Currently in his third term on the City Council, Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb has earned his reputation as a hard-working, committed public servant and legislative policy advocate.
Dan has worked as a policy director; environmental, public interest, and social justice advocate; progressive reformer and faithful community service volunteer. In his more than ten years on the Oakland City Council, Dan has proven what can be accomplished as a proactive and effective elected leader.
Dan is a three-term City Councilmember who has led legislative and budget efforts to address the real challenges we face head-on.
From 2003-2012, Dan was the full-time California Policy Director with the Union of Concerned Scientists. In that capacity, Dan led legislative efforts on climate change, renewable energy, air quality, green jobs, and clean transportation issues.
Previously, Dan was a Chapter Director of the Sierra Club, where he worked to protect open spaces, fight for environmental health and justice, and protect our precious San Francisco Bay.
As a past staff member for California Common Cause, Dan fought to reform our campaign finance laws and enhance transparency in local and state government. He continues to be a strong supporter of 'clean money' elections and stronger consumer protections.
Dan worked for over five years at a Bay Area community college as a campus staff administrator, helping students and faculty troubleshoot issues that arose on campus. Dan knows that our community colleges in the East Bay are a critical part of our public education system.
With a deep background in social and environmental justice, Dan is committed to promoting data-driven solutions to the toughest problems facing our communities, including resolving housing affordability and homelessness crisis, enhancing wildfire prevention and disaster resiliency, acting statewide to combat climate change, investing in public safety, promote walkable communities and setting the table for our youth.
Dan has been active in interfaith coalitions and used to serve on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council for several years.
Dan received a Baccalaureate of Science degree in Conservation of Natural Resources from U.C. Berkeley and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. He also has ten years’ experience as a community mediator resolving neighborhood disputes.
Dan is committed to serving the public with dedication and integrity — something he learned from his father, Marcus. Dan's mother Charlotte Levine lived in Oakland and San Pablo until passing away in 2015. Dan and his wife Valarie, a State deputy public defender, enjoy hiking in our beautiful East Bay Regional Parks in their free time.
