Politics

With nearly 438,000 children living in Santa Clara County, it is important elected officials and voters understand how funding and policy decisions impact children’s lives, according to an Oct. 11 announcement from the County Office of Education. In partnership with the Local Early Education Planning...

The Dispatch sent three questions to all of the local candidates for the Gavilan College Board of Trustees in contested races for the Nov. 6 election. Answers were limited to 50 words each question. Here’s what they had to say: Trustee Area 3 EDWIN DIAZ If Measure X...

In an otherwise cordial candidate forum, hosted Oct. 8 at Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County Board Incumbent Claudia Rossi went on the offensive—questioning the character and judgment of Gino Borgioli, her lone opponent in the District 7 race. Rossi held...

Four City Council positions are up for election in November, and all four incumbents are seeking re-election and face challengers.The last day to file paperwork for a candidate was Friday, Aug. 10, and the ballots are set. Voters will select three candidates to four-year...

If all incumbent Gilroy City Council members choose to run for a four-year term, one will definitely not return to the council. That’s because of the four seats available on the Nov. 6 ballot, three are open for four-year terms and is one for a...

  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...

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...

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...