Dave Johnson
Candidate for City Council Member, San Mateo, District 5 · Pastor / Coach
Dave Johnson is a lifelong San Mateo native who attended Meadow Heights Elementary, Abbott Middle School, and Hillsdale High School before earning his education at the College of San Mateo. From 2000 to 2008 he worked as a paramedic in San Mateo County alongside police and fire departments. In 2010 he co-founded Hope Church of San Mateo, and he later worked as rescue mission manager for CityTeam International in downtown Oakland, overseeing a homeless shelter serving 40 to 50 people nightly, managing kitchen operations producing about 6,000 meals a month, and teaching in a 12-month residential drug and alcohol recovery program. He currently serves as senior pastor at FBC San Carlos, which merged with Hope Church in 2015, and has spent over 30 years in community service, including youth ministry, mentoring, and coaching football, baseball, and golf at local high schools; he is currently boys' head golf coach and girls' assistant golf coach at Hillsdale High School.
Positions in brief
Johnson's platform calls for balanced housing growth, stronger investment in police, fire, and emergency services, fiscal transparency, and support for local small businesses.
On housing, Johnson supports a balanced approach that creates opportunities while protecting neighborhood character through thoughtful, community-driven planning. On public safety, he backs continued investment in police, fire, and emergency services along with community partnerships. On the budget, he wants to identify waste, prioritize core services, and bring greater transparency to how tax dollars are managed. On the economy, he supports cutting unnecessary barriers for local businesses and attracting investment so entrepreneurs can thrive. On infrastructure, he calls for proactive investment in roads, utilities, and public facilities. On government, he wants City Hall to be open, honest, and responsive to residents.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Supports a balanced housing approach that creates more opportunities while protecting neighborhood character through community-driven planning.
“A balanced housing approach that creates more opportunities while protecting the character and quality of life”
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports continued investment in police, fire, and emergency services and fostering community partnerships for safety.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Wants to address budget deficits by identifying waste, prioritizing core services, and increasing transparency in how tax dollars are managed.
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Supports cutting unnecessary barriers for local businesses and attracting investment so entrepreneurs and small businesses can thrive.
Source → - Infrastructure & Transportation
Supports proactive investment in roads, utilities, and public facilities while planning responsibly for future growth.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Wants City Hall to be open, honest, and willing to listen to all residents.
“City Hall should feel like a neighborhood. Open, honest, and willing to listen to all.”
Source →
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