Candidate for
Council Member; City of Foster City

MEET HERB Herb John Perez currently serves on the City Council for Foster City. First elected in 2011, Herb has used his time on the City Council to safeguard our community from over-development while securing a healthy financial future for Foster City.

During his first term, Herb introduced legislation to expand a ban that prohibits smoking at city parks, authored an economic development plan for Foster City, and worked alongside his colleagues to pass four straight balanced budgets.

Herb is a former Commissioner on the Parks & Recreation Commission of Foster City. He is a small business owner and operator, and teaches youth life skills at the Gold Medal Centers. He received his undergraduate at William Paterson University, and went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University, followed by a Masters in Sports Management from the Université de Lyon in France. In 1992, he was awarded the Olympic Gold Medal in the sport of Taekwondo.

Born to Polish and Spanish immigrant parents, Herb observed at a very early age the importance of community, education, family, and hard work.

He has received numerous international awards as a Taekwondo and martial arts champion, and was inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame in 1988. He is a six-time U.S. National Team Captain, as well as a three-time winner of the Pan American Championships. He was also named the United States Olympic Committee ("USOC") Taekwondo Athlete of the Year.

The USOC elected him to serve on their Board of Directors, which sets policy and oversees a $440 million quadrennial budget. As a board member, Herb served on the High Level Strategic Planning Committee, and helped lay out a long-term strategy for the future of the Olympic Committee, where he evaluated budget allocations, and developed the long-term strategy that is currently garnering accolades as part of America's Olympic success.

As a member of the International Relations Committee, Herb traveled to Afghanistan after the war to aid in the rebuilding of the war-torn country. He received the George Steinbrenner Award for his humanitarian efforts.

His award-winning business has expanded to three locations throughout the Bay Area, and he continues to remain engaged in community service and advocacy in Foster City. His work with families and youth has garnered him numerous awards, and he has pushed to improve park and recreational activities for a wide cross-section of Foster City residents.

Last year Herb and his wife Dr. Reina Yuan Perez decided to purchase Foster City Eye Care, to continue the 40 year tradition of serving the needs of our families created by the founder Dr. Major Purewahl.

Herb Perez currently lives in Foster City with his wife, Reina, and their two children Nikko (7 years) and Ciara (5 years).