Rohan Marfatia
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Rohan Marfatia ran for election for Mayor of Fremont in California. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Marfatia completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Rohan Marfatia earned a bachelor's degree from Sardar Patel University in 2004 and a graduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2015. His career experience includes working as a business executive.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Mayoral election in Fremont, California (2024)
General election
Endorsements
Marfatia received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Marfatia's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.
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Pravesh Kumar
(Nonpartisan) - Candidate for Fremont City Council
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rohan Marfatia completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Marfatia's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Rohan Marfatia is a proud father of boy-girl twins, husband and a business executive.
He has an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor’s in Electronics & Communications Engineering. He is not a career politician but stepping-up to bring fresh ideas and integrity to City Hall.
As a community advocate, he has been actively involved in improving Fremont, from campaigning for new children's play areas during COVID to serving on school PTA as VP.
His professional experience includes smart city projects with major tech companies, providing him with valuable insights into government operations and leveraging technology to enhance urban living. He has worked with economic development teams across multiple states in US, negotiating incentives and selecting locations for new tech centers to create hundreds of jobs and to attract investments. He has also participated in city ambassador programs to drive regional prosperity and innovation.
His global experience provides him with a unique perspective on balancing local priorities with global competitiveness. He has initiated programs to help American graduates transition from non-tech jobs into tech careers, demonstrating his commitment to workforce development.
His unique blend of community involvement, tech industry expertise, and economic development know-how positions him to Elevate Fremont into a prosperous future. His vision: Together, let's build a thriving, safe, inclusive Fremont for ALL. - Economic development: Boost local economy, attract investments and revitalize downtown.
- Public Safety: Empower police, ensure public safety for everyone and address homelessness through Data driven solutions. What you can measure, you can manage. Our HMIS is inadequate. Will implement innovative solutions like inculcating a sense of purpose in unhoused community by giving opportunities to earn minimum wage by working with the city and educate other unhoused. 67% unhoused are unaware of available services per reports like the Benioff homeless and housing initiative statewide study and Home Together 2026 plan.
- Clean, corruption free governance: During current mayoral & council members' term former Fremont city manager committed fraud, went to prison, retaliated against police captain Bobbitt who committed suicide and there was a lawsuit. I'll bring fresh perspectives starting with transparency/good governance.
These are the areas of public policy I am personally passionate about:
- Clean, Transparent and Corruption-Free Governance.
- Public Safety.
- Addressing Homelessness.
- Economic Development & Job creation.
- Smart City initiatives, Modernize Infrastructure and Traffic Solutions.
- Downtown Revitalization.
- Education, workforce development and Youth Support.
- Environmental Protection, Sustainable Development, community spaces and recreation.
While no single work fully encapsulates my philosophy, I'd recommend "The Smart Enough City" by Ben Green. It explores how technology can be leveraged to improve urban life while emphasizing the importance of human-centered governance. This aligns with my vision of using data-driven solutions and smart city initiatives to address Fremont's challenges while prioritizing the needs of our residents.
Integrity, transparency, and accountability are paramount. An elected official must also possess:
Vision and leadership to guide the city towards progress.
Empathy and inclusivity to represent all constituents.
Fiscal responsibility to manage public resources wisely.
Adaptability to navigate changing circumstances.
Collaborative spirit to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Data-driven decision-making skills.
Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
Ability to ask the right questions, question the status quo, communicate, collaborate and ability to get the results residents want from their leadership.
Key qualities I possess include:
Integrity and commitment to ethical leadership.
Strong problem-solving skills honed in the tech industry.
Ability to listen and ask the right questions and build consensus among diverse groups.
Data-driven decision-making approach.
Passion for community service and civic engagement.
Global perspective combined with local understanding.
Innovative thinking to address complex urban challenges.
Economic and business development experience.
Ability to drive results with scale and impact.
These are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office:
Ensuring clean, corruption-free governance.
Prioritizing public safety and empowering law enforcement.
Driving economic development and job creation.
Addressing critical issues like homelessness and infrastructure.
Representing the city's interests at county, state, and federal levels.
Fostering community engagement and inclusivity.
Managing the city's resources efficiently.
Planning for long-term sustainability and growth.
I aim to leave a legacy of a more prosperous, inclusive, and technologically advanced Fremont. I want to be remembered as a mayor who modernized city operations, attracted sustainable economic growth, solved long-standing issues like traffic and homelessness, and fostered a strong sense of community. Most importantly, I hope to inspire more residents, especially youth, to actively participate in civic life and contribute to their community's betterment.
Being a leader means:
Setting a clear vision for the city's future.
Making tough decisions in the best interest of all residents.
Building consensus among diverse groups.
Being accessible and responsive to citizens' concerns.
Leading by example in integrity and work ethic.
Inspiring and empowering city employees and residents.
Representing the city positively on regional and national stages.
Balancing short-term needs with long-term planning.
The mayor's top priorities should be:
Setting the strategic direction for the city.
Building consensus within the council to advance key initiatives.
Being the primary liaison between the council and city manager.
Representing the city in regional and state affairs.
Engaging with the community to understand and address concerns.
Ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
Advocating for policies that align with the city's long-term vision.
What I love most about Fremont is:
Our diverse, vibrant community.
The spirit of innovation, driven by our tech industry presence.
Our beautiful parks and open spaces.
The strong sense of community involvement.
Our excellent schools and commitment to education.
The balance of urban amenities with suburban quality of life.
Our rich history and cultural heritage.
Fremont's greatest challenges include:
Managing growth while maintaining quality of life.
Addressing housing affordability and homelessness.
Modernizing infrastructure and solving traffic issues.
Ensuring public safety as the city grows.
Attracting and retaining businesses for economic stability.
Adapting to climate change and environmental concerns.
Maintaining excellent schools with potential budget constraints.
Revitalizing our downtown to create a vibrant city center.
The ideal relationship should be:
Collaborative, with open lines of communication.
Respectful of local autonomy while aligning with state goals.
Focused on leveraging state resources for local benefit.
Proactive in advocating for Fremont's interests in state policy.
Cooperative in implementing state mandates effectively.
Transparent in sharing data and best practices.
Supportive of regional approaches to shared challenges.
The ideal relationship should involve:
Effectively competing for federal grants and resources.
Compliance with federal regulations while maintaining local priorities.
Advocacy for Fremont's interests in federal policy decisions.
Collaboration on issues of national importance (e.g., climate change).
Utilization of federal programs to support local initiatives.
Regular communication with federal representatives.
The ideal relationship should be:
Supportive yet maintaining appropriate oversight.
Regular communication to understand needs and challenges.
Collaborative in developing community-oriented policing strategies.
Ensuring adequate resources for effective law enforcement.
Promoting transparency and accountability in police operations.
Fostering positive community-police relations.
Balancing public safety with respect for civil liberties.
This campaign has been endorsed by the following organizations and individuals:
Michelle Wu, Former mayor Los Altos Hills
Pravesh Kumar, Candidate, Fremont City council District 1.
California Science and Technology University, Dr. Glen Qin - President at CSTU
Coach Lee Webb, who has been instrumental in developing more than 500 All-Americans and numerous Olympians, improving the lives of students throughout the Bay Area through track and field
I believe financial transparency and government accountability are fundamental to good governance. I support:
Regular, detailed financial reporting accessible to all citizens.
Open budget processes with community input.
Independent audits and oversight committees.
Clear performance metrics for government departments.
Ethical guidelines and conflict of interest policies.
Whistleblower protections.
Open data initiatives to allow public scrutiny of government operations.
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
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024
