GILROY
– Former Councilwoman Guadalupe Arellano, the younger sister of
Councilman Peter Arellano who lost her bid for re-election two
years ago, will try to get back onto a city dais seat this
November.
GILROY – Former Councilwoman Guadalupe Arellano, the younger sister of Councilman Peter Arellano who lost her bid for re-election two years ago, will try to get back onto a city dais seat this November.
It will be Gilroy’s top political seat – she will run for mayor.
As of early Thursday morning, the November race stood as follows: “Lupe” Arellano, Al Pinheiro and Mary Hohenbrink will face off for mayor. Peter Arellano, Incumbent Roland Velasco, Planning Commission Chairman Russ Valiquette, Planning Commissioner Paul Correa and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Shawn Weymouth are battling it out for three open Council seats.
Dion Bracco, owner and operator of Bracco’s Towing, pulled papers late Wednesday, but after talking it over with family and City Councilmen decided he would not be running after all.
“With the time constraints and what’s involved, I think it’s best I spend more time focusing on my business,” Bracco said. “I want to get on some committees and maybe the Planning Commission and gain some experience, then I’ll probably run in the next election.”
Lupe Arellano declined two interview attempts after pulling candidacy papers Wednesday morning. She did not return those calls Thursday morning before deadline.
However, her brother Peter, who announced Tuesday he’d be running for re-election, endorsed the former Councilwoman and planning commissioner. Peter Arellano called his sister a “consensus builder” with a lot of knowledge about how things work in Gilroy and at City Hall.
“Her leadership is one of openness, and it is one that includes everyone’s idea rather than excludes,” Peter Arellano said. “She looks at all the information before her and doesn’t make up her mind before she comes into a meeting.”
Lupe Arellano is a longtime Gilroyan with experience in city politics and community activism. Besides serving on the Planning Commission and City Council, Arellano has been involved with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She owns and operates a Monterey Street specialty shop.
Arellano’s City Council tenure lasted one term from 1998 to 2001. She lost a re-election bid for a second term. And in 1999, she lost a mayoral bid to current Mayor Tom Springer.
Arellano ran for mayor from a so-called “safe seat,” meaning she was able to remain on the dais until her term expired.
Mayor Springer said he was not endorsing any candidates for the 2003 election, but if he were, he would not endorse Lupe Arellano.
“It’s no secret we’ve had significant differences on many issues over the years,” Springer said. “Her style was more divisive than productive. She will not get my vote.”
Arellano recently signed a statement of principles for the fledgling grassroots organization called Gilroy First!. The group supports improved public services and housing, downtown revival and community-centered economic growth.
City Council candidates Peter Arellano, Paul Correa and Shawn Weymouth are also members of Gilroy First!.
Candidacy filing deadlines for mayor and City Council are Aug. 8. Since at least one incumbent in both races is not running for re-election, deadlines will likely be extended to Aug. 13.
