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Danville mayor Newell Arnerich filed papers Friday to run for the 16th State Assembly District as the second official candidate in the 2014 election.

The district includes Pleasanton and parts of Contra Costa and Alameda counties and is currently served by State Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo), who will be termed out of office next year.

"After several years of careful thought, I have decided to announce my campaign for State Assembly on the encouragement of friends and colleagues," Arnerich said in a release.

Arnerich has served on the Danville Town Council for 18 years and has spent four terms as mayor. He is the president and CEO of an architectural-planning firm based in Oakland and Los Angeles that he co-founded in 1978.

He also serves on numerous regional agencies, including the Tri-Valley Transportation Commission, Contra Costa Transportation Agency and the Contra Costa County solid waste authority. A Democrat, Arnerich said his support is based on working locally with community leaders from all political backgrounds.

Known by his supporters as a "passionate advocate for providing quality public education," Arnerich served on the San Ramon Valley Unified School District's facilities committee and as the co-chair of the Valley-wide Committee on Youth Safety and Development. Arnerich said he would bring the same passion to the Assembly.

"My role at the state level will be to … bring back an affordable University of California and state university education system for our children in the state of California," he said, adding that both he and his wife owe their career success to the state university systems.

If elected, Arnerich said that he would use his experience guiding Danville's fiscal policy to focus on long-term budget planning for the state. Danville's philosophy of "planning and saving for the future" without adding debt has helped keep the town out of financial troubles during a difficult economy.

"I have learned that when there is a problem in California we 'innovate' solutions and not continue on the road of the past, but rather focus on the future. California is the best place for innovation and there is no problem we cannot solve with dedicated and passionate leadership," Arnerich said.

Orinda mayor and gubernatorial adviser Steve Glazer filed papers on Jan. 29 to run for the same Assembly seat.

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