Friday, August 7, marked the end of the regular filing period for candidates seeking an Emeryville City Council or School Board seat.
With both City Council incumbents filing for a second term, the Council race is now set. For the Emery Unified School Board, however, the filing period will be extended five days until August 12 because incumbents Susan Donaldson and Brynnda Collins did not file for reelection.
Four City Council Candidates Seek Two Seats
Incumbents David Mourra and Kalimah Priforce have both filed to seek second terms on the Emeryville City Council. They are joined by two challengers competing for the two available four-year seats. The top two vote-getters will join Courtney Welch, Sukhdeep Kaur, and Matthew Solomon on the five-member council. The council serves as the city’s legislative body, setting policy, adopting the annual budget, approving local laws, and making key decisions on land use, housing, transportation, public safety, and infrastructure. Councilmembers also appoint the City Manager and City Attorney, serve on regional boards and commissions, and represent Emeryville’s interests on issues affecting the broader East Bay.
The election is especially significant as whoever is elected will help oversee the city’s response to ongoing fiscal challenges, the proposed Sutter Health medical campus, and other significant housing and development issues.
The following candidate statements were submitted by the candidates and are presented as provided. Any assertions are theirs and have not been fact-checked by our publication.
Corry Frydlewicz (Challenger)
Occupation: Web Developer, Project Manager
I’m your neighbor, a regular working dog mom you’d see walking all over our beloved town and at community events like coastal cleanups. When ICE started terrorizing our cities after the 2024 election, I was afraid. Instead of running away, I decided to find ways a laid-off technical manager could use her skills to protect our sanctuary city. In 2023, our city council approved Flock cameras spying on us 24/7 in several high-density areas. ICE uses data Flock gathers about when we’re not home, where we commute, shop, and drop our kids off at school. All of us, not just criminals. Flock sells that data, stores it insecurely, and coaches local police to sell this grift to cities like ours. We need a councilwoman who asks the right questions and sees through big tech’s lies. We need an organized manager to keep important projects on track. Because more housing equals lower rents. Shorter delays keep roads safe and open. I believe we need to get big money out of politics, so I’m running a truly grassroots DIY campaign supported entirely by volunteers, free from annoying ads and drama. Let’s get things done instead. corry4emeryville.com
Kalimah Atreyu Priforce (Incumbent)
Occupation: Educator, Public Advocate
As a foster care kid from Brooklyn, I fought bullies. I did not back down, and neither should you. I remain the people’s councilmember, your public advocate. Whenever you felt unsafe, ignored, or pushed aside, you came to me. I listened, prayed or meditated, asked uncomfortable questions of those in power, and acted. The Obama White House named me a Champion of Change for my work as a tech innovator, entrepreneur, and educator. As a democratic socialist, I believe City Hall should put working people before corporate power. Since you elected me, I’ve made it harder for City Hall to ignore you, and my proposals are moving Emeryville towards fiscal accountability. I fight for renters, homeowners, mom-and-pop businesses, artists, and ethical governance that stops backroom deals. Life should mean thriving, not living paycheck to paycheck. Rent is too damn high. I pushed for a vacancy tax so empty buildings contribute to Emeryville’s future. I can be long-winded and theatrical, but I refuse to let City Hall hide what affects you. When there is no seat at the table, I bring my own chair. This seat is the people’s seat. The fight is in me. Fight with me.
David Mourra (Incumbent)
Occupation: Emeryville City Councilmember/Engineer
I have lived in Emeryville for 18 years and am proud to raise my family here. I’ve served on Emeryville City Council since 2022 including as the Mayor of Emeryville last year. During my time on council, my focus has been on public safety and ensuring we have clean and well-maintained streets, sidewalks and public spaces.
Beyond these core priorities, I have worked to make Emeryville more livable and sustainable. I expanded bike and pedestrian infrastructure, improved our parks, and introduced citywide environmental initiatives, including electrifying our municipal vehicle fleet. I support smart economic growth through new housing and attracting businesses that strengthen our community and local economy.
As Mayor, I stood up for our values by partnering with the Governor’s office, local elected officials and mayors to protect our community from ICE. Prior to serving on City Council, I gained experience on Emeryville’s Planning Commission and through my professional background as an engineer and project manager in the biotech industry.
My public service is grounded in a love for this city and seeing our government work well for the people it serves. We’ve made a lot of progress as a city, but we still have a long way to go.
Brandon Soublet (Challenger)
Occupation: Public Policy Analyst
Age: 39
I’ve called our community home for three-quarters of my life. From growing up on the North Oakland border to living in the Triangle Neighborhood and now Emery Bay Village, my roots run deep. My parents still live in my childhood home. They are active Emeryville Senior Center members who remind me of what makes our community so special. With a master’s in public policy from Georgetown University and over a decade of policy and communications experience serving federal agencies and private enterprise, I bring real technical expertise to local government. I know our street-level realities firsthand—from chaotic drop-offs at Anna Yates to gaps in our housing inventory, as well as public safety challenges in our neighborhoods and commercial hubs. I’m running to ensure fiscally sensible solutions to keep Emeryville safe, livable, and centered on the people who call it home. This means building walkable and bike-friendly streets that protect children and seniors, expanding housing access so anyone who wants to live in Emeryville can afford to stay, aligning stakeholders to take realistic, equitable steps toward improving public safety, and managing land use and development so that corporate interests don’t outweigh residents’ needs. I’d be honored to earn your vote.
Visit brandonsoublet.com.
Five Candidates Seek Three School Board Seats
Five candidates are now seeking the three available seats, with several entering the race since our most recent update. There had been some concern that Brian Donahue could be appointed to the School Board without an election if three or fewer candidates filed for the three available seats. This will be Donahue’s third consecutive attempt at winning a seat on the board. His candidacy also comes after a permanent restraining order was issued against him, an episode that raised questions about his conduct toward local public officials.
The Emery Unified School District Board of Trustees establishes policies that govern the district, adopts the annual budget, approves curriculum and major programs, and hires and evaluates the Superintendent. Trustees oversee the district’s finances, facilities, and long-term strategic direction while working to ensure students receive a high-quality education and that schools remain accountable to the community.
Christopher Keith Allen (Challenger)
Christopher Keith Allen is a 30-year Emeryville resident, father of three, grandfather, and diesel mechanic with Ryder Transportation Services. All three of his children attended Emeryville schools. He is also the chief operating officer of Easter’s Heart CPR Training, LLC, where he teaches CPR and emergency response skills to children and families.
Regina Chagolla (Incumbent)
Regina Chagolla has lived in Emeryville since 2014 and is an elementary school teacher in the Berkeley Unified School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a master’s degree in education from UC Berkeley, and a California multiple-subject teaching credential. Chagolla previously worked in curriculum development and implementation at the Lawrence Hall of Science and has experience in K–12 public education.
Brian Donahue (Challenger)
Brian Donahue is a general contractor, an Emeryville resident for more than 40 years, and a longtime resident of the Emeryville Artists’ Cooperative. He previously served on the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and has been active in local civic affairs, regularly participating in public meetings and discussions on community issues.
David Ridlehuber (Challenger)
Ridlehuber is a construction project manager with AvalonBay Communities and a licensed general contractor. His professional background includes construction project management, residential and multifamily housing, building inspections, maintenance operations, and HVAC. He currently serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley.
Kimberly Solis (Challenger)
Solis is an Emery High graduate who excelled on the debate team, earning a scholarship to UC Berkeley. Solis is also a former school board trustee who served from 2020–2024. She works as a Direct Support Professional for Manos Home Care, providing in-home services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Editor’s Note: We have listed candidates alphabetically by last name. The actual order in which candidates will appear on the ballot will be determined by a random drawing.
So Priforce stood up to bullies when he was younger. Looks like that skill has withered. Take one look at his relationship with the town bully, aka Brian Donohue.
Thanks for your ongoing coverage! It’s always been so helpful for me as a voter to learn more about our local candidates.
We knew the trollers were going to come for Priforce eventually, and now we know they have a connection to this Corry. Probably have always worked for her as “volunteers.”
At least Priforce got his mass surveillance in with FLOCK, his one big accomplishment was assisting ICE. Now he claims to be a socialist, despite asking the police to put a flock camera right in front of his house.
I intended to comment on the post and not as a reply 😅 This site is hard to comment on using my mobile device.
I don’t know who anyone anonymous is here.
Rob – can you enable memes in your comment section? I want to share that one of Alanis Morissette singing “isn’t it ironic?”
I look forward to debates that are usually run by the local League of Women Voters and made available on Youtube for those who missed them. It’s nice when they happen before late October before mail in voting begins. A must election!
I woukd be scared as heck if I had ti be in a debate with council member Priforce. The guy is super intelligent and talk his ass off. Have never seen of his opponents speak before so I doubt theyt could get within a 30 foot pole on him. Just give up now
Lol. “Super intelligent” is not the first thing that comes to mind when Priforce “talks his ass off”
The thing with debates is that you have to address problems and propose solutions and do it in 90 seconds. You can’t just ramble about your personal experiences and blame Bauters for 15 minutes. Dude couldn’t even get one councilmember to go along with his silly pledge idea in three years. So weird.
My pick would be Mourra and Priforce. The challengers haven’t built a track record in civic involvement well before campaign season. It took Priforce his entire first term to get the training wheels off, and he’s only really hitting his stride now. Emeryville doesn’t need a repeat of Priforce 1.0.
Voting for Priforce is a better bet for Sutter opponents. Neighbors United and Soublet’s pushback on Sutter is good, but voting for Soublet risks electing a lame duck should FPPC decide he lives too close and conflict of interest.
Everyone should be direct like Frydlewicz on Flock.
I run a national organization that support s women getting into politics. We were one if the turnkeys for the Harris campaign. I’ll remain anonymous.
I was talking to my assistant, a young woman kn her early twnetieis, who her favorite elected official is and she said:/Kalimah Priforce, Council Member I’m Emeryville. I’ve known Kalimah since his Hidden Genius days that had an incredible imp@cat on my son.
Whatever “Priforce 1.0” means, it worked. He’s one of the most well know and respected elected officials in the East Bay, if not the Bay Area. I gave him a call the other day and he seemed exhausted and was emotional about a constituent losing their home. He seemed torn and I don’t want to put his business out there, but he is a compassionate soul.
I want more of Priforce 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 it doesn’t matter to me. So long as br is true to himself. I’m proud of my friend. Wish you \ell]6⁶
If she supports women then she should stay far away from Priforce, you should see how he talks about women on his Facebook and reddit. His favorite page is NarcissisticSpouses, but he keeps asking for sexy girls on Facebook after breaking up every couple of months.
Not sure about Priforce 2.0. He rarely seems to know what he is talking about but that doesn’t stop him from rambling on and on. He likes the sounds of his own voice and puffing up his ego more than doing anything for the city. He’s also still under investigation for taking money to oppose a city project:
https://samgouldemeryville.substack.com/p/why-councilmember-priforce-is-under
There you go! Wait for it. Wait for it. Sam Gould is back! And he made a friend – Corry Frydlewicz! 🤭 Maybe they like to hold hands under the table while discussing how to take down Kalimah Priforce. 🫂
They talk about working together to load the comments section of every article that mentions Priforce. Two White people doing so much work to take down a Black man. Like we haven’t seen THAT before. 🥱
What does Sam Gould have to do with anything? Just because his blog talks about the FPPC investigation doesn’t make it any less true. Priforce is crooked.
My pick would be Mourra and Priforce. The challengers haven’t built a track record in civic involvement well before campaign season. It took Priforce his entire first term to get the training wheels off, and he’s only really hitting his stride now. Emeryville doesn’t need a repeat of Priforce 1.0.
Voting for Priforce is a better bet for Sutter opponents. Neighbors United and Soublet’s pushback on Sutter is good, but voting for Soublet risks electing a lame duck should FPPC decide he lives too close and conflict of interest.
Everyone should be direct like Frydlewicz on Flock.
Arias be honest with us. Every time Priforce is mentioned you get a load of commenters and views. He must be good for your numbers. The guy is notorious. He just is. No reality show needed. Best thing ever happen to Emeryville since the Greenway.
Priforce isn’t mentioned any more than the other 8 candidates. It’s entertaining for those that come to these stories to read the comment section (hopefully they read the story while they’re here 😉) but it doesn’t really impact our bottom line.
I am just commenting to see if all replies are automatically Anonymous cuz it seems like most people here aren’t using their actual names and I find that interesting.
Looking forward to learning more about all the candidates. Thanks Eville Eye for writing about local news, it makes it so much easier to research who to vote for!
Hello Bethany, Anonymity will always be an option for commenting on this platform. There’s been cases of political retaliation in this city and residents should always be free to criticize the city or its officials without this fear.
You’ve included your email address in your comment and therefore it pulled your gravatar it seems (if this was in error, I can fix).
We’re busy working on questions for the forthcoming questionnaire. Let us know if you have any!