The Gilroy mayoral race is starting to heat up as Terry Feinberg has announced he is resigning his post as chairman of the board of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce in order to support Councilmember Roland Velasco in his bid to become Gilroy’s next mayor.
Feinberg said in a news release that the upcoming election is critical, and he feels “Gilroy needs the independent and trusted leadership that Roland will bring to the mayor’s office. It was a difficult decision to resign, but I believe I can do the greatest good for Gilroy and the Chamber by helping to get Roland elected.”
In response to Feinberg’s departure, Chamber president Mark Turner said, “While Gilpac, the political action committee of the Chamber, will interview and endorse candidates for the November elections, it’s important that the Chamber maintain its position as an impartial, strong voice for the business community, and we respect Terry’s decision to resign avoiding any appearance of an insider advantage from his role at the Chamber.”
Feinberg is the principal and partner of Moxxy Marketing, a full-service marketing agency in Salinas, but lives in Gilroy. Councilmember Velasco, who announced his intent to run for Mayor in a recent Dispatch article, said he aims to use Feinberg’s communication and marketing skills to assist in his campaign.
Velasco also appreciates Feinberg’s ties to the local business community, as one of his goals in seeking the mayor’s seat is to overcome what he feels is a negative tone that currently exists on the City Council.
“Now the council comes off as anti-business; I want to change that,” Velasco said.
Lisa Faria, the 2015 Chamber chairwoman, was appointed by the board to complete the 2016 term vacated by Feinberg.
