Tag: dion bracco

Q: Why are you running?

Two of Gilroy's three mayoral candidates for the Nov. 6 election met individually with the Dispatch Editorial Board Tuesday morning to talk about major issues concerning Gilroy, and to highlight their priorities as Gilroy's next potential leader.

During Monday's meeting, City Council voted 6-0 to demolish an unreinforced masonry building on Monterey Street in downtown in order to create a city-owned pedestrian paseo connecting Monterey Street to Gourmet Alley.

• Don Gage ... hands down. Don has the experience in both city and county government seats and has always put “Gilroy first.” • Dion Bracco. I gave him my word months ago. What good is my word if I don't keep it? • Don Gage. Don is very collaborative, considerate and open-minded. He has strong ties at the county level and will ensure Gilroy receives our fair share of resources and representation. I also feel Don Gage considers the good of the entire community. The other candidates seem to be myopic in who they represent, creating a very divisive atmosphere. • Dion Bracco. Although I wish he would have been more transparent with his past, I do believe he is the best person for the job. His heart and soul are for Gilroy and I support him. • My choice would be Don Gage. He has the demonstrated experience and the “ability” to get things done. Pretty clear choice in my opinion. • Based on his logic, leadership, personality, experience, track record, I will vote for Don Gage. • Don Gage. Mr. Gage is a tried and true leader with a vast amount of experience and contacts within Gilroy, Santa Clara County, Bay Area and Sacramento. Mr Gage has demonstrated his leadership in past roles and Gilroy Council member, Gilroy mayor, county commissioner, and most recently Santa Clara Valley Water District. His skills and management style will benefit Gilroy for the next four years. • Undecided. We could use fresh and new faces in our local government going forward. • I choose Don Gage. I feel with his past experience and connections he will be a valuable asset for our community. • Don Gage. His record, like the record of his opponents, speaks for itself. Don’s record is why I support him. • Gage is a proven leader, an integral part of our community who can unite our divided City Council and inspire them to act in our best interests. 

As the sun set in Del Rey Park, a few blocks west of Santa Teresa Boulevard, about 40 residents gathered on folding chairs on a recent weeknight, with their children and dogs, to express a deep concern for growing criminal activity in their neighborhood.

City Council voted 4-2 to support the Santa Clara Valley Water District's ballot measure for Gilroy's November election during their regular meeting Monday night. 

As the four-week window to file for a spot in Gilroy’s political scene opened Monday, three Gilroy mayoral candidates and four City Council candidates are stretching at the starting line, as they brace themselves for their big campaign kick-offs in August.

The trial for James Francis Lee, the Gilroy man who is charged with murder for causing the death of a 4-year-old boy from a 2010 drunken driving car crash has been delayed for the fourth time and is now slated for Sept. 24.

“Shocked,” “surprised,” “stunned” and “disappointed” by an unexpected 4-2 vote cast Monday by City Council against placing a joint city-school sales tax on the November ballot, it’s “back to the drawing board” for Gilroy School Board trustees as they attempt to safeguard the district from a possible $8.1 million cut in state funding next year.

Gilroy police, City Council, and library staff have teamed up to tackle the problem of raucous teens defiling the brand-new $34 million library building, promising the community that the issue will be reined in before the summer's end.