Councilmember
David Cohen
David Cohen has lived in District 4 in San Jose since 1998, where he has raised his family, worked in high tech, and served the community. He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley and has spent 21 years as an Engineer and Manager in Silicon Valley. He holds 10 patents and numerous publications. Prior to moving to Silicon Valley, he worked as a Process Development Engineer at Clorox.
David spent 14 years as a member of the Berryessa School Board, where he focused on building strong relationships with local families, teachers, staff and students. He helped the district weather a protracted recession and focused on making sure students have access to technology, mental health services, and educational resources they need to be successful. Among his many accomplishments on the Board, David helped the district start a dual-immersion Mandarin program, protected class sizes, preserved music and science programs, retained counselors and added social workers to each school site, moved schools to solar energy and away from styrofoam lunch trays, and secured additional dollars for the local schools through leadership on numerous ballot measures.
David also served for 6 years on the San Jose Library Commission, where he advocated for longer library hours and helped open new library branches through the city bond measure. He has been actively involved as a liaison to the San Jose State Department of Chemical Engineering and as a Judge in the Annual Synopsis Science Fair. David is a Senior Fellow of American Leadership Forum and is a member of San Jose Downtown Rotary.
David received his BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University. He lives in Berryessa with his wife and two children, along with 2 dogs and 2 cats. David has always believed in leading with an open door and being an advocate for the needs of the neighborhoods. He believes that together, we can make District 4 a model community for charming lifestyle, economic growth, and environmental stewardship.
The District 4 Team
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Lam Nguyen
CHIEF OF STAFF
Lam has lived in District 4 most of his life. His early career was spent as a project manager in tech. Having had a brief stint in the golf world, the call of public service eventually led him to community organizing, activism, and advocacy. His momentum in service eventually led him to the California State Senate where he worked as a District Representative and Communications Advisor for Senator Jim Beall. Being the child of refugees has given Lam a unique and practical perspective. He hopes that this perspective, coupled with his education in psychology and journalism, will help him serve District 4.
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Mara Privitt
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Mara has lived in Santa Clara county for more than 25 years, hailing originally from Colorado. She has a background in administration and entrepreneurship, as well as grassroot community activism. Through her activism work, she has participated with projects that have promoted a myriad of issues, including women’s health, LGBT+ youth, and services for underserved communities. She has a passion for food, art and a life long love of reading.
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Hugo Jimenez
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR
Hugo is a lifelong resident of San Jose, having grown up in San Jose’s Downtown and East Side. He’s now raising his three young children in District 4, where he and his wife have lived for 13 years. Hugo has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Jose State, has worked as a newspaper reporter and as part of the communications department of one of the largest labor unions in California. Hugo is a member of the Berryessa Union School District Board of Trustees and is enthusiastic to serve his community as part of the District 4 team.
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Marlee Smith
LEGISLATION DIRECTOR
Marlee Smith is a lifelong Santa Clara County resident, born in San Jose and raised in Gilroy. She attended Cabrillo College and Cal State East Bay and graduated with a BA in Political Science. Marlee started as an intern in a council office while in community college, has worked in tech product policy, and in advocacy for transportation and land use over the years. Her passion is in environmental policy, specifically climate change mitigation and adaptation. In her free time she likes to spend time with her fiancé and their dog Apollo.
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Jaria Jaug
POLICY DIRECTOR
Jaria, pronounced like “Mariah” but with a “J”, is a lifelong District 4 resident who was raised in Berryessa. She graduated from San Jose State University then served the community as a Field Representative for Assemblymember Alex Lee. At the state level, she demystified legislation for constituents regarding housing, the environment, and education and engaged with neighborhoods in Berryessa, North San Jose, and Alviso. She began her activism in the community as an Unhoused Coordinator for the NAACP Youth Chapter and a graphic designer for various LGBTQ+ organizations and political campaigns. Now, she currently serves as a Berryessa School Board Member and is committed to continue to give back to the community that raised her.
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Angela Pedrigal
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & POLICY LIAISON
Angela is a second-generation Filipina-American residing in the East Bay. With a healthcare background, she is a strong proponent for environmental and housing justice as a means of improving health outcomes in her community. As a public-transportation commuter, she advocates for walkable communities and accessibility. Through her involvement with LEAD Filipino, she builds connections with District 4's Asian community and non-profits. In all of her endeavors, Angela is driven by a deep commitment to civic engagement and bringing the community together to achieve positive change, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and has a seat at the table. Angela holds a BS from UCLA.
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Eric Osborne
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
A third generation San José native, Eric has traveled the country and the world as a major label recording artist, he’s run his own design business specializing in branding and marketing, and he has been creative director at ClearChannel and Cumulus Radio. A co-founder of Orchard City Indivisible, one of the nation’s premier political action associations, Eric put his varied skills to work designing for Santa Clara County Democratic Party, U.S. Congressional candidates, California State Assemblymembers, and state Senators.
