Meet Joe - Joe Simitian for Congress

About Joe

Dear Friends,

Having served as State Senator, Assembly member, Supervisor and Mayor, I’ve learned the policy and politics of being an effective leader. I’ve taken on tough problems and powerful interests and won. I’ve said no to fossil fuels to make a difference on climate. I’ve broken ground for fair and affordable housing. And I stand as an absolute advocate for women’s reproductive rights.

Solving problems, getting things done — That’s the way I’ve always worked.

– Joe

Short Bio

Joe’s previous public service includes election to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the California State Senate and the California State Assembly, Mayor of Palo Alto, President of the Palo Alto School Board, and an earlier term on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He served as an election observer/supervisor in El Salvador and Bosnia and participated in refugee relief and resettlement efforts in Albania and Kosovo.

Joe brings a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds to his work. He has served at all levels of state and local government. Joe also has hands-on experience in the private sector as a public schools attorney, businessman, and certified city planner. Along with a breadth of international interests and experience, Joe’s professional education and training particularly apply to his work in public service. 

His public service over the years includes:

  • California State Senator, 11th District
  • California State Assemblymember, 21st District
  • Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
  • Mayor, City of Palo Alto
  • President, Palo Alto School Board
  • Regional leadership as President of the Santa Clara County School Boards’ Association, President of the League of California Cities Peninsula Division and Chairperson of the Santa Clara County Intergovernmental Council (IGC)
  • Representative of the President of the United States, 1994 U.S. Delegation to Observe Elections in El Salvador
  • Elections Supervisor, 1997 and 1998 Bosnian Elections, Seconded by the U.S. Department of State, serving with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
  • Volunteer, International Rescue Committee (IRC), 1999 refugee relief and resettlement efforts in Albania and Kosovo

Elected Leadership

On the Board of Supervisors, Joe served as Chair of the Health and Hospital Committee, Chair of the Board’s Federal Affairs Advocacy Task Force, and Vice Chair of the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee.

During his years in the State Legislature, Joe received recognition for his commitment to service and the passion he brought to his work. He has received Legislator of the Year awards from a wide range of organizations, including the California School Boards Association, AeA (the American Electronics Association), the California Library Association and NOW (the National Organization for Women). He regularly received “100%” environmental ratings from the California League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, and Vote the Coast.

Education

Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with academic honors, from The Colorado College. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University; a Master in City Planning degree from the University of California at Berkeley; and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

  • Juris Doctor, University of California, Berkeley
  • Master of City Planning, University of California, Berkeley
  • Master of Arts, International Policy Studies, Stanford University
  • Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, The Colorado College
  • High School Diploma, Palo Alto High School

Professional

Supervisor Joe Simitian is an attorney, businessman and city planner. He is a member of the California State Bar and has been granted an AICP certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Community

Raised in Palo Alto and a graduate of Palo Alto (“Paly”) High, Joe’s roots are in the South Bay and Midpeninsula. His community involvement includes service with local organizations such as Adolescent Counseling Services, Acterra, Leadership Mountain View, and the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

Current

  • Honorary Board Member, AchieveKids
  • Board of Advisors, Acterra
  • Board of Advisors, Adolescent Counseling Services
  • ​Honorary Board Member, California Pops Orchestra
  • ​Honorary Committee, Friends of Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo
  • Trustee Emeritus, Junior Statesmen Foundation
  • Honorary Council Member, Leadership Mountain View
  • Board of Advisors, O’Neill Sea Odyssey
  • Board of Advisors, Palo Alto History Museum
  • Advisory Group Member, Government Ethics Advisory Group, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University

Previous

  • ​Advisory Team, San Mateo County Service Learning Project
  • ​Board of Directors, American Leadership Forum – Silicon Valley
  • Co-Chair, Housing Leadership Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
  • Board of Advisors, Clara-Mateo Alliance, Inc.
  • Board of Directors, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
  • Steering Committee, Bay Area Council
  • Member, California UN 50 Committee
  • Explorer Scouts Advisor, Law Explorer Post #804
  • North County Allocations Committee, United Way of Santa Clara County
  • President, Friends of the Children’s Theatre​​

In the News

The California Journal identified Joe among those at the “Top of the Class” during his first term in the Legislature. Later in his tenure, the Capitol Weekly named Joe one of the half-dozen “Most Effective” members of the Legislature.

San Jose Magazine has repeatedly recognized Joe as one of the “Power 100 of Silicon Valley,” and in 2003, Scientific American magazine selected Joe as one of its “Scientific American 50” Leaders in Technology from around the world.

Joe and his work have been quoted or noted in publications as diverse as the Atlantic Monthly, Conde Nast Traveller, Mother Jones, People Magazine, Time, and Scientific American. His media appearances range from CNN to the “Dr. Phil Show,” from CTV (Canadian Television) to ABC Radio National in Australia.

Awards and Recognition

Board of Supervisors

(2013 – 2025)

  • abilitypath Visionary Leader & Social Impact Award (2024)
  • American Muslim Voice Foundation – Virtuous Public Official Award
  • Armenian Apostolic Church – St. Nerses the Graceful Medal of Honor
  • Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) – Health Champion Award
  • Association of California School Administrators (Region 8) – 2024 Partners in Education Excellence Award
  • Association of California School Administrators (Statewide) – 2024 Partners in Education Excellence Award
  • Behavioral Health Contractors’ Association of Santa Clara County Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation (2024)
  • California Library Association – President’s Award
  • California State Legislature Assembly Resolution (2024)
  • Cities Association of Santa Clara County Champion of the Year 2024
  • City of Palo Alto Proclamation in Recognition of Joe Simitian (2024)
  • City of Mountain View Commendation Honoring Supervisor Joe Simitian for his exemplary contributions (2024)
  • City of Saratoga City Council Commendation Honoring Supervisor Joe Simitian (2016, 2024)
  • Congress of the United States House of Representatives 118th Congress Recognition of Supervisor Joe Simitian (2024)
  • Eden Housing – Civic Leader of the Year (2022)
  • Fast Company Magazine – First Place, 2016 Policy Hackathon
  • Foothill-De Anza Community College District – Amicus Collegii
  • Friends of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park – Thank You Resolution
  • Institute for Nonviolence – Civil Rights Award
  • Kids in Common – Bold Steps for Children Award
  • Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto – Honorary Member
  • Leadership Sunnyvale – Political Leader Award
  • Los Altos Chamber of Commerce – New Member of the Year
  • Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation – John W. Gardner Community Impact Recognition (2024)
  • Magical Bridge Foundation – Recognition as a Most M​agical Person
  • Metropolitan Education District – Recognition of support for the development of new programs at the Silicon Valley Career Technical Education Center
  • Midpenninsula Open Space District Proclamation Honoring Supervisor Joe Simitian (2024)
  • MOVE Mountain View – Mover & Shaker Award 2024 for distinguished service in our community
  • NAMI-Santa Clara County 2024 Community Merit Award
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) San Jose/Silicon Valley – Legislator of the Year
  • Parents Helping Parents – Building Bright Futures Award
  • Planned Parenthood Mar Monte – Steadfast Commitment to Access to Health Care and Author of SCC Board Resolution Defending Reproductive Freedom (2023)
  • Project We Hope – Advocate for the Homeless
  • Recovery Café San Jose – Bridge Builder Award
  • Rotary Club of Los Altos – Paul Harris Fellow
  • San Andreas Regional Center – Legislator of the Year, Service Above Self Award (2024) and Lanternman Act Legacy Award 
  • San Jose District 10 Leadership Coalition Proclamation
  • Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board – Community Hero Award
  • Santa Clara County Democratic Club – Award for Leadership and Service to the Community
  • Santa Clara County Medical Association  – 2023 Citizen’s Award
  • Santa Clara County PTA (Sixth District) – Golden Oak Service Award​
  • Santa Cruz, City of – 2024 Key to the City, Pollution Prevention Award​
  • Saratoga City Council – Commendation for Service to the Saratoga Senior Center
  • Saratoga Senior Center – 30th Anniversary Honor, Commitment to Senior Care
  • ​SASCC Dick Angus Lifetime Achievement Award for Age Friendly Excellence (2024)
  • Save Our Shores – Ocean Hero of the Year​
  • Sierra Club (Loma Prieta Chapter) – Environmental Hero
  • Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits – Changemaker Award
  • Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) – Game Changer
  • Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce – Murphy Award
  • Unity Care – Gratitude Award

State Legislature

(2000-2012)

Environment

  • Bluewater Network – Environmental Leadership Award
  • Breathe California – Clean Air Award for Leadership
  • Californians Against Waste – Legislator of the Year​
  • California Park & Recreation Society Honor Roll
  • Environment California – Environmental Champion​
  • Green California – Environmental Champion​
  • Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District – Resolution for authoring SB 953 and support of district
  • Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters – Legislator of the Year
  • Vote the Coast – Coastal Steward Award; Coastal Champion Award

K-12 Education

  • The Advancement Project – Water Cooler Conference Award (SB 1381 – The Kindergarten Readiness Act)​
  • Association of California School Administrators – Friend of Education
  • Association of Low Wealth Schools – Legislator of the Year
  • California Association of Student Councils – Legislator of the Year
  • California County Boards of Education – Outstanding Legislator of the Year
  • California County Superintendents Educational Services Association – Legislator of the Year
  • California Kindergarten Association – Special Recognition Award for the Kindergarten Readiness Act (SB 1381)​
  • California League of Middle Schools – Legislator of the Year
  • California Network of Educational Charters – California Legislator of the Year
  • California Reading Association – Policymaker of the Year
  • California School Boards Association – Outstanding Legislator of the Year
  • California PTA – Honorary Service Award
  • Early Intervention for School Success (EISS) – Education Advocate of the Year 2012
  • Menlo Park PTO (​Parent Teacher Organization) Honorary Service Award
  • Palo Alto Council of PTAs – Recognition for Leadership in Legislative Advocacy
  • Palo Alto Educators’ Association – Sally Siegel Friend of Education
  • Preschool California – Early Learning Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Ravenswood City School District – Resolution for Legislative Advocacy
  • San Mateo County PTA (Seventeenth District) – Continuing Service Award
  • Schools for Sound Finance (SF)² – Saving Our Bacon Award​
  • Schools for Sound Finance (SF)² – Special Friend of Basic Aid Schools
  • Springboard Schools (currently Pivot Learning) – Education Leader of the Year

Higher Education

  • Alumni Associations of the University of California – Legislator of the Year
  • California State University System – Legislator of the Year
  • San Mateo County Community College District – Courage in Educational Leadership Award
  • Silicon Valley Alliance – Adult and Career Educator of the Year

Children & Youth

  • California Children’s Health Initiatives – Champion for Children Award
  • Child Care Coordinating Council (4 C’s) of San Mateo County – The Mary Petsche Award for Visionary Leadership
  • Child Development Policy Institute – Children’s Champion Award
  • Friends for Youth – Making a Difference Award

Safety & Consumer Protection

  • CalPIRG – Consumer Champion Award
  • Consumer Federation of California – Consumer Leadership Award
  • Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California – Crime Fighter Award
  • Elder Financial Protection Network – Donald N. Phelps Visionary Award
  • Are You Dense? – Champion of Exposing the Secret

Business & Technology

  • AeA (American Electronics Association) – High-Tech Legislator of the Year
  • Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) – Clean Power Champion
  • Design-Build Institute of America – Distinguished Leadership Award
  • Power Association of Northern California – Person of the Year
  • RSA Conference – Award for Excellence in Public Policy
  • SC Media/Magazine – Industry Pioneer, Information Security
  • Scientific American – One of the “Scientific American 50” Leaders in Technology
  • SolarTech – Solar Hero Award
  • Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce – Murphy Award

Community

  • Alliance for Community Media, Western States – Community Media Legislative Champion​
  • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Santa Cruz County – True Patriot Award​
  • Arthritis Foundation (Northern California) – Public Policy Award
  • California Library Association – Legislator of the Year
  • California National Organization for Women (NOW) – Legislator of the Year
  • Council of State Governments – Henry Toll Fellowship
  • CreaTV San Jose – Community Media Champion
  • Equality California – Building a State of Equality Award
  • Jewish Community Center – JCC Community Service Award
  • Junior Leagues of California – Legislator of the Year
  • League of California Cities – Outstanding Leadership
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society – California Legislator of the Year
  • National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC), San Mateo/Santa Clara County Chapter – Good Guy Award
  • Peninsula Interfaith Action – Community Hero
  • Planned Parenthood Advocates (Mar Monte) – Voices for Change Legislator Award
  • Redwood City Public Library – “Fueling the Fire of Hope” Award
  • San Andreas Regional Center – Legislator of the Year
  • Santa Clara County Democratic Club – Distinguished Legislator Award
  • Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club – Legislator of the Year