> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.albanyscanner.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Who is Albany City Council candidate Robin D. López? - URL: https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/09/22/election-2026/albany-city-council-candidate-robin-d-lopez/ - Published: 2026-09-22T08:45:12.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-28T04:39:43.000Z - Description: "I’m proud to serve Albany in meaningful ways, and I hope I can sustain that trust and confidence for another 4 years!" - Author: Guest contributor - Tags: Election 2026, Elections, Albany City Council, #articles, City, #nohomepage **Name:** Robin D. López **Occupation:** Incumbent/Ecologist **What office are you are running for?** Albany City Council **What is the main reason you are running?** I am committed to Albany’s future, sensible housing, enhanced access to basic needs, advancing initiatives for equitable and accessible infrastructure, supporting evidence-based policy that is culturally and socially relevant, and guiding our city to navigate through the climate crisis. As a father to young children in Albany, the future of our city is personal. I’m running for re-election, to ensure we sustain the presence of critically needed practical and effective progressive leadership. **Why are you qualified?** I have proudly served Albany as a former Mayor, Vice Mayor and current councilmember. I’m 1 of only 2 candidates with such qualifications. I made right on my promise when elected as the 1st ever Latino, to bring in a new era of leadership that would move Albany forward intentionally and responsibly. I have a proven track record of empowering Albany to actualize its potential, having delivered results that include but aren’t limited to achieving a balanced budget, divesting from fossil fuels, and supporting the revival of Dinner With Albany for our community. **What sets you apart from other candidates?** Identity & lived experiences are easy references, but there’s more depth to me than tokenizing my existence. I’m 1 of only 2 candidates for council who served on advisory bodies & elected office for Albany. The other 3 candidates have yet to ever serve Albany in meaningful ways that impact policy & decision-making at a scale that is relevant. The other candidates have yet to actively participate in public city council meetings, like stating their positions for the public record on agendized items. What sets me apart is active input on city policy, which doesn’t require holding office. **How and when did you end up in Albany?** I arrived in Albany in 2022, after living most of my life in Richmond. My family found our place in the UC Village, as I’m a student-parent at UC Berkeley, where I’m working on my PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, & Management. I came to Albany to give my children a better life. That is why I’m so passionate about serving this city, and making sure it’s guided with representative policy that ensures folks of all backgrounds and lived experiences can feel like this can be their home too. **What are the three biggest challenges for Albany in the next five years?** For me the three biggest challenges in the next 5 years, operate with a couple assumptions that I’d like to lay out with context first. Assuming the GGF transaction goes through and all ballot measures are passed, then this enables focus to take a proper shift to other pressing challenges. These include navigating a (1) climate crisis with a federal regime that is destroying national progress, (2) housing development, and (3) fully implementing an Active Transportation Plan that is timely and fiscally responsible to our residents - meaning voting a plan through that opens pathways for grants. **How would you begin to address them?** Addressing these major challenges requires having a city council that understands nuance with these situations. The decisions we make are not like board games where we move pieces around, or decide to reset if we don’t like the outcome. People’s lives and socio-economic conditions are at stake. Knowing how to work with our regional, state, and federal representatives is critical - which is where I have strength. This is essentially specifically for navigating the climate crisis and encouraging housing development. Some of these decisions don’t simply exist within a vacuum for our city. It requires key relationships and opportunities. The same could be said for the ATP, and to what end we seek to approve plans that would be economically advantageous for the community. [Albany elections: November 2026 ballot measure guideAlbany has six ballot measures that would change zoning rules, business and property taxes, and funding for city services.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b5/b0/b5b0b7ec-798c-4cb6-ab42-472b59c05589/content/images/icon/alb-scanner-orange-af5085fe-a10f-48cb-860e-6e19478e2c60.png)Albany ScannerAllyson Aleksey![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b5/b0/b5b0b7ec-798c-4cb6-ab42-472b59c05589/content/images/thumbnail/key-route-trees-bf851ec1-9dde-43da-b78c-73aa775848aa.jpg)](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/12/elections/albany-2026-november-election-ballot-measures/) **What is one new idea you'd like to bring to Albany?** I'm actively working on a several projects. One includes the Veterans Hall, and another centers around inclusive spaces in our parks for folks with disabilities. Some of these, I cannot fully outline for obvious reasons at the moment. But stay tuned! **How will you be accessible to constituents?** I've historically remained accessible for everyone. I'm not a hard person to find, and I'm often seen around town at local businesses and our local parks, connecting with other parents in the community. **How much money do you expect to spend on your campaign?** Considering cost of materials and historical averages for smaller city campaigns, I anticipate our campaign will likely need to spend $12,000 to $15,000. **A final thought?** I’m proud to serve Albany in meaningful ways, and I hope I can sustain that trust and confidence for another 4 years! Please considering voting Lopez and Tiedemann #1 and #2! Also - no AI was used to generate my responses. Nor did I need to lean on other individuals for responses. All responses are entirely authentic and directly from me. **Campaign websites:** [www.AlbanyForward.org](https://www.albanyforward.org/?ref=albanyscanner.com) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HoodEcologist) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/LopezForAlbany?ref=albanyscanner.com) *See complete* [*Election 2026*](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/election-2026/) *coverage on Albany Scanner.* **Have questions for Albany Scanner, or want to share story tips?** [**Here's how to reach us**](https://www.albanyscanner.com/tips/)**.** ## Sign up for Albany Scanner Stories for an informed community Get updates Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.