Politics

Gilroy Dispatch: Briefly describe your background and experience. Why are you qualified for this position?

As both sides of Measure F push to grow the number of voters in their corner—with less than two weeks until Election Day—the debate swirling around the half-percent sales tax increase on the ballot is heating up.

City officials are moving forward with a plan to ensure any access minors might have to tobacco products behind the counter is cut off. On Monday night, City Council voted unanimously to proceed with the preparation of an ordinance that would, if formally adopted at a future meeting, require that tobacco retailers pay to obtain an annual license through the city.

Gilroy Dispatch: Briefly describe your background and experience. Why are you qualified for this position?

Gilroy Dispatch: Briefly describe your background and experience. Why are you qualified for this position?

Gilroy Dispatch: Briefly describe your background and experience. Why are you qualified for this position?

Throughout her life, Mary Gutierrez has fought to prove she can excel in male-dominated fields—whether it's competitive bodybuilding, sparring with Marines or fighting fires. Now, she's breaking down barriers as the first woman in a management position with the Gilroy Fire Department.

One year ago, 25 members of the General Plan Advisory Committee first gathered for to help revamp the blueprint for Gilroy's future when it comes to development, housing, jobs, transportation and growth in general. The group, known as GPAC, is tasked with revising the city's guiding principles and vision through the creation of a new 20-year General Plan.

All five candidates for Gilroy City Council appeared at a public forum in the Gilroy Library Oct. 2 hosted by the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. They addressed topics ranging from how to best address Gilroy's growth and an uptick in housing to what kind of changes they would like to see at City Hall and each candidate had the opportunity to speak to voters before the Nov. 4 election.

City and county officials are asking Gilroy residents for their input on how best to spend more than $360,000 in federal funding dedicated to improving the community. In conjunction with the county and cities across the county, officials are hosting the last of three regional forums—this one in Gilroy—to ask locals how to address homelessness, affordable housing and community improvements with that funding.