Bien Doan
Candidate for City Council Member, San Jose, District 7 · Council Member, City of San Jose District 7
Bien Doan came to Porterville, California from Vietnam in 1975. He later moved to the Bay Area. While homeless, he worked two jobs to save up money. He spent 27 years as a firefighter. He spent 21 of those years with the San Jose Fire Department. He rose from rookie to engineer to fire captain, a rank he held for 11 years. He was the first Vietnamese fire captain in the department's history. He co-founded and leads a group for Vietnamese American city workers. He has lived in his district with his family for over 40 years. He won a council seat in 2022, defeating the incumbent.
Positions in brief
Doan wants low-cost ways to fix homelessness, with real checks on how money is spent. He also wants safer streets, lower living costs, and fixed-up parks.
On homelessness, Doan has pushed low-cost shelter fixes and dealt with problem RVs. He says the city let $300 million in homeless funds go untracked, and wants that fixed. He also backs renter rules and low mobile-home costs. On safety, he has focused on faster response times. He has union backing from police and firefighters. On living costs, he says cutting everyday costs for families is a top goal. On parks, he points to fixing up the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Vietnamese Heritage Garden, and the Tully ballfields.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Has pushed cost-effective shelter solutions, addressed problem RVs, and demanded accountability for untracked city homelessness spending, while backing renter protections and affordable mobile-home costs.
“Families should be able to afford the homes they love.”
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Focuses on improving public safety and has earned endorsements from police and firefighter labor groups.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Says lowering the cost of living for residents is a top focus.
Source → - Infrastructure & Transportation
Restored the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Vietnamese Heritage Garden, and the Tully Ballfields.
Source →
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