Dan Kalb

In 1982, Kalb received an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley in Conservation of Natural Resources--the same undergraduate major from which State Senate Nancy Skinner graduated. In 1988 he received a master's degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco.^[5]

Kalb was California Policy Director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, which he joined in 2003.^[6][5] where he worked for nine years on renewable energy, climate, clean transportation and air quality legislation. Before joining UCS, he worked as Director of a Sierra Club chapter and for California Common Cause, Media Alliance and CalPIRG.^[7]

After being elected to the Oakland City Council in Nov. 2012, he worked extensively on affordable housing, environmental, police oversight and good government legislation. in 2014 Kalb led^[8][9][10] a charter proposal to substantially strengthen the Oakland Public Ethics Commission (PEC). The Charter measure was voted on in the general election of November 2014. It passed with over 72% of the vote. He also was the lead author of a 2016 ballot measure to create a civilian police commission in Oakland.^[11]

In 2018, he ran for California's 15th State Assembly district but lost to Richmond City Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles by 0.6% for the second slot to run in the runoff against Buffy Wicks.^[12]

In 2024, he ran for California's 7th State Senate district, but lost again to Jovanka Beckles for the second slot to run in the runoff against Jesse Arreguin.^[13]

• Best Good Government Politician, 2014, East Bay Express^[14]

• Outstanding Elected Official of the Year, 2015, CA Public Library Advocates

• Most Effective Member of the (City) Council, 2016, Oakland Magazine

• Affordable Housing Champion, 2020, East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO)