I’m Mary Ann “MJ” Jawili
I’m running for El Cerrito City Council.
Why I’m running
I am running because El Cerrito deserves a leader who can bring its residents together, and I have a successful track record of listening with empathy, engaging people, and building community. I am running because I love El Cerrito, and I want to help it become a better, more inclusive, more sustainable, and thriving place to live. I am running because I think that public service is deeply rewarding, and I want to serve as an example to other people to show that they can do it, too.
Contact me
I love hearing from people.
Contact me by phone or email.
votemjforec@gmail.com
(510) 467-0757
My vision
A thriving community in which everyone belongs
Increased communication and transparency between residents and city leadership: offering one-on-one office hours, commissioning surveys of residents, meeting regularly with liaisons from various community groups. Communicating in plain language, across platforms and formats to meet residents’ diverse needs and preferences.
More ways for residents to connect with each other in person: better equipped public third spaces, such as community centers, parks, trails; improving the community programs currently offered; partnering with local businesses such as cafes, shops, and gyms to facilitate the gathering of people in community.
Improving the ease and safety of transportation in El Cerrito so that it is easier for everyone to get where they want to go and touch grass: Complete Streets; frequent, public transit; accessible trails and sidewalks; reliable paratransit; a functional network of transportation and mobility options for people to travel without driving themselves.
Get involved
Donate
Volunteer 🚪🎉🪧🙋🏽🤷
Find me in town
Let’s meet in person! You can find me at various community groups’ events, or we can meet over a drink or pastry.
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6:00-8:30pm at the Veterans Memorial Building. Hosted by the League of Women Voters, West Contra Costa Adult Education, and the El Cerrito Senior Action Committee.
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9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the southbound #7 bus stop at Arlington Boulevard and Moeser Lane. MJ plans to attend the first hour. (website)
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11am at Arlington Park (FB post)
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6:00-8:00pm, location TBD
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10:30am-12:30pm at Christ Lutheran Church
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Sep 19 - Tri-City Safety Day
Sep 18 - BORP adaptive cycling demo
Sep 17 - EC Historical Society meeting
Sep 17 - Best of El Cerrito celebration
Sep 15 - City Council meeting
Sep 15 - Team MJ volunteer meeting
Sep 14 - Crop Swap
Sep 6 - Clayton Av. block party
Sep 9 - ECRA Walk & Roll happy hour
Aug 29 - Dirt Patch Gallery art show
Aug 29 - Seed the Vote fundraiser
Aug 28 - EC Senior Action Committee candidate Q&A
Aug 25 - Financial Advisory Board meeting
Aug 23 - Fundraiser for Measure RTM to save transit
Aug 13 - EC draft Local Road Safety Plan open house
Aug 13 - Thursday Nights at Jenny K
Aug 4 - National Night Out Richmond St. block party
Constituent meet-and-greet hour
Meet me every Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at El Cerrito Natural Grocery & Annex. Email me at least 24 hours in advance so that I know to expect you.
If this time doesn’t work for you, request an alternate time. We’ll try to find a better time.
Candidate statement
I've been a resident and homeowner in El Cerrito for 18 years, and I love this city. But in all the time I've lived here, I've never seen an election as polarized as our last primary. People feel they're not being listened to, and they've turned away from their city and their community as a result.
Community is what I do. From hosting dinners with friends to serving as president of an 850-member cycling club, I work to bring people together. I do this professionally, too:
For over a decade I've worked as a product leader in accessible technology, translating standards and people's needs into practical solutions that serve everyone, including people with disabilities and older adults. I've contributed to international standards and served on nonprofit boards, work that taught me how to listen, collaborate, and turn community input into tangible outcomes.
Our city deserves leadership that listens first, cares deeply, and acts with integrity. As a city councillor I'll listen with empathy, especially to residents who feel unheard. I'll proactively meet residents where they are and communicate in plain language. I'll bring transparency to how decisions are made and how money is spent. I'll keep community at the center of policy because a city's greatness is measured by how well it serves its residents.
El Cerrito doesn't need more division. It needs someone who will do the necessary work to bring us back together, and that's what I'm committed to doing.
Endorsements
Titles for identification purposes only
Rebecca Saltzman, El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem
Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto, former El Cerrito Mayor
Barnali Ghosh, BART Board of Directors District 3
Caitlin Garibaldi, WCCUSD Board of Education Trustee Elect Area 5
Marlene Keller, retired California State Auditor and government and corporate finance manager
Steve Price, El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll Coordinating committee member*
Janet Byron, El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll Coordinating Committee member*
Michael Fischer, El Cerrito Library Commissioner
Cameron Sasai, Pinole city councilmember*
Emily Seelenfreund, BORP Adaptive Sports & Recreation executive director*
Ryan Manriquez, Center for Independent Living Board of Directors member
Sean Dougherty, Lighthouse for the Blind SF VP of Social Enterprise
Charley Donovan, Grizzly Peak Cyclists president*
Anne Schonfield, former Bike East Bay Board of Directors member*
Sucheta Narang, AccessibleWorld.io founder and CEO*
Christian Fritz, emeritus professor of law
Amy Rogers, retired librarian
Al Miller
Rebecca Milliken
Melinda Schwartz
Prateek Tandon, AI consultant and industry board member*
*non-El Cerrito resident