Firefighter Enters Menlo Park City Council Race

Local firefighter Dave Bragg filed paperwork Friday to run for a seat on the Menlo Park City Council, escalating the competition for the two spots on the dais that will be available in the November election.

This is Bragg’s first entrance into the arena of local politics.

“I admit I have a steep learning curve,” he said. “But I already live a very public life; it feels like a natural fit.”

Bragg moved to Menlo Park about seven years ago with his wife Anna, and has since taken multiple leadership positions within the community.

He is the Head Coach of the Menlo-Atherton Vikings Pop Warner Tiny Mite football team, and a Safety Officer for the Menlo Atherton Little League.  During the holiday season, he co chairs the local fire department’s toy drive, and volunteers with Rebuilding Together Peninsula.

“I would consider self a high level multitasker,” Bragg said.  “No matter what stage of my life, I’m always involved in five things at once.”

He is also the CEO of Thor Construction, which he founded with his wife.  If elected, he said he would likely sacrifice the amount of time he spends on a few of these positions to focus on the wider needs of the Menlo Park community.

“Maybe I’ll be assistant coach instead of head coach,” he said.  “I’ll still be involved,” he added, noting that he recently hired a general manager to manage his construction company for him.  

In November, Council Members Andrew Cohen and Kelly Fergusson’s terms will expire, although only Fergusson has indicated that she will seek reelection.  Bragg, a former Marine, will also compete against Attorney , who has already gained endorsements from multiple Council Members.

While Bragg hasn’t collected any endorsements yet, he said that he will be campaigning the old-fashioned way of knocking on doors to talk to his neighbors in Suburban Park to gain their support.  He lives there with his wife and three children.

When asked how his wife feels about him running for City Council he said: “My wife Anna is very supportive of everything I do; she has helped me conquer every major event in my life. My kids just hope to be in a parade or laugh at me in a .”

Election Day is November 6, 2012. 

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