Bob Smith
CA · Bakersfield City Council Member, Ward 4
Bob Smith has represented Ward 4 on the Bakersfield City Council since 2012 and runs a civil engineering and land planning business. His priorities are street improvements and stronger public safety.
Where Bob Smith stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Housing Affordability (2 records),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Voted against sending a city letter opposing SB 866, a state bill on COVID-19 vaccines. The letter passed, with Smith among three no votes.
March 2, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Made the motion that set a 9% city water-saving target under state conservation rules and reopened city spray parks four hours a day. It passed.
June 8, 2016Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 oppose
Moved to fund the city's eviction-prevention program, including $100,000 for legal help for small landlords. The motion failed, with five members voting no.
September 25, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Made the motion to approve a $2.9 million contract with Mercy House to run the city's new homeless navigation center on East Brundage Lane, with quarterly reports to the council. It passed with one no vote.
May 6, 2020Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Voted against waiting for state action on catalytic converter theft. The council then told staff to draft a city ordinance against unlawfully having catalytic converters.
July 13, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 2 support
Moved to fund the city's eviction-prevention program, including $100,000 for legal help for small landlords. The motion failed, with five members voting no.
September 25, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Voted against bringing back the owner-must-live-there rule for backyard homes (accessory dwelling units) after 2025. The council then adopted rules that dropped that rule, cut parking needs and waived impact fees.
October 23, 2019Supports Housing Affordability
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 3 support
Moved to fund the city's eviction-prevention program, including $100,000 for legal help for small landlords. The motion failed, with five members voting no.
September 25, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Made the motion that recognized Casa Esperanza, a transitional home for women and children on Panorama Drive, as a residential use. It passed after a motion to deny it failed.
September 15, 2021Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Made the motion to approve a $2.9 million contract with Mercy House to run the city's new homeless navigation center on East Brundage Lane, with quarterly reports to the council. It passed with one no vote.
May 6, 2020Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 4 support
Spoke in favor of a road safety resolution that puts bike lanes, narrower car lanes and lower target speeds first in city street design. It passed 4-3.
August 5, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: turnto23.com
Helped draw up the plan for a 6-mile bike path along the Friant-Kern Canal in northwest Bakersfield. The city later sought grant money to build it.
August 5, 2018Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: bakersfield.com
Made the motion that adopted Bakersfield's Bicycle Transportation Plan, a citywide plan for new bike paths and bike routes.
November 20, 2013Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
As founder of the cycling group Bike Bakersfield, publicly praised Kern County's draft bicycle master plan as a big step toward more bike lanes.
June 11, 2012Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: archive.valleyair.org
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Made the motion to start a study of community choice energy, where the city buys power for residents instead of the utility. It passed with one no vote.
May 10, 2023
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Joined a nine-mile march along the dry Kern River bed held by the group Bring Back the Kern, which calls for water to flow through Bakersfield.
November 13, 2021
Source: sjvwater.org
After a lawsuit, moved to keep the city's backyard hens law and keep defending it in court. The council instead repealed the law, with Smith voting no.
February 3, 2021
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Voted against city contracts with Forefront Power to build and run solar power systems and battery storage at city sites. The contracts passed with two no votes.
October 21, 2020
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Made the motion that gave first approval to a city ordinance allowing backyard hens in single-family neighborhoods. It passed with three no votes.
September 23, 2020
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Proposed the voting method the council adopted to pick the nine-member citizens committee that oversees spending from Measure N, the city's one-cent sales tax.
January 23, 2019
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Won re-election to the Ward 4 City Council seat with 80.21% of the vote.
November 6, 2018
Source: bakersfield.com
After a briefing on the city's budget outlook, made the motion to hire a consultant for voter surveys and a viability study. It passed with one no vote.
October 11, 2017
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Was elected Vice Mayor of Bakersfield by the City Council.
December 14, 2016
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Made the motion that adopted an emergency ordinance setting city rules for wireless communication equipment placed along public streets. It passed.
September 28, 2016
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Was appointed by the City Council to the Kern Council of Governments board, the county's regional transportation planning agency.
January 7, 2015
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Voted against removing the city's appointees from the Golden Empire Transit (GET) bus board. The removal passed over three no votes.
September 10, 2014
Source: docs.bakersfieldcity.us
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Was fined $3,000 by the state Fair Political Practices Commission for a conflict of interest. He spoke to the city Planning Commission for SmithTech USA's request to split a client's land, a decision in which he had a financial interest.
May 19, 2016
Source: fppc.ca.gov
Past race Bob Smith ran in:
- Member of City Council, Ward 4 · November 3, 2026 · Bakersfield City Council Ward 4 · incumbent