to go further than mere transparency. Too often governement hides costs in jargon and complicated reports. We need to ensure the budget and all financial deals are presented in plain English so that any citizen can assess the spending.

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased May 27, 2022

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

During my time as a County Supervisor, I am proud to say that our board has secured funding and resources for veterans, law enforcement officers and students. We provided hundreds of beds for the homeless and substance abusers to get them back on their feet and are working toward ending homelessness and addiction. I know firsthand what it takes to mobilize this community and what kind of leader we need to advocate for our needs. That’s precisely why I’m running to represent our district in Congress.

Since 2016, I have been fighting for our future in San Joaquin County and the community that has given so much to me and my family. This is our home and I have been proud to raise my family here as we set down roots and invest in our neighbors. For the past 20 years, I have been an advocate for improving our cities as both an employer and volunteer.

You have seen that I can be trusted to deliver on what you and your family need and I intend to take that same commonsense approach to the halls of Congress. My opponent doesn’t live in the district, yet he thinks he understands the needs of our community. It’s easy to say the right things in front of a crowd, but he has been slow to make any real changes for families who, as a result, are now facing some of the highest costs and most extreme shortages in recent memory.

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?

Lower the cost of living by reining in the reckless spending that has led to record inflation.Lower gas prices by promoting domestic energy production.Empower parents and local schools to make the best decisions for children.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

California families are struggling. Prices at the gas pump have skyrocketed in most parts of our community from just six months ago. People are paying hundreds more at the grocery store than what they were paying a few months previously. Housing is unaffordable and increasingly difficult to find.

If you’re anything like me, you’re exhausted from facing crisis after crisis and enduring emotional upheaval nearly every day. It seems like it has been a year and a half of continuous struggle and tumult, but I believe there is a brighter future. That’s why I’m running for Congress.

The prices of gasoline and groceries are skyrocketing and our representatives are tweeting about the issues instead of making changes. Crime has been riddling the streets of nearly every neighborhood in California and the ruling class continues to deflect from the reality that their soft-on-crime policies are to blame for making our streets less safe. The homelessness crisis has increased to a level that cannot be ignored, yet our county is one of the few actively making a difference for those suffering from chronic homelessness. We are tired of being overlooked and having leaders that refuse to make a difference.

Times are hard, but they won’t always be. I am excited for the opportunity to represent this district the way that it deserves. From one proud Californian to another, it’s time to take the fight for families, workers and Americans to Congress. Stand with me and let’s fight to win.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Tom is a 5-time State and Golden Gloves boxing champion. He briefly considered a professional boxing career in 1986 and spent time in New York training with the legendary Cus D’Amato. He returned to California in 2001 and along with his father built Delta Cranes into the preeminent crane company in the San Joaquin Valley.

As a single father of 7-year old Presley, Tom Patti is dedicated to improving the safety and opportunity in our community.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Tom Patti was overwhelmingly elected to the County Board of Supervisors, District 3, in 2016. Supervisor Patti recognizes the challenges facing San Joaquin County, and the need for transformative leadership to change the trajectory of our community. To achieve this, he will focus on education, economic development, public safety — and tackling the connected issues of mental health, homelessness and caring for veterans.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

In Congress, I will proudly work across the aisle, as I have on the Board of Supervisors, to ensure that our community is accounted for and receives the aid we so desperately need. I understand how inaction can deeply affect our daily lives, so I will strive every day to keep the fight of San Joaquin County and District 9 residents at the forefront of every decision, just like I do in my current role.

Tom Patti did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.