Rauh said her experience as a lawyer gives her the negotiation skills to get things done in City Hall. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Jim Spence: Spence is a retired San Jose police sergeant and registered Republican running on a conservative platform. The current elected leadership in San Jose is tipped 6-5 in favor of those who are backed by the regions labor unions while business interests supported the campaigns of the council minority. The historic shift, which has been endorsed by the city council and a coalition of community organizations and political experts, is aimed at boosting voter turnout and improving representation in the citys mayoral races. During recent candidate forums, he has voiced opposition to COVID-19 mask mandates and county public health orders and a desire to clear out homeless encampments and cut off support and resources to unhoused residents who turn down shelter beds. A recently released poll commissioned by Silicon Valley Rising found that 60% of respondents said they were supportive of the measure. She is a Democrat who has received endorsements from Mayor Sam Liccardo, former Mayor Tom McEnery and the San Jose Police Officers' Association. "The biggest challenge is to create real and lasting change in addressing the homelessness crisis," Rauh told San Jose Spotlight. Copyright 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. AND STATE CA STREET OR ZIPCODE 95110 P.O. Smith has had an array of jobs, starting off in finance at IBM and working inside a mental health facility in downtown before getting her law degree. The San Jose native is the only candidate to fully support SB 9 a new state law that increases density in single-family neighborhoods and enacting an ordinance known as Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, which would give renters, nonprofits or cities first dibs on the right to purchase certain properties. He has not disclosed campaign contributions. District 3 Councilmember and mayoral-hopeful Raul Peralez. Peralez told San Jose Spotlight some people are urging him to drop out of the race so that Chavez can secure the votes. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! To read more about the candidates and their platforms, click here. That was not welcome news for Chavez, who despite jumping into the race five months later has soaked up the major endorsements from the left -- including the South Bay Labor Council, which she used to run, and the county's Democratic Party. Her priorities are homelessness, increasing police officers to improve public safety and small business revitalization. With ballots already delivered to most San Jose residents, voters have the power to once again shape the future of the nations 10th largest city by choosing the next mayor and half of the city council members. Voters who show up tend to be more conservative, wealthier and politically engaged. On the same day, "My policies are new and they're different; and as a result, they're controversial," Torres said. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. He assumed office on January 6, 2015. She is an independent with the support of the Silicon Valley Business PAC, small businesses like Casa Vicki and Peanuts, and nonprofit Families & Homes SJ. Peralez said when he told Chavez he was considering a run for mayor, she suggested he run for another office, such as sheriff. Prior to moving in the Bay Area, she reported in Wisconsin and South Carolina. "They risk splitting the vote among more progressive voters.". Hes the only candidate in the race who wants to reduce funding for the San Jose Police Department. She also wants to bring staffing levels up in the city's planning department to streamline development. Chavez endorsed Peralez in both of his council races in 2014 and 2018. This doesn't favor progressive candidates, and some think it could eliminate one -- or both -- from the pack. An additional three councilmembers District 1s Chappie Jones, District 3s Raul Peralez and District 5s Magdalena Carrasco will be leaving their posts after serving their limit of two four-year terms. WebRaul Peralez for City Council 2014 I.D. Walters: Lawmakers eye changing rules governing ballot measures, Brooks: Joe Biden and the struggle for Americas soul, Abortion bans fail in conservative S. Carolina, Nebraska, Elias: Dumb decarceration idea may rear head elsewhere in California, focused on increasing government transparency and accountability, Harriette Cole: My friend's mom didn't recognize me at my job, and she was very rude. San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez claims Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez discouraged him from running for mayor -- a position she announced she was seeking in September. "While I do not recall making comments in 2012, I was gratified to receive Raul's endorsement, have him walk precincts with me, and have him view me as his mentor when I ran for county supervisor in 2013," she said. Here are your District 3 candidates in alphabetical order. "It is not acceptable that our own community members, including essential service providers, cannot afford to live in our city, and that our sons and daughters cannot afford to move back home," Rauh said. "I started this whole journey by being a resident advocate. The five candidates looking to replace Councilman Raul Peralez, who has hit his term limit and is now running for mayor, are attorneys Elizabeth Chien-Hale and Joanna Rauh, small business owner Irene Smith, health care professional Ivan Torres and San Jose-Evergreen Community College District board trustee Omar Torres. The candidates are Santa Clara County Office of Education board member Rosemary Kamei, former flight attendant and volunteer program manager Ramona Arellano Snyder and paratransit operator Tim Gildersleeve. Chavez was head of the South Bay Labor Council, and Peralez wanted to get her support. "It's unlikely, given the voting patterns we've seen in citywide politics in recent years, that both candidates will make it to the general (election)," San Jose State political science professor Garrick Percival told San Jose Spotlight. "They're competing for the same voters," Christensen told San Jose Spotlight. "Technology has a major role to play in all of this. With District 3 Councilmember Raul Peralez terming out and seeking higher office, five candidates with various political backgrounds and experiences are vying for votes. "What's going to be most telling is the next round of fundraising -- if anything causes any candidates to get out, it would be the inability to raise sufficient funds to stay competitive.". WebRaul Peralez was a member of the San Jose City Council in California, representing District 3. To reduce homeless numbers, Smith wants to create sanctioned encampments to humanely triage unhoused residents, provide rental vouchers so people do not fall into homelessness and create city-owned public housing, or a city-led version of Section 8. Raul Peralez, who represents District 3 on the San Jose City Council, says hes the right choice to lead the community. The district includes a diverse array of neighborhoods south of downtown San Jose from Little Saigon to La Tropicana to Tully Santee. The former engineer pointed to using autonomous buses that meet residents at their homes and take them to transit hubs for free, as a means of solving the connectivity issue, and as an example of how technology can help. 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Marshall Woodmansee: Woodmansee is a San Jose State University student who wants to help the city reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and make its streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, among his other ambitions. As one of two District 3 candidates living south of Interstate 280, Torres said it's important for the district to have a representative who does not come from an affluent background. WebRaul Peralez for City Council 2014 I.D. Although the council comes together for unanimous votes on the vast majority of issues, the divide has been apparent in several contentious votes in recent years like waiving fees for developers and expanding the power of the mayor. All the candidates point to those concerns -- how they plan to solve them differs. District 7: Esparza, who was elected to the seat in 2018, faces two opponents -- Bien Doan, a San Jose fire captain, and Van Le, a trustee for the East Side Union High School District. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Peralez is the most progressiveamong the top candidates. Education is one of the biggest and most effective tools on combating income inequality.". The five candidates looking to replace Councilman Raul Peralez, who has hit his term limit and is now running for mayor, areattorneys Elizabeth Chien-Hale and Joanna Rauh, small business owner Irene Smith, health care professional Ivan Torres and San Jose-Evergreen Community College District board trustee Omar Torres. She played an instrumental role in granting uninsured children in Santa Clara County access to free health insurance and passing a $950 million affordable housing bond. "Downtown won't be a gem, it won't thrive until our families and our small businesses thrive," Smith said. She then opened her own mediation business and serves as a volunteer attorney with Santa Clara County's Pro Bono Project. "On the other hand, what we've learned in recent years is that labor is no longer the bloc it once was.". To make immediate changes, she calls for more shelter beds, and long-term planning that leads to more affordable housing, Rauh said. San Jose Councilman Matt Mahan: Mahan is relatively new to the citys political scene but that hasnt stopped him from becoming one of the races fundraising frontrunners going neck-and-neck with Chavez. Bonilla has been endorsed by the Silicon Valley Biz PAC while Campos, Ortiz and Quintero have support from the South Bay Labor Council. NUMBER 1362126 COMMITTEE) STREET ADDRESS(NOP.O. The potential hasn't been fully exploited.". Heres a guide to the candidates running for each office and a city ballot measure on the June 7 ballot. Ivan and Omar Torres arent related. "The unfortunate thing is that our response to an influx in crime is automatically more police instead of looking at the root problems," Torres said. Torres said if elected, he would hire staff focused on each of downtown's problems. San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez claims Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez discouraged him from running for mayor -- a position she "I am the only candidate who has created solutions on all these fronts," Torres said. " San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez is focused on fixing inequities in San Jose. As Chavez and Peralez prepare to face off on June 7, many progressives fear having them both on the ballot could split the vote and hand a win to business-friendly candidates such as Councilmembers Matt Mahan and Dev Davis, who are also vying for mayor. Peralez, a former city police officer who represents downtown on the council, hoped to challenge Chavez for the progressive vote. Peralez said the incident happened when he first met Chavez. BOX) CITY San Jose MAILING ADDRESSAREACODE/PHONE (669)444-0337 (IFDIFFERENT) NO. Her top priorities are addressing homelessness, increasing code enforcement, small business revitalization and transportation. The citys five odd-numbered districts are on the ballot this cycle. "It is a complicated problem that will require complicated solutions.". San Jose State political science professor emeritus Larry Gerston said the labor council's support gives Chavez an edge in the primary election and puts pressure on Peralez to mobilize voters. Two longtime labor leaders are running against each other for San Jose's top political job, and one of them told the other to stay out -- twice. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. "I am completely laser focused on undoing the legacy of bad decisions that has just really damaged the quality of life for residents and small businesses," Smith said. Earlier this month, Peralez's campaign released a poll that showed him with a slight edge over Chavez in the election. Joanna Rauh, 40, is an attorney for the accounting firm Deloitte, where she leads the legal team's pro bono and philanthropic work. Anh Colton discusses why shes running for Santa Clara County sheriff. To him, San Jose's biggest problem is income inequality, which can cause homelessness, crime and small business closures. Spence has never served in public office but was a member of the citys police force for 31 years. The race is on for the open City Council seat in downtown San Jose. Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law's behavior? He said Chavez urged him in 2012 not to run for San Jose City Council in District 3 and made an inappropriate remark about his appearance. He had been introduced through his union, the San Jose Police Officers' Association. BOX CITY San Jose OPTIONAL: FAX STATE CA ZIPCODE 95150 / E-MAILADDRESS Chavez previously represented District 3 on the San Jose City Council. "These are my neighbors and I want to help.". In a battle for the East Side, San Jose council candidates confront their pasts. With District 3 Councilmember Raul Peralez terming out and seeking higher office, five candidates with various political backgrounds and experiences are vying for He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Candidate for Mayor City of San Jose - Tuesday June 7, 2022 Peralez was the first to publicly eye the highly-coveted job, telling San Jose Spotlight in May 2020 that he was weighing a run for mayor before making it official last April. She is ready to jump into the political scene to focus on solving what she says is District 3 and San Jose's top issue: homelessness. She previously covered San Jose City Hall and was awarded first place in local government reporting from the California News Publishers Association in 2021. He would also push for policy on his first day to plant 10,000 trees in San Jose throughout his term. He said $5.5 million is how much San Francisco pays for their free community college program. The last labor-friendly mayor in San Jose was Ron Gonzales who termed out in 2006. Rauh has been backed by Liccardo and the San Jose Police Officers Association, Smith by the Silicon Valley Biz PAC and Omar Torres by the South Bay Labor Council and Santa Clara County Democratic Party. Two San Jose council members announce theyre running for It's also home to San Jose State University and several theaters and music halls. Smith also owns and manages several properties in San Jose. Its old news that more money means more successful bids to become San Joses mayor, but District District 5: In one of the most contentious San Jose political contests this election cycle, five candidates are vying to replace recently District 5 Councilwoman Magdalena Carrasco, who terms out this year. In 2020, Woodmansee ran in the District 6 primary race against Dev Davis, finishing last among four candidates. "But at the same time, this is a fight for all of us. He was first elected to the city council in 2020 and previously worked as a founder and entrepreneur of a technology firm. Esparza has been endorsed by the South Bay Labor Council, Santa Clara County Democratic Party and San Jose Firefighters. Rauh has donated $20,000 to her campaign, loaned another $20,000 and has not disclosed other campaign contributions. She pointed to utilizing vacant space and public city and county-owned land as places to build. She To combat the stark income inequality in San Jose, Torres wants to fund public housing, make community colleges free and provide grants to small businesses. Peralez said the longtime lawmaker advised him to run for something else, such as school board, or move to District 1 and run for that seat. "He has to come with more of a fight than she does," Gerston told San Jose Spotlight. She also voted against the citys recent move to require that gun owners carry insurance and pay a fee. She's raised $11,950, according to her latest filings. I helped save small businesses through my work at the downtown association and have created policies at the city level. Those chosen to represent the residents of San Jose will be tasked with making critical decisions in the years to come, including how the city will reach its ambitious environmental goals, improve its transit infrastructure and boost its affordable housing stock. She did not provide names of endorsers, but said she has support from the Japantown business community and several Cupertino elected officials. Copyright 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. "I have a broad base of support amongst the voters here in this city," Peralez said. Many insiders are watching this matchup closely because it could be the local labor lobby's first opportunity in 16 years to send a candidate to the mayor's office. Copyright 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Chavez said she "didn't recall" discouraging Peralez to run for council in 2012 and did not answer questions about doing so again in the mayor's race. "I understand the relationship between innovation and economic growth," Chien-Hale said. Torres unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2020 to replace Rep. Zoe Lofgren. Things to do in Napa Valley during Bottlerock, plus hotels, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). The race is on for the open City Council seat in downtown San Jose. He said it may seem costly, but $5.5 million for free community college is not a big drop in the bucket compared to police spending, which was close to half a billion dollars in 2021. He left office on December 31, 2022. Christensen said Peralez has a compelling backstory -- working as a teacher and a police officer -- but to have a shot in the mayor's race, he needs funding. Peralez told San Jose Spotlight he understands some are worried he'll pull votes from Chavez, but he's not concerned.