On Sunday, August 23, Muslim Community Center East Bay (MCC) partnered with the Council on American-Islamic Relations – San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) to host a nonpartisan candidate forum featuring candidates running for local office in Dublin and Pleasanton.

The forum provided an opportunity for community members to hear directly from candidates seeking to represent them and learn more about the issues that matter to local families.

Local elections can have a significant impact on our everyday lives. Decisions made by mayors and city councilmembers influence areas such as transportation, housing, public services, community safety, and local government priorities.

With this in mind, the forum focused on helping community members become more informed about the candidates and their positions before heading to the polls.

Candidates were invited to address a range of issues, including local governance and public services, as well as issues particularly important to the Muslim community, such as combating anti-Muslim hate, protecting Muslim American children from bullying and discrimination, immigration, freedom of speech, and the ongoing situation in Palestine and Gaza.