Mountain View City Council · Nov 3, 2026

Paul Donahue

Candidate for City Council

8 candidates · 3 seats14 sourced positions

Paul Donahue is running for Mountain View City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 8 candidates are running for 3 seats.

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Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing (week of) · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Hardware engineer. Vice chair of the city’s Environmental Planning Commission; previously served on the Library Board, the Downtown Committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Occupation (from candidate statement): Engineer
Endorsed by: State Sen. Josh Becker, Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, ten former Mountain View mayors including John McAlister, and Mountain View Professional Firefighters Local 1965. Campaign website (accessed Oct 2, 2026)
Campaign website: www.electpauldonahue.com

Where Paul Donahue stands: positions on the record

Housing4 sourced positions

Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Opposes SB 79, the state law meant to increase housing density near major transit stops.
“I support a local alternative plan to shift some development to where it makes sense for MV.”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Opposes increasing housing density in parts of the city made up largely of single-family homes.
“State law allows 4 units per single-family parcel and I wouldn’t go beyond that.”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Favors the city's rent control ordinance.
“I would preserve CSFRA and MHRSO.”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
As reported by the Mountain View Voice; quote is verbatim, summary is not
Opposes SB 79 as a blanket approach and wants a local alternative plan focused on downtown and Monta Loma.
“I don’t have any particular idea in mind about specifically where the density should be”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate profile · Sep 29, 2026

Vehicle residents2 sourced positions

Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Favors further restricting oversized vehicles from parking on city streets.
“I want to protect vulnerable residents with a vanlording ban. I might consider other targeted restrictions, but not a blanket RV ban.”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
As reported by the Mountain View Voice; quote is verbatim, summary is not
Supports further restricting oversized vehicles but not an outright ban; interested in prohibiting vanlording, the renting out of street-parked RVs.
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate profile · Sep 29, 2026

Budget and taxes4 sourced positions

Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Opposes raising the city's business tax on major tech companies to generate more revenue.
“The current tax rate is sufficient.”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Favors Measure F, which would increase the city's hotel tax.
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Favors the city asking voters to approve a general obligation bond to fund city initiatives.
“I support a bond for increased parkland in underserved neighborhoods and for critical infrastructure.”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
As reported by the Mountain View Voice; quote is verbatim, summary is not
Does not favor raising fees or layoffs; prefers looking for efficiencies and trimming underutilized programs. Would back a bond for parks in underserved neighborhoods.
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate profile · Sep 29, 2026

Downtown2 sourced positions

Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Opposes paid street parking in downtown Mountain View.
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026
As reported by the Mountain View Voice; quote is verbatim, summary is not
Does not back a storefront vacancy tax; favors streamlined permitting for small businesses.
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate profile · Sep 29, 2026

Streets1 sourced position

Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Favors the California Street changes, including fewer driving lanes and protected bike lanes.
“Safe routes to schools are important, but we definitely need changes to the current pilot project situation.”
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026

Public safety1 sourced position

Answer to the Mountain View Voice candidate questionnaire
Opposes reintroducing automatic license plate readers in Mountain View.
Own statementMountain View Voice candidate questionnaire, published Sep 17, 2026 (table data) · Sep 17, 2026

Also running for City Council

All 8 Mountain View candidates →

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