Meet Scott Sakakihara.

Scott’s school photo from Pioneer Elementary School in Union City

Born, Raised, and Dedicated to the Bay Area

Scott grew up in Union City and attended local public schools. He met his wife, Melinda in elementary school when they were both six years old. Growing up, he loved how the Bay Area was a place with so many opportunities for kids and families from every background.

Scott with President Obama during Scott’s service at the White House

Getting an Education at Harvard Law and in the Obama White House

After graduating from UC San Diego in two years, Scott attended Harvard Law, where he was the political chair of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and a member of the Harvard Journal on Legislation.

He graduated with honors, then earned internships and fellowships in the offices of Congressmembers Pete Stark and Mazie Hirono–and ultimately had the chance to serve and learn in the Obama White House. There, he researched the positions and priorities of critical political players while the administration was working to pass the Affordable Care Act.

Scott is a proud US Navy Reserve officer, who spent eight months deployed in the Middle East.

Serving in an Intelligence Role With the US Navy Reserve

Scott led an intelligence team supporting special operations for eight months in the Middle East in 2021.

He has also managed multiple departments in a naval warfare analysis unit. In the Navy, Scott and his fellow officers live by a commitment to leave nobody behind. He believes we could do well as a society to live by these same words.

An Experienced Vice Mayor and Regional Housing Leader

Scott served on the Union City Planning Commission, where he fought to build more affordable housing. He ran for Union City Council to help make sure the city that raised him provides the same opportunities for future generations. He finds it incredibly rewarding to be able to solve problems that make his neighbors’ lives better.

As a Union City Councilmember and former Vice Mayor, Scott has led:

• Fighting to house everyone: Scott helped streamline regulations to make it easier to build multi-family and affordable homes, helped secure federal and state funding for housing and homeless services, and worked to obtain financial assistance for renters.

  He helped convene a homelessness task force, push forward two 100% affordable housing developments, and adopt Union City’s 8-year housing plan early–because we can’t afford to wait. Scott also serves as Vice Chair on the board of the Housing Authority of Alameda County, where he works on regional housing solutions.

• Delivering real public safety: Scott helped hire both more cops and more community service workers, protected public safety funding, and fought for community-oriented policing to ensure a balanced public safety approach.

  In Union City, crime has declined dramatically during Scott’s tenure, while at the same time police use of force has remained very low. Scott also sits on the Alameda County Fire Department Advisory Commission, has helped increase funding for his fire department, and prioritized providing local residents with emergency response training.

• Protecting workers and small businesses: Scott championed fair labor and local hiring standards, secured funding to support small businesses facing pandemic hardships, and helped streamline regulations to make it easier to open small businesses.  

• Making a local difference on climate: Scott led efforts to prioritize and update his city’s climate action plan, helped expand their electric bus fleet, increased resources for solar energy, recycling, and composting, and secured funding for public transit and bike lanes. Scott sits on the Ava Board (formerly East Bay Community Energy), where he works to deliver 96% carbon-free energy, and expand solar battery and electric car charger incentives.

• Standing up for our diverse communities: Scott fought for funding for community organizations that support immigrant communities, working families, and at-risk youth.

Scott also serves as an elected member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, with the Lions Club of Union City, and on a statewide League of California Cities policy committee. He is a proud member of the Japanese American Citizens League.

A Local Expert in Finance and Technology

Scott spent nearly a decade as the chief of staff of the finance department for a major Silicon Valley tech company. He helped manage a $1.8 billion budget and a team of more than 100 staff. He has a deep understanding of the strengths of tech, as well as its limits and its need for regulation and strong oversight.