Brendan Moran, a Walnut Creek planning commissioner and real estate broker, is running for City Council in the Nov. 3 general election.

Two seats are up for election, and Cherise Khaund is also running in the nonpartisan race, according to the city’s election information.

In a Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire, Moran said his experience in city service motivated him to run. “I am seeking office to provide steady, transparent leadership focused on practical results,” he said.

Candidate information

Residence: Moran told Surround Sound News that he and his family have lived in the Larkey Park neighborhood for more than a decade.

Family: He and his wife are raising three children in Walnut Creek. He said their children attend local schools and participate in community arts, sports and other activities.

Education: Moran reported a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Occupation: Moran is a real estate broker and small business owner who previously worked in television production. He told Surround Sound News that he changed careers after the financial crisis, earned his broker’s license and built a business serving buyers, sellers and investors throughout the East Bay.

Party affiliation: Moran identifies as a Democrat. “Walnut Creek City Council is a nonpartisan office, and I believe local government should focus on practical solutions and respectful collaboration rather than party labels,” he said in his questionnaire response.

Endorsement: Contra Costa Labor Council, AFL-CIO, according to the organization’s 2026 endorsement list.

Experience and public service

Moran told Surround Sound News that he currently serves on the Planning Commission and previously spent approximately eight years on the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission. He described his total service as a city commissioner as about a decade.

He also serves on the Walnut Creek Library Foundation’s board and is a graduate of Leadership Contra Costa.

Asked what experience prepared him for the council, Moran pointed to building a business while raising a family and reviewing complex projects as a commissioner.

“That work has required reviewing complex projects, listening to competing viewpoints, asking difficult questions, and making decisions in public,” he said.

On the issues

Most important issue: Moran identified managing growth without sacrificing quality of life as the council’s most important challenge. He told Surround Sound News he supports a General Plan that concentrates appropriate new housing near downtown, transit, jobs and services while protecting established neighborhoods. He also called for infrastructure improvements, measurable results and meaningful neighborhood participation.

Housing and development: “We need more housing, but where and how we build it matters,” Moran said in his questionnaire response. He supports growth near downtown and BART and said new projects should address the traffic and infrastructure demands they create. He would also consider pedestrian safety, environmental impacts and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.

Spending priorities: Moran told Surround Sound News that public safety, emergency preparedness, roads and infrastructure should come first, alongside parks, libraries, arts and recreation. He supports maintaining reserves, reviewing program performance, pursuing grants and requiring developers to contribute toward costs created by their projects.

“We should spend carefully, plan for long-term maintenance, and avoid making commitments we cannot afford,” he said.

Best advice: Moran recalled his father telling him: “You’ve got to have a plan. It doesn’t always have to be a good one, but you’ve got to know where you’re going.” He told Surround Sound News that he has carried that advice throughout his life, while recognizing that plans must adapt as new information emerges.

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026. Voters can select up to two candidates.