San José City Council District 7 · Nov 3, 2026
Bien Doan
Candidate for City Council District 7 (incumbent)
Bien Doan, the incumbent, is running for San José City Council District 7 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Van Le.
Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing (week of) · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayElected District 7 councilmember in 2022; spent 21 years with the San José Fire Department, where he rose to fire captain, and co-founded the Vietnamese American City Employees group.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Council Member, City of San Jose District 7
- Endorsed by
- Mayor Matt Mahan, Rep. Sam Liccardo, Rep. Ro Khanna, District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Vice Mayor Pam Foley, San José Firefighters Local 230, the South Bay Labor Council and Silicon Valley Business PAC, among others Bien Doan campaign site
- Campaign website
- www.biendoan.com
Where Bien Doan stands: positions on the record
Homelessness4 sourced positions
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Supported the mayor's Responsibility to Shelter policy.
“I supported the Mayor’s policy because we need a balanced approach that combines compassion with accountability.”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Wants to move people off the streets quickly into interim housing built from pre-engineered modular buildings, and says the county must meet its service obligations.
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Voted no on putting up to 90% of Measure E transfer-tax revenue toward homeless shelters and interim housing (passed 8-3, June 2025).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Jun 10, 2025
Voted yes on approving the city's Code of Conduct for Encampments item (passed 9-2, June 2025).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Jun 10, 2025
Housing4 sourced positions
As reported by The Mercury News; not a direct quote
The only candidate explicitly opposed to upzoning single-family neighborhoods; supports density increases decided case by case.
Own statementThe Mercury News · Sep 30, 2026
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Wants the General Plan to keep as much local control over planning as possible.
“It is also critical that San José maintains local control over planning decisions.”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Voted no on directing General Plan changes, including study of raising single-family-area density to 16, 24 or 32 homes per acre (passed 8-3, Aug. 2026).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Aug 18, 2026
Voted yes to support state legislation restoring local control over housing and land use (passed 9-2, Sept. 2026).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Sep 22, 2026
Data centers1 sourced position
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Says data centers should be evaluated case by case and must fit the General Plan and zoning.
“Data centers should be evaluated carefully on a case-by-case basis.”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Public safety1 sourced position
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Supports the city's use of Flock license plate cameras with safeguards on data.
“I support the use of Flock license plate reader technology because it is a proven tool for improving public safety and solving crimes.”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Cost of living1 sourced position
Voted no on raising residential garbage and recycling rates 7% for single-family and 4% for multifamily homes (passed 8-3, June 2026).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Jun 2, 2026
Record1 sourced position
As reported by San José Spotlight from Santa Clara County Superior Court records
Convicted of two misdemeanor theft offenses (Santa Clara County Superior Court, mid-1980s).
Own statementSan José Spotlight · Sep 22, 2026
What Bien Doan said vs. how Bien Doan voted
Homelessness
In their words
Wants to move people off the streets quickly into interim housing built from pre-engineered modular buildings, and says the county must meet its service obligations.
May 29, 2026 ·Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire ·Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
On the record
Voted no on putting up to 90% of Measure E transfer-tax revenue toward homeless shelters and interim housing (passed 8-3, June 2025).
Jun 10, 2025 ·San José City Council minutes · Jun 10, 2025
Voted yes on approving the city's Code of Conduct for Encampments item (passed 9-2, June 2025).
Jun 10, 2025 ·San José City Council minutes · Jun 10, 2025
State housing laws
In their words
Wants the General Plan to keep as much local control over planning as possible.
May 29, 2026 ·Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire ·Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
On the record
Voted yes to support state legislation restoring local control over housing and land use (passed 9-2, Sept. 2026).
Sep 22, 2026 ·San José City Council minutes · Sep 22, 2026
Also running for City Council District 7
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