Candidate for
Council Member; City of El Cerrito

My name is: Mark Friedman

My age is:

My occupation is: Children's Services Director

Education and Qualifications:

Mark Friedman directs First 5 Alameda County serving thousands of young children.

As CEO of First 5 Alameda County, I help improve children's lives with quality child care, health care, and child abuse prevention. My leadership skills and passion for public service have led to my appointment to the State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care, serving as President of the First 5 Association of California, and serving on the board of Youth Employment Partnership. I've received several awards including the Champion for Children award from the YMCA of the East Bay and honors from the Northern California Grantmakers for "comprehensive, effective and inspirational work" for young children.

I served on the El Cerrito City Council from 1997 through 2004 including two terms as Mayor. While on the council, I was instrumental in improving El Cerrito by listening to citizens and working to create a new city hall, a first-rate swim center, improved streets and lighting, and a strong commitment to public safety, the environment, schools, and parks.

I'm adept at balancing budgets and wisely allocating scarce public resources. The annual budget of First 5 Alameda County is $24 million. I have extensive experience with public finance and am the former chair of the Alliance for Responsible Public Investment. I am also one of the two co-founders of Community Bank of the Bay, California's first bank dedicated to community development in underserved communities.

My priorities are to responsibly shepherd El Cerrito through lean budget years, open a new library, and increase our city's commitment to sustainable development. I am endorsed by Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, El Cerrito Mayor Bill Jones, Council members Janet Abelson and Rebecca Benassini, former school board member Glen Price, and many El Cerrito citizens.