John Fricke is a long-time community advocate and resident of Emeryville.  An Emeryville attorney, his practice specializes in supporting small businesses. John became a member of the Emeryville City Council in December, 2005.  

A Transit Leader 

Improving public transit is a priority. John is an advocating for improving public transit including Emeryville's free bus service, the Emery-Go-Round. Before being elected to the City Council, John served as Chair of the Emeryville Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee where he reviewed programs, policies and projects related to planning, developing and maintaining a system of bikeways and pedestrian routes throughout the City and the East Bay region.  Under his watch, the city began implementing work on the Horton/Overland Bicycle Boulevard. John is working to implement a number of other pedestrian and bicycle improvements such as constructing a pedestrian bike bridge that will improve access to Bay Street; creating a path bewteen 53^rd and 55^th streets; and extending the Bay Trail from Powell Street to the Bay Bridge. 

A Neighborhood Advocate 

In his work to improve the local community and neighborhoods in Emeryville, John boldly advocated to prevent San Pablo from becoming a “Fast Food Alley;” fought noisy leaf-blowers; opposed late night fast food outlets; and demanded that developers conform to Emeryville’s zoning requirements on such projects as the Triangle’s Oak Walk project.

Prior to opening his solo law practice in Emeryville, John did work for a nonprofit organization funded by State tobacco tax dollars.  He also served as an Alameda County public defender, providing legal representation to indigent clients who couldn’t afford a private attorney.

John previously served as a key policy advisor to Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris on community safety issues.  During his tenure in the Mayor’s office, he directed efforts to have alcohol and tobacco billboards removed from residential areas in Oakland.  John gained valuable insight into local government policy and administration that serves him well as a member of the city council.

John's Background 

John grew up in Chicago, Illinois, in a home with his parents and maternal grandparents who emigrated from Lithuania.  While in law school, he spent a summer working abroad in Seoul, Korea.

John is an 13-year resident of Emeryville's Triangle neighborhood.  He is married to Lindsey Criswell and they have 7-year-old twin daughters, Nina and Lane.  John took time off from his law practice to take care of Nina and Lane as a full-time dad during Lindsey’s research year in Holland. Many of John's ideas for improving public transit and pedestrian/bicycle access come from things he observed in Holland in 2004 and the family's travels in Europe during that year.

John holds a sociology degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin.