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.
• 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.
Let’s start right off the bat: Gov. Jerry Brown and his Band of Little Renown can take his more taxes plan and stuff it. I’m sick of the state government trying to bleed us dry, stealing tax money from our city government, closing down RDA entities to feed their spending habits and threatening the purse strings of our schools. The farther away the money gets, the less control we the taxpayers have over it. Cut the state budget. Vote against every state incumbent, vote against every tax. Unfortunately, it’s at the point where I believe that’s what it’s going to take to shake the status quo up. California government is not serving us, the people who pay the taxes. California government, despite a $16 billion deficit, increases spending. Nobody in California has the guts to really wade in, apply common sense, accept the pain that goes with reality and change things. This quote, posted by OldMan64 on our website comment board, spoke volumes and, if the voters don’t do something drastic very soon, this state is going down the tubes. OldMan’s choice hammered it home: “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.” ~ Alexis de Tocqueville, ca. 1830. Vote them all out, vote against more taxes. Do it, and we might save our state and the American Republic.
Councilman Perry Woodward announced Thursday that he is no longer running for mayor, in light of former Gilroy Mayor Don Gage's decision to enter the race.