Concern over votes and leadership
Unfortunately, Mayor is a Simple Figurehead, Operating as City Staff
Dear Editor,
Does Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro have any thoughts when he thinks? I ask after considering his varied “positions” on election issues of major interest to Gilroy residents.
Dispatch staff writer Serdar Tumgoren, discussing City Council’s opportunity to shift its election cycle to overlap with state and federal races because officials believe shifting elections could save at least $60,000 every election cycle. The story “Council May Shift Election” – July 18, quotes Pinheiro: “If it’s a way to save city money … it makes sense to look into it.”
That sounds reasonable until Tumgoren points out the plan would require council members to either trim or add a year from their four-year terms. To trim or add a year to an elected Council member’s term would be a violation of California’s election laws and a slap in the face to Gilroy residents and voters.
Tumgoren further reported: “Pinheiro said he wail also propose shifting all Council elections to a single year, so that terms are no longer staggered. Such a change would eliminate safe seats, preventing a Council member from retaining a seat if he or she loses a mayoral bid, but has time left on a Council term.”
If an individual has time remaining on his or her term, that cannot be eliminated by Pinheiro’s insecurity, which highlights his lack of common sense and a disregard for the best form of representation (staggered elections) now serving Gilroy.
There is also my ongoing curiosity wondering what Pinheiro really wants for Gilroy. When developer James Suner and his partners pledged to spend $200,000 for welcoming arches at Gilroy’s entranceway (“Overarching Issue”, April 4) Pinheiro couldn’t get his priorities straight. “An arch maybe isn’t the most needed thing right now … I’d love to see (arches) down the road, but when we start prioritizing, paseos are needed to help with the parking issue.”
That’s certainly decisive leadership.
In the beginning of Pinheiro’s mayoral role, there was hope his longtime residency and association with Gilroy’s residents would bring a greater growing Gilroy. Instead, this mayor has become only a “go along to get along” acolyte for City Administrator Jay Baksa – his latest act supporting Baksa’s “get my managers and myself rich” scheme.
He’s talked of transparency – letting the public see behind the scenes of government. It wasn’t available when Baksa attempted to slip his financial finagling past City Council. It wasn’t available when local developers balked at open meetings with the Gilroy Unified School District and City Council to solve the school facilities funding crisis. On this issue, what’s Pinheiro’s view of transparency. “I think we need a venue where developers can say what they need to say without every word out in the paper.” (Dispatch – July 29).
That’s also decisive leadership in action.
It’s time Pinheiro stopped acting like a mayor and instead become a mayor – lead rather than follow, suggest rather than dictate, find consensus rather than fueling conflict. The mayoral election is coming – will he be ready?
James Brescoll, Gilroy
