Fall races for three seats on the City Council show signs of
heating up as more candidates step forward
Gilroy – All three incumbents up for reelection will vie to retain their seats on Gilroy’s City Council.
Wednesday, Craig Gartman joined Bob Dillon in announcing his intention to run for a second term. Three-term councilman Charles Morales did not make a formal announcement, but made it clear he intends to run.
“I think the current council is working together toward our goals and solving our issues, especially with the budget,” Morales said. “I think consistency and continuity is important. My announcement on my candidacy will address those particular issues.”
Morales said that he would like to spend another four years realizing the vision of Mayor Al Pinheiro and bringing substantially more affordable and low-income housing to town. Gartman said he wants to continue revitalizing downtown, build more neighborhood parks and a fourth fire station. He stopped short of endorsing his fellow incumbents, but praised the progress the board has made in the last four years.
“This council has worked extremely well together,” Gartman said. “We get a lot of things done and respect each other’s opinions when they differ. We do not have the infighting that has occurred on previous councils.”
The incumbents will have at least two challengers. Both Peter Arellano, a physician and former council member, and Dion Bracco, a member of Gilroy’s planning commission, have announced their candidacy. Bracco said Wednesday that he believes council members should be limited to two terms and that the current council is not vigilant enough with the public’s dime.
“Gilroy really needs to take a look at its budget and start saving money,” Bracco said, questioning the city’s recent expenditures on such items as fire equipment which he believes could have been purchased more cheaply.
“I never pay a distributor what they’re asking,” the owner of Bracco’s Towing said. “The expenditures that go through the city council leave me wondering why no one is asking any questions.”
Bracco, who lost a council seat to Paul Correa by just 70 votes in 2003, also took on two controversial topics the sitting councilmen deferred on. He said that the pay of Gilroy firefighters should be commensurate with towns like Hollister and Watsonville. He also said the city should get rid of the binding arbitration process it uses in disputes with public safety officers.
“Being a firefighter is dangerous, but it’s not as dangerous in Gilroy as it is in San Francisco or Los Angeles,” Bracco said. “I don’t like an outsider telling us what to do. I don’t think it works for either side.”
Councilman Bob Dillon said he believes Bracco will take a seat this time around, probably at the expense of Morales. Dillon thinks voters will be reluctant to elect anyone to a fourth term, but Morales is also vulnerable after he pleaded guilty to a third drunken driving offense in 2003. At the time, Dillon called for Morales’ resignation.
“I’m surprised. He’s got a tough row to hoe to get back to the council,” Dillon said. “In my estimate right now, I think Dion is going to be elected.”
Dillon also said, though, that the current council has done a remarkable job shepherding the city’s economic development.
“I’ve been here 20 years and this is the first time I’ve seen any activity downtown,” he said. “I’m very happy with the way the council is going. I think the city’s heading in the right direction, but if I’m lucky enough to be reelected I’m happy to work with whomever the voters send me.”
Morales’ decision likely means that one other potential candidate, Bruce Morasca, who made an unsuccessful bid for the council in 2003, has said previously that he would not run against Morales. Art Baron, a mailman and president of the Eigleberry Neighborhood Association also has said his candidacy hinges on Morales. That leaves, at the moment, five candidates for three seats up for grabs on Nov. 8. Voters can vote for as many as three candidates.
The period for candidate nominations officially opens July 18 and closes Aug. 12. A five-day extension kicks in if one of the incumbents fails to file by the deadline.
The seven-member council also includes the mayor, Correa, Russ Valiquette and Roland Velasco. Their terms expire in 2007.
