Peter Allen (California)

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Peter Allen

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Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 6, 2018

Peter Allen ran for election to the San Jose Unified School District school board to represent Trustee Area 2 in California. Allen lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.

Allen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.

Allen was a candidate for the nonpartisan District 6 seat on the San Jose City Council in California. He was defeated in the primary election on June 7, 2016.

Elections

2018

See also: San Jose Unified School District elections (2018)

General election

General election for San Jose Unified School District school board Trustee Area 2

José Magaña defeated Helen Chapman, Peter Allen, and Roumen Boyadjiev in the general election for San Jose Unified School District school board Trustee Area 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		José Magaña (Nonpartisan)	42.9	7,314
		Helen Chapman (Nonpartisan)	39.9	6,803
	Submit photo	Peter Allen (Nonpartisan)	12.7	2,167
	Submit photo	Roumen Boyadjiev (Nonpartisan)	4.4	752

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,036
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

The following candidates ran in the primary election for San Jose City Council District 6.

San Jose City Council District 6, Primary Election, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Devora Davis	20.54%	4,801
Helen Chapman	20.18%	4,715
Norm Kline	16.47%	3,850
Ruben Navarro	9.90%	2,314
Peter Allen	9.59%	2,241
Erik Fong	8.93%	2,086
Chris Roth	7.94%	1,855
Myron Von Raesfeld	6.45%	1,507
Total Votes (100% reporting)		23,369
Source: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, "Unofficial Semifinal Results," accessed June 27, 2016

Campaign themes

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Peter Allen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Allen's responses.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Supports for Students, Families, and Educators – I would explore any and all opportunities to develop housing for teachers, school employees, and low-income families on underutilized district lands or partner with surrounding districts and agencies to do so. We have a moral obligation to make San José more affordable for working people. Equity – The San José Unified Board of Education passed a landmark Equity Policy in 2010. I believe it's time for a robust public conversation about how this policy can be updated and improved to support everyone in our district, particularly LGBTQ students and staff. Communication – San José Unified has amazing stories to tell and a community of ideas waiting to be tapped. We need to open the lines of communication and build a more unified community of students, families, employees, and neighbors. If elected, I would propose a districtwide grassroots marketing and mobilization campaign, with tools and messaging specific to each school.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about all areas of public policy. With regards to this role, I have a passion for creating equity in our classrooms, supporting the social-emotional wellbeing of our students and staff, and improving communication at all levels. I would seek to develop policies that promote these priorities. As Chair of the San José Planning Commission, I also have a deep interest in land use policy, which I believe will suit me well as the district explores options for leveraging land to provide affordable housing options for employees who are being priced out of the region by the high cost of living.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to both of my parents for different reasons: my father for his selflessness, sometimes to his own detriment; and my mother for her tenacity and commitment to service as a public school teacher.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Dreams of my Father by Barack Obama The Autobiography of Malcolm X The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty Integrity Fidelity

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have organizational leadership experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and experience inside San José Unified as a student, a former employee, and the son of a teacher.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Allocating a $330M annual operating budget Managing contracts with 6 employee bargaining units Guiding staff to achieve the goals of the district's Strategic Plan

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to create laboratories of innovation in our public schools so that one day, the conversation will not be about charter vs. traditional but which school provides the programs your students want and deserve.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

• San Jose Unified School District, California
• San Jose Unified School District elections (2018)
• San Jose, California
• Municipal elections in San Jose, California (2016)
• United States municipal elections, 2016

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• San Jose Unified School District
• San Jose, California