Although Ron Gonzales’ second and final term as mayor of San Jose is coming to an end in the next few months, we’re not so naive as to believe he will fade quietly into retirement from political life.
Instead, we have no doubt that the man who has led San Jose with no regard for South County has plans for a bigger political future. Will he run for the California Assembly, California Senate, or aim even higher, perhaps for statewide office or for the United States House of Representatives?
Whatever his plans, Gonzales shouldn’t count on many votes from residents of Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy.
Here are just a few examples of Gonzales’ utter disregard for South County that occurred during his time as mayor of San Jose:
n Suing the Morgan Hill School District and the City of Morgan Hill to block construction of Ann Sobrato High School;
n Allowing no elected members of Gavilan Community College or the Morgan Hill Unified School district to sit on the Coyote Valley Specific Plan Task Force, even though both institutions’ attendance areas include Coyote Valley;
n Advocating the removal “triggers” to make it easier for developers to build homes in Coyote Valley;
n Attempting to force an extension of BART to San Jose at seemingly any cost, including axing projects promised in Measure A that are beneficial to South County.
We cannot imagine why Gonzales, a man who seems to have big political ambitions, thinks it is in his best interest to alienate the voters of South County. We cannot imagine why Gonzales, a man who claims a regional style of leadership, repeatedly ignores South County’s goals and objectives. We are hopeful that he will not be successful in any bid for higher office.
We’re glad that South County’s neighbor to the north will soon have a new mayor. We hope they choose a replacement who doesn’t just spout pro-regional rhetoric, but also backs those words with deeds that show true regional leadership.
And we hope that whatever Gonzales’ future political career plans might be, that voters in South County and beyond have long memories about his disappointing two terms leading San Jose.
