Pleasanton Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Julie Testa
Candidate for Mayor
Julie Testa is running for mayor of Pleasanton in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Jack Balch.
Vote-by-mail ballots start going out · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayPleasanton City Councilmember since 2018, elected at-large and then for District 3 in 2022; twice vice mayor. Earlier served more than 10 years on the city's Human Services Commission.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Pleasanton City Councilmember
- Campaign website
- julietesta.com
Where Julie Testa stands: positions on the record
Sales tax2 sourced positions
Voted yes on placing Measure PP, a half-cent sales tax increase, on the November 2024 ballot (passed 4-1, July 2024).
Council voteCity Council minutes, July 16, 2024 · Jul 16, 2024
Said she supported the 2024 half-cent sales tax measure, though she describes herself as mostly anti-taxes.
Own statementPleasanton Weekly · Aug 10, 2026
Hotel tax1 sourced position
Seconded a motion for a single 12% hotel tax rate starting in 2027, then voted no on the phased 10%-then-12% approach (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
Pensions1 sourced position
Seconded a motion to drop the pension obligation bonds section from the pension funding policy, then voted no on adopting the policy as recommended (passed 3-2, March 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, March 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
Development1 sourced position
Voted for raising the Arroyo Lago developer's El Charro Road contribution from $3 million to $8 million (failed 2-3), then no on the agreement at $3 million (passed 3-2, July 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, July 27, 2026 · Jul 27, 2026
Budget2 sourced positions
Voted no on the revised 2025-27 budget development plan that added two workshops and an independent audit of city finances (passed 4-1, January 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Jan. 9, 2025 · Jan 9, 2025
Voted no on a $249,982 contract with Citygate Associates for a citywide organizational assessment (passed 4-1, November 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Nov. 4, 2025 · Nov 4, 2025
Housing2 sourced positions
As reported by the Pleasanton Weekly; not a direct quote
Has questioned state housing mandates and supports local control, as reported by the Pleasanton Weekly.
Own statementPleasanton Weekly · Aug 10, 2026
Says Pleasanton must meet its housing responsibilities while protecting the existing community.
“We need to meet our responsibilities while protecting the community we have spent generations building.”
Own statementJulie Testa campaign site
Campaign money1 sourced position
As reported by the Pleasanton Weekly; not a direct quote
Says she will not accept donations or endorsements from special interest groups.
Own statementPleasanton Weekly · Aug 10, 2026
Also running for Mayor
- Jack Balch (incumbent)
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