Robert Sandoval, an attorney and planning commissioner, is running for San Rafael City Council District 3 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
He faces Daryoush Davidi in the nonpartisan race, according to the Marin County Elections Department’s official candidate list.
Sandoval responded to the San Rafael Record candidate questionnaire on Oct. 7. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why he is running, Sandoval cited his legal career and experience with the San Rafael Park & Recreation Commission, Marin County Planning Commission and Point San Pedro Road Coalition.
He said that work has given him experience addressing traffic, road safety, housing, parks and infrastructure.
“I am seeking a seat on the City Council to bring that experience, along with my background as an attorney and former California Deputy Attorney General, to solving problems collaboratively and making sure City Hall delivers for our residents,” he said.
Candidate information
Residence and family: In his Oct. 7 response, Sandoval said he and his wife, Linda, live in East San Rafael, where they are raising two young children and expecting their third.
Education: Sandoval reported earning a bachelor’s degree in politics and economics from Occidental College and a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.
Occupation: Sandoval said he works as product counsel for a technology company. His earlier experience includes serving as a California deputy attorney general, a federal judicial law clerk and a litigation attorney at a major law firm.
He said his legal work has included public safety, civil rights and pro bono representation.
Party affiliation: Democrat. The City Council race is nonpartisan.
Prior races: Sandoval ran unsuccessfully for the Marin Municipal Water District’s Division 2 seat in 2024. The county’s election archive lists that contest.
Experience and public service
Sandoval said he serves on the Marin County Planning Commission and San Rafael Park & Recreation Commission, where he previously served as chair.
He also reported serving on the Point San Pedro Road Coalition’s board and chairing its Roadway Committee, advocating for safer roads, crosswalks and sidewalks.
Asked about accomplishments that prepare him for the council, Sandoval cited pedestrian and roadway improvements.
“Through the Point San Pedro Road Coalition, I worked with residents and government agencies to secure funding for safer pedestrian crossings and roadway improvements along the Point San Pedro Road corridor,” he said.
He also pointed to his work on the Park & Recreation Commission.
“On the Park & Recreation Commission, I helped advance San Rafael’s first citywide Parks and Recreation Master Plan and improvements including a new playground at Peacock Gap Park,” he said.
Sandoval said his planning commission work has involved balancing housing needs with neighborhood character, infrastructure capacity and environmental concerns.
On the issues
Infrastructure and transportation: Sandoval identified basic infrastructure and services as the council’s most important challenge.
“In District 3, traffic congestion, deteriorating roads, pedestrian safety, flooding, and aging infrastructure directly affect residents’ quality of life,” he said.
He supports working with county, regional, state and federal partners to accelerate roadway improvements, strengthen flood and sea-level-rise protection and secure outside funding.
He said residents should see a clear connection between their taxes and the condition of roads, emergency services, parks and other infrastructure.
Spending priorities: Sandoval identified public safety and emergency response, transportation, flood protection, parks, public facilities and effective responses to homelessness as essential services.
“Before creating new programs or asking taxpayers for additional revenue, the City should clearly identify the need, demonstrate how existing resources are being used, and establish measurable outcomes,” he said.
He supports pursuing grants and regional, state and federal funding to reduce the burden on local taxpayers. He also favors preventive maintenance and long-term investments intended to avoid larger future costs.
Housing and economic development: Sandoval supports additional housing, with larger concentrations downtown, at Northgate and along appropriate commercial corridors.
“San Rafael needs more housing and economic development, but where and how we grow matters,” he said.
He said new development should account for traffic, pedestrian and bicycle safety, emergency access, utilities, flooding and environmental effects. He also supports clear development standards so residents and applicants understand the rules.
“Housing and quality of life don’t need to be an either/or,” he said.
What sets him apart: Sandoval cited his combination of legal experience, commission service and neighborhood advocacy.
He said his approach is to listen, examine the facts, bring people together and pursue solutions that can be implemented.
Advice that guides him
Sandoval said he often thinks about advice to leave a city better than he found it.
He said that principle guides his work on parks, crosswalks, housing and neighborhood issues, and has become more meaningful as he raises his family in San Rafael.
This profile draws primarily on Robert Sandoval’s responses to the San Rafael Record candidate questionnaire, with additional information from official election records. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain his wording. Statements about his experience and accomplishments are attributed to him.
