Submit Date: Nov 18, 2024
First Name Last Name
Email Address
Street Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
CITY OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
Boards and Commissions Application
Profile
Please note, applications are continuously accepted to the City of San Jose Boards and Commissions. The Board or Commission you select may or may not indicate there is a vacancy. Your application will remain on file for one year from the date of submission.
During the year, your application may be considered for unanticipated vacancies.
Additionally, applicants to the following commissions will be required to fill out a Form 700 (California State required Statement of Economic Interest) within 30 days of appointment.
Airport Commission
Appeals Hearing Board
Arena Authority
Arts Commission
Civil Service Commission
Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee (DCAC)
Downtown Parking Board
Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices (formerly Ethics Commission) Federated and Police & Fire Retirement Boards
Historic Landmarks Commission
Housing & Community Development Commission
Work2future (SVWIB) Board
Planning Commission*
Are you a resident of San Jose?
Yes No
What district do you live in? To verify, please click here:
https://rovservices.sccgov.org/Home/IndexPost?
selected=dt&electionId=133&distance=5&navtab=vc&asm=simple * District 1
Length of Residency
6 or more years
Tom Pavel
San Jose CA 95117
Mobile: Home:
T om Pavel
Employer Job Title
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices: Submitted Current Employer Address
N/A
Current Employer of Spouse
N/A
Address of Current Employer of Spouse
N/A
Spouse's Job Title
None (retired)
If you or your spouse is retired and receiving a pension, please state source of pension.
No pension plan - just 401k and personal savings.
None (retired) N/A
T om Pavel
Interests & Experiences
High School, College, Professional, Vocational, or Other Schools Attended.
Please include Major or Field of Study, Dates Attended, Degree and Date of Degree.
Ph.D. from Stanford in experimental particle physics (1996). Undergraduate degrees (SB) from MIT in math and physics (1988). High School in Dallastown, PA (1984).
List any position or office held in any governmental agency, civic, or charitable organization including the dates.
San Jose Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices (May 2022 - Mar 2025), currently serving as vice-chair. Served on Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury in 2021 (Apr-Dec).
Languages Spoken
English, Czech
Special Awards or Recognitions Received
Please state why you want to become a member of this Board or Commission including specific objectives which you would work toward as a member.
Over my first term on the board, I have learned a lot about the nature of campaign finance regulation and I have worked to bring new ideas for enhancing the clarity and scope of City regulations. I feel like there is still more work to do in this area, and I believe I could pass on some of this experience to new board members over the course of a second term.
Please state any other information which you feel would be useful in reviewing your application
I have a strong background in analytics, statistics, and data science, which can be useful in oversight of campaign finances.
Do you own property in the City of San José?
Yes No
If yes, please list the addresses here.
Do you rent property in the City of San José?
Yes No
If yes, is it a month-to-month lease?
Yes No
T om Pavel
Question applies to multiple boards
Are you currently experiencing homelessness or have you experienced it in the past?
Yes
No
State and local law require that you abstain from participation in decisions that may affect your financial interests, including sources of income, interest in real property, personal finances or investments.
In addition, if appointed,
you may be required to fill out a disclosure statement which identifies certain financial interest beginning with the immediate twelve-month period prior to your appointment.
Please review the scope of your board/commission
in Municipal Code Chapter 2.08.
Based on your best judgment, does this
Board or Commission make decisions that may affect sources of income, interests in real property, personal finances or investments of you or your spouse?
Yes
No
If yes, please explain.
Please identify any organizations, associations,
corporations, or entities by which you are employed or associated that might be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission, and the positions you hold in these entities.
Question applies to multiple boards
If appointed, you will be required to fill out a disclosure statement, which identifies certain of your financial interests beginning with the immediate twelve-month period prior to your appointment and annually on or before April 1 of each year thereafter. Please confirm that you have read Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 700 Reference Pamphlet and agree to file required FPPC Form 700 Statements of Economic Interest, as required by current City Council Conflict of Interest resolution.
Yes
No
Question applies to multiple boards
Have you ever been required to file a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) and failed to do so?
Yes
No
Question applies to multiple boards
If yes, please explain in complete detail.
Question applies to multiple boards
Please confirm that you have reviewed and agree to comply with the San Jose Municipal Code Chapter 12.08 (Prohibition of Gifts), City of San Jose Ethics Policy (City Policy Manual 1.2.1), and City of San Jose Gift Policy (City Policy Manual 1.2.2).
Yes
No
Tom Pavel
Reference 1 Name
Britney Huelbig
Reference 1 Address
Reference 1 Email address
Reference 1 Phone
Reference 2 Name
Louis Silver
Reference 2 Address
Reference 2 Email address
Reference 2 Phone
Supplemental Questions
Question applies to Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices, Civil Service Commission,Planning Commission Are you a registered voter in the City of San Jose? (Please note, your voter registration will be independently verified)
Yes No
Question applies to Civil Service Commission,Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices, Planning Commission Please provide the name and residential address under which you are registered to vote. If it is the same as listed above, please note see above. see above
Question applies to Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices Have you participated as a candidate in any election to public office in the year prior to your application to the Commission? Please note, if you have, you are ineligible for appointment.
Yes No
T om Pavel
Question applies to
Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices
If you are applying for the Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices, please indicate any familiarity or experience you may have with campaign laws.
Served on BFCPP for 3 yrs.
If applicable, have you ever attended or watched a meeting of the Commission(s) to which you are applying?
Yes
No
Would you be available to attend meetings at the scheduled time?
Yes
No
Please describe your experience in serving on a Commission or Board.
I am currently serving my first term on the BFCPP.
Over the past 3 years, I have ruled on 3
complaints and researched a number of proposals for enhancing the San Jose Municipal Code around campaign finance.
Prior to this, my main civic experience was serving on the Civil Grand Jury in 2021, which gave me a good understanding of the roles of various county boards and special districts.
Considering your experience and activities in business, labor, School, professional, social, Commissions, Boards, or other organizations, indicate the experience, training, knowledge and/or skills which qualify you for appointment.
I gained some exposure to state and county campaign financing disclosures during my work on the Civil Grand Jury, and I have learned a fair bit more over 3 years of serving on the BFCPP.
I still have a lot more to learn about legal aspects of campaign regulation, but I have found that my science and analytical background adds a useful perspective to the board.
What is your understanding of the purpose of the Commission? I understand the Board serves both to review or adjudicate allegations of campaign finance and lobbying or ethics violations, as well as to make recommendations to the City Council for refinements and changes to the existing regulations.
Please list three issues facing the City that you feel the Council should address.
My view is that the primary role of the BFCPP is to investigate complaints, with the experience learned from those complaints then informing the secondary role of bringing to the City Council suggestions for clarifications and enhancements to the Municipal Code around campaign finance and ethics.
On the current BFCPP agenda are concerns about
"dark-money" expenditures and looking at loopholes and ambiguities in the Municipal Code that we could address to avoid future issues.
These may not be the top 3 issues facing the
City, but they are things that are worth addressing proactively, before they become items of significant controversy in the future.
Tom Pavel
(Optional) Please upload a resume.
Question applies to multiple boards
Do you meet the requirements for appointment to this commission?
Yes
No
What is the purpose of historic preservation in San José and what is the role of the Historic Landmarks Commission in achieving that purpose? N/A for BFCPP
Please explain your prior experience with historic preservation, with San José’s public planning processes, and in working with City or other public agency staff.
N/A for BFCPP
Anything else you would like us to know?
Retirement Board Questions Only
Tom Pavel
Verification
By checking the box below, you agree with the following statement.
I agree that all of the information contained in my responses to the questions on this application are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I further agree that, by checking the box below and submitting this application, online or otherwise, I am affixing my digital signature to this form as of the date submitted.
I Agree
*
Tom Pavel
Submit Date: Jan 24, 2025
First Name Last Name
Email Address
Street Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
CITY OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
Boards and Commissions Application
Profile
Please note, applications are continuously accepted to the City of San Jose Boards and Commissions. The Board or Commission you select may or may not indicate there is a vacancy. Your application will remain on file for one year from the date of submission.
During the year, your application may be considered for unanticipated vacancies.
Additionally, applicants to the following commissions will be required to fill out a Form 700 (California State required Statement of Economic Interest) within 30 days of appointment.
Airport Commission
Appeals Hearing Board
Arena Authority
Arts Commission
Civil Service Commission
Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee (DCAC)
Downtown Parking Board
Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices (formerly Ethics Commission) Federated and Police & Fire Retirement Boards
Historic Landmarks Commission
Housing & Community Development Commission
Work2future (SVWIB) Board
Planning Commission*
Are you a resident of San Jose?
Yes No
What district do you live in? To verify, please click here:
https://rovservices.sccgov.org/Home/IndexPost?
selected=dt&electionId=133&distance=5&navtab=vc&asm=simple * District 1
Length of Residency
1-2 years
Manu Sharma
San Jose CA 95148
Home:
Manu Sharma
Employer Job Title
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices: Submitted Current Employer Address
Current Employer of Spouse
Apex Systems LLC
Address of Current Employer of Spouse
California
Spouse's Job Title
Program Manager
If you or your spouse is retired and receiving a pension, please state source of pension.
Apple Inc.
WW Quality Manager - Apple
Battery Labs
Manu Sharma
Interests & Experiences
High School, College, Professional, Vocational, or Other Schools Attended.
Please include Major or Field of Study, Dates Attended, Degree and Date of Degree.
Electrical Quality/Industrial Engineer, 22 years of professional experience, Work in a large Tech company, MS - EE, PMP & several certifications from Yale, UCB, Cornell and others.
Director HOA - Centria Building Milpitas; Notary Public California Interests - Connecting with people, helping people, outreach to people in need
List any position or office held in any governmental agency, civic, or charitable organization including the dates.
Centria building (residential complex of 133 units near the great Mall) HOA Director since 2022. Doing this as a Volunteer work.
Languages Spoken
English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
Special Awards or Recognitions Received
Multiple professional recognitions from work; author of a technical book. Notary Public California (commission started 2024)
Please state why you want to become a member of this Board or Commission including specific objectives which you would work toward as a member.
I have a very deep interest in getting in touch with the community & ensure that all politics is fair and good.
Please state any other information which you feel would be useful in reviewing your application
I am a Notary Public California.
Do you own property in the City of San José?
Yes No
If yes, please list the addresses here.
Do you rent property in the City of San José?
Yes No
If yes, is it a month-to-month lease?
Yes No
Manu Sharma
Question applies to multiple boards
Are you currently experiencing homelessness or have you experienced it in the past?
Yes
No
State and local law require that you abstain from participation in decisions that may affect your financial interests, including sources of income, interest in real property, personal finances or investments.
In addition, if appointed,
you may be required to fill out a disclosure statement which identifies certain financial interest beginning with the immediate twelve-month period prior to your appointment.
Please review the scope of your board/commission
in Municipal Code Chapter 2.08.
Based on your best judgment, does this
Board or Commission make decisions that may affect sources of income, interests in real property, personal finances or investments of you or your spouse?
Yes
No
If yes, please explain.
Please identify any organizations, associations,
corporations, or entities by which you are employed or associated that might be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission, and the positions you hold in these entities.
Question applies to multiple boards
If appointed, you will be required to fill out a disclosure statement, which identifies certain of your financial interests beginning with the immediate twelve-month period prior to your appointment and annually on or before April 1 of each year thereafter. Please confirm that you have read Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 700 Reference Pamphlet and agree to file required FPPC Form 700 Statements of Economic Interest, as required by current City Council Conflict of Interest resolution.
Yes
No
Question applies to multiple boards
Have you ever been required to file a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) and failed to do so?
Yes
No
Question applies to multiple boards
If yes, please explain in complete detail.
Question applies to multiple boards
Please confirm that you have reviewed and agree to comply with the San Jose Municipal Code Chapter 12.08 (Prohibition of Gifts), City of San Jose Ethics Policy (City Policy Manual 1.2.1), and City of San Jose Gift Policy (City Policy Manual 1.2.2).
Yes
No
Manu Sharma
Reference 1 Name
Naresh Mistry
Reference 1 Address
Reference 1 Email address
Reference 1 Phone
Reference 2 Name
Sushant Das
Reference 2 Address
Reference 2 Email address
Reference 2 Phone
Supplemental Questions
Question applies to Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices, Civil Service Commission,Planning Commission Are you a registered voter in the City of San Jose? (Please note, your voter registration will be independently verified)
Yes No
Question applies to Civil Service Commission,Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices, Planning Commission Please provide the name and residential address under which you are registered to vote. If it is the same as listed above, please note see above.
Manu Sharma,
Question applies to Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices Have you participated as a candidate in any election to public office in the year prior to your application to the Commission? Please note, if you have, you are ineligible for appointment.
Yes No
Manu Sharma
Question applies to
Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices
If you are applying for the Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices, please indicate any familiarity or experience you may have with campaign laws.
I have already stood for elections of HOA and been a director for 3 years; this year too, I again stood for HOA BOD elections and have been self nominated If applicable, have you ever attended or watched a meeting of the Commission(s) to which you are applying?
Yes
No
Would you be available to attend meetings at the scheduled time?
Yes
No
Please describe your experience in serving on a Commission or Board.
I am an active member of the BOD for HOA Centria since last 3 years. It is a volunteer work which gives a lot of experience and exposure to the issues that people face. I enjoy the interactions and happy to devote my volunteer time to serve the public. There is a lot of budget discussion too as well as multiple small and big decisions to make for the upkeep of the community.
Considering your experience and activities in business, labor, School, professional, social, Commissions, Boards, or other organizations, indicate the experience, training, knowledge and/or skills which qualify you for appointment.
Board of Directors HOA - Centria Professional Project Management Professional (PMP by PMI) Notary Public - California since September 2024 Electrical Quality Engineer working for a large Tech company with total professional experience of 23 years What is your understanding of the purpose of the Commission? The purpose of the commission seems like to ensure that all the politics in our area (San Jose) is held with fair practices pertaining to campaigning and actual politics. As an example, the campaigning should be done in the stipulated time following the campaign rules and not using any illegal money.
Please list three issues facing the City that you feel the Council should address.
1. Study in detail the motivations for the candidates who are standing up for election to various council member positions to ensure that there are no hidden agendas which may harm a large portion of society ... basically, ensure that there are enough checks and balances to the candidates agendas. 2. Study that all minority groups are given equal respect and weightage in fair campaigning and the political activities of one candidate or party do not harm or hurt other community members 3. Ensure that funds being used for campaigning are Legal
Manu Sharma
(Optional) Please upload a resume.
Question applies to multiple boards
Do you meet the requirements for appointment to this commission?
Yes
No
What is the purpose of historic preservation in San José and what is the role of the Historic Landmarks Commission in achieving that purpose? Historic preservation in San Jose is meant to help conserve the historic buildings, landmarks, sites which are important for the history of this great city of San Jose as well as important for all of California in general. The HLC is responsible for providing recommendations to the Director of Planning and City Council on: Historic Preservation Permits for alterations to a City Landmark or within a City Landmark Historic District Please explain your prior experience with historic preservation, with San José’s public planning processes, and in working with City or other public agency staff.
As a citizen, I am a big proponent of preserving historic landmarks and sites and have done everything in my personal capacity to help preserve those. I have not worked directly with San Jose officials on the preservation efforts but would be happy to do so.
Anything else you would like us to know?
na
Retirement Board Questions Only
Manu Sharma
Verification
By checking the box below, you agree with the following statement.
I agree that all of the information contained in my responses to the questions on this application are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I further agree that, by checking the box below and submitting this application, online or otherwise, I am affixing my digital signature to this form as of the date submitted.
I Agree
*
Manu Sharma