Shonda Goward

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Shonda Goward

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Other

The George Washington University

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Administrator

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Twitter

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Shonda Goward ran for election to the AC Transit District Board of Directors to represent Ward 6 in California. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Goward completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Shonda Goward earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and additional education from The George Washington University. Her career experience includes working as an administrator. Goward has been affiliated with Friends of the Hayward Public Library, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the Junior League of Oakland/East Bay.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Alameda County, California (2024)

General election

General election for AC Transit District Board of Directors Ward 6

A. Curtis Silva defeated Jesse Lee Gunn and Shonda Goward in the general election for AC Transit District Board of Directors Ward 6 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		A. Curtis Silva (Nonpartisan)	51.6	30,704
		Jesse Lee Gunn (Nonpartisan)	29.9	17,784
		Shonda Goward (Nonpartisan)	18.5	11,032

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 59,520
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Goward in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Shonda Goward completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Goward's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am running for AC Transit, Ward 6 as a bus rider because I want transit to be easy to use, accessible to all, and sustainable for our future. I grew up in Fairview, and now manage a multi-million dollar budget as a public university administrator. As AC Transit faces a fiscal cliff, I am prepared to offer creative approaches and solutions that will strengthen AC Transit’s sustainability. I am a committed public servant, and I currently serve as Hayward Library Commission Chair, and I am committed to serving the needs of all who work and reside in Ward 6.

I would forge strong partnerships with the Cities of Hayward and Newark and Alameda County because AC Transit needs partnerships with the city councils, the county supervisor, and planning commissions to support transit oriented planning. I would partner with other agencies such as Caltrans, BART and VTA to support connected services. I want to ensure transit is equitable and accessible to all riders: students, seniors, commuters and differently abled.

Please join Supervisor Elisa Márquez, Assemblymember Alex Lee, Hayward and Newark Mayors Mark Salinas and Michael Hannon, Sierra Club, AFSCME Council District 57 (AC Transit and BART) and AC Transit Board President Joel Young in supporting me, Dr. Shonda Goward, as your Ward 6 AC Transit Board Director.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Make AC Transit safe

  The safety of bus drivers and riders must be AC Transit’s top priority. As the only woman in this race, I will fight to put safety first. Work closely with Hayward, Newark, and Alameda County to ensure bus stops serve community needs, including shelter and lighting - and that they are well-maintained.

  Partner with cities and the County to invest in safety for all road users.
• Make AC Transit accessible Ensure resources are allocated to Central and South Alameda County to provide equitable bus access for our communities. Partner across local and state agencies to create the infrastructure and transit-oriented planning needed for the bus to be reliable. Support the needs of our students - university, community college, and teens.
• Make AC Transit financially sustainable Build a broad coalition to address the fiscal cliff. Identify fair and sustainable funding sources that don’t burden residents.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about protecting public goods such as public transit and public education. One of the greatest methods for advancement in our nation is the ability to go to school, and public transit is a means to get there while protecting our environment and reducing traffic congestion.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity is the most important characteristic for an elected official. Voters must be able to trust the person they voted to represent them. Next would be collaboration and preparedness. A leader needs to come prepared to meetings. A leader has to build partnerships to move things forward, and has to commit to their role by learning as much as they can about local, state, and federal laws that impact the people they represent.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Tenacity and curiosity.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Governance is most important to this office. A board director has to be able to balance the needs of riders, workers, and the requirements and restrictions of the budget.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

An office holder should have experience working with multi-million dollar budgets, while also managing the needs of represented staff, and the needs of clients. It is important for holders of this office to have solid relationship building skills and the ability to collaborate.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

AC Transit is a special district governed by its own Board of Directors and funded by taxpayers to provide a single service. The local governments and CalTrans own the roads but AC Transit owns the routes and bus stops.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Sierra Club, Hayward Area Democratic Club, AFSCME Council 57 (AC Transit, BART), AFSCME Local 3916 (AC Transit), Assemblymember Alex Lee, Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Márquez, Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas, Newark Mayor Michael Hannon, AC Transit Board President Joel Young, Hayward City Councilmembers Angela Andrews, Julie Roche and Dan Goldstein, Newark City Councilmember Ana Apodaca, Alameda County Assessor Phong La, Black Women Organized for Political Action Hayward/South County, Hayward Unified School District Board President Peter Bufete, Hayward Area Recreation and Park District Board Member Peter Rosen, Alameda County Board of Education Trustee Aisha Knowles, East Bay Mud Director April Chan

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

As Chair of the Hayward Library Commission I follow the Brown Act and would do the same as a Board member.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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AC Transit District Board of Directors Ward 6

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