Bien Doan
Nonpartisan · CA · San Jose City Councilmember, District 7
Bien Doan has represented San Jose's District 7 since 2023 and faces East Side Union High School District trustee Van Le in the November 2026 runoff after taking 47.8% in the June primary. A refugee who immigrated from Vietnam in 1975, he was a firefighter for 27 years, including 21 with the San Jose Fire Department, where he became its first Vietnamese-American fire captain. He unseated incumbent Maya Esparza in 2022.
Track record
Environment and Public Health
· 1 record
Proposed San Jose legislative priorities supporting flexible homelessness funding, affordable housing and shelter services while also seeking more police and firefighter staffing and wildfire-prevention funding.
January 14, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Public Safety and Crime Control
· 5 records
Filed a council memorandum opposing two Independent Police Auditor proposals for participation at officer-involved-shooting scenes and review authority over all use-of-force incidents, while accepting the remaining annual report.
June 17, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Co-authored adopted budget changes restoring San Jose's Emergency Medical Services field-coordinator program and deferring elimination of the Family, Friend and Neighbor early-childhood-education program.
June 10, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Backed amendments strengthening San Jose's peddler-permit enforcement, including impoundment tools to address blocked pedestrian routes, traffic lanes and ADA access while preserving a path to legal permits.
March 25, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Proposed San Jose legislative priorities supporting flexible homelessness funding, affordable housing and shelter services while also seeking more police and firefighter staffing and wildfire-prevention funding.
January 14, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Served 27 years as a firefighter, including 21 with the San Jose Fire Department, where he became its first Vietnamese-American fire captain, before winning the District 7 council seat in 2022.
June 19, 2023For
Source: sanjosespotlight.com · researched July 3, 2026
Housing Affordability
· 1 record
Proposed San Jose legislative priorities supporting flexible homelessness funding, affordable housing and shelter services while also seeking more police and firefighter staffing and wildfire-prevention funding.
January 14, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Social Programs and Welfare
· 2 records
Won approval to repurpose $15,000 originally budgeted for a Tet parade toward other District 7 cultural events, including Black April and the Moon Festival.
February 10, 2026For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Co-authored adopted budget changes restoring San Jose's Emergency Medical Services field-coordinator program and deferring elimination of the Family, Friend and Neighbor early-childhood-education program.
June 10, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Civil Rights
· 1 record
Advanced approval of a Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom flag raising for San Jose's 2026 Black April commemoration under the city's ceremonial-flag policy.
April 1, 2026For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Public Infrastructure
· 1 record
Backed amendments strengthening San Jose's peddler-permit enforcement, including impoundment tools to address blocked pedestrian routes, traffic lanes and ADA access while preserving a path to legal permits.
March 25, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Elections
- Member, City Council, District 7 · November 3, 2026 · San Jose city, California · incumbent
Profile last researched July 3, 2026.