Who is Albany City Council candidate Jon Destin?
"I'm running because I love Albany, and because this is a consequential moment for our town."
Name: Jon Destin
Occupation: Albany small business owner (Communications)
What office are you are running for? Albany City Council
What is the main reason you are running? I'm running because I love Albany, and because this is a consequential moment for our town. Golden Gate Fields is entering a once-in-a-generation transition, finances are under pressure, and we have important work ahead on housing, seniors, streets and sidewalks, schools and local businesses. I want to bring practical experience, good judgment and clear communication to City Hall, with a relentless focus on the basics and making sure Albany remains a place we are proud to call home.
Why are you qualified? I bring a broad range of professional and community experience. I've been a middle-school teacher, worked in nonprofits and financial services, and run my own small business for nearly 20 years. In Albany, I'm president of the Community Foundation and have served nearly a decade on the Education Foundation board, on the Albany Y board, on my son's middle-school site council, and as founder of Albany Pride. Those experiences have put me in classrooms, boardrooms, nonprofits and a small business, teaching me to manage limited resources, build coalitions and be accountable for results.
What sets you apart from other candidates? What sets me apart is the combination of being a communications expert and a small-business owner. My professional life is about listening carefully, asking the right questions, sorting through competing viewpoints and making complicated issues understandable. Running a business has taught me something different: set priorities, make choices, watch the budget and own the outcome. Add years of involvement in Albany's schools and nonprofits, and I bring both a communicator's perspective and an operator's discipline to public service.
How and when did you end up in Albany? When my son Sammy was ready for kindergarten, we chose Albany because of its great public schools. As a former teacher, I quickly became involved: serving on the middle-school site council, spending nearly a decade on the Albany Education Foundation board, and founding Albany Pride, an LGBTQ+ parent engagement group. Sammy attended Albany schools from kindergarten through graduation and is now at UC Davis. What began as a decision about schools became the community I've spent years serving.
What are the three biggest challenges for Albany in the next five years?
- First, protect Albany’s financial future as Golden Gate Fields transitions, with disciplined budgeting, clear priorities and honest communication about tradeoffs.
- Second, get the basics right: safer streets and crossings, maintained sidewalks and infrastructure, reliable city services, and climate resilience built into how we plan.
- Third, keep Albany affordable, welcoming and vibrant by adding housing, supporting local businesses, protecting quality of life, and working closely with our schools to support students and families.
How would you begin to address them? I’d begin with a clear plan for what matters most, what it will cost, and how we’ll know if it’s working. On finances, I’d look hard for outside funding, economic development, efficiencies and partnerships before asking residents to pay more.
On major projects, I’d bring affected residents, businesses and experts in early enough to shape the outcome. And I’d judge progress by what people can actually see: safer crossings, repaired sidewalks, housing that gets built, businesses that can open and stay, and an Albany voice that is heard as the waterfront takes shape.
I’d set clear goals, publish our progress and be willing to adjust when something isn’t working.
Allyson Aleksey
What is one new idea you'd like to bring to Albany? I have a long list of ideas, from a business concierge and a resilience hub to better senior safety and a stronger City-school partnership. But if I could change one thing first, I'd overhaul how City Hall communicates with residents. Important issues shouldn't first become visible when a Council packet drops. I'd use plain-English previews, direct outreach to people most affected and easy ways to ask questions before a vote. Residents should know what's coming while their input still matters.
How will you be accessible to constituents? Accessibility has been central to my campaign. I hold house parties nearly every weekend, maintain an active website, and answer all emails, texts and calls. I've held open coffee hours, shown up at community events and made it easy for people to ask me questions directly. I would govern the same way: regular office hours around town, one-on-one conversations, direct responses and frequent updates. You should never need an insider connection to reach your council member.
How much money do you expect to spend on your campaign? $9,000
A final thought? There’s a lot changing in Albany, and I think the next Council is going to be tested in ways we haven’t seen in a while. What matters most to me is having council members with good judgment who understand this town and keep their focus on the people who live here. At the end of the day, I want Albany to remain a place where people can live well, feel safe and feel like they belong.
Campaign websites: jondestin.com | Facebook | Instagram
See complete Election 2026 coverage on Albany Scanner.
Have questions for Albany Scanner, or want to share story tips? Here's how to reach us.
