Politics

South Valley Islamic families are beginning to see their long-awaited plans to build a mosque and community center in San Martin come together, but some vocal San Martin residents continue to oppose the project. The pros and cons of building the proposed Cordoba Center were...

  A divided Gilroy City Council on July 2 narrowly approved an “agri-tourist” commercial development near Hecker Pass Highway (CA 152) and Santa Teresa Boulevard. Four council members—Daniel Harney, Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Fred Tovar and Cat Tucker—rebuffed pleas from Mayor Roland Velasco and a standing-room-only crowd of...

Having just breezed unopposed into his third and final four-year term, District 1 Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman believes he’s just now hit his public-service stride. Los Gatos resident Wasserman, 60, represents the communities of San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, San...

Incumbent Sheriff Laurie Smith and retired Undersheriff John Hirokawa said Tuesday night, with about 41 percent of the total expected ballots counted in the June 5 election, they are both prepared for a November runoff battle for Santa Clara County Sheriff. As of 9pm, neither...

Early returns from the four counties in the sprawling 30th Assembly district left no doubt about the front-runner, San Benito County Supervisor Robert Rivas. He will likely face first-time Republican candidate Neil Kitchens in a November runoff, as fellow Democrat and Gilroy City Councilman...

Labor rights icon Dolores Huerta, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2012, was in South County and San Benito County last week campaigning for her preferred candidate in the 30th District State Assembly race. On Thursday, May 24, Huerta stopped...

The Registrar of Voters is still seeking volunteers for the June 5 primary election, with stipends up to $200. Volunteers are needed from around the county, including specific areas in San Jose, as well as in Los Gatos, Cupertino, Milpitas, Mountain View, Morgan Hill...

The state’s petroleum industry is spending $320,000 in the District 30 State Assembly race to defeat fundraising frontrunner Robert Rivas. The San Benito County supervisor hopes to succeed Anna Caballero, who is running for state senate this year and represents a district that stretches...

Gilroy Mayor Roland Velasco has left his job as an aide to Santa County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, saying he wants to devote a full-time focus to his part-time role at City Hall. Velasco, elected to his first term in 2016, said this week he left...

Nearly two months after the death of Steven Juarez in police custody, friends and family of the Gilroyan are not giving up in their effort to demand answers from City Hall and its police department. Specifically, Juarez’ family—consisting of several generations of Gilroy residents—wants to...