GILROY
– November’s City Council race just got a little tighter.
Incumbent Councilman Roland Velasco has announced his bid for a
second term on the Gilroy dais.
GILROY – November’s City Council race just got a little tighter. Incumbent Councilman Roland Velasco has announced his bid for a second term on the Gilroy dais.
Velasco’s announcement is the second confirmed election bid. It follows an announcement made weeks ago by Gilroy Planning Commissioner and two-time Council candidate Russ Valiquette.
The city’s official filing period begins Monday and candidates have until Aug. 8 to join Velasco and Valiquette in the race for three open seats on the Gilroy City Council. Planning Commissioner Paul Correa, who ran unsuccessfully in 2001, said he will use this weekend to mull over another council run. Incumbent Peter Arellano, whose seat is also up in November, has not returned phone calls.
Velasco’s decision to run again was made after he garnered the “wholehearted support” of a Gilroy High School student – Velasco’s 16-year-old son.
“A lot of people can get into a council position and think it’s just a Monday night meeting, but the commitment is a lot more than that,” Velasco said. “There are subcommittees to be on, regional committees and task forces, too. Unless you have a strong family support base, it makes being on the council extremely difficult.”
Velasco, a policy aide to Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage, characterized his first four years on the Council as successful but unfinished. He wants to see plans for downtown revitalization, a local cultural center, a sports park and a third fire station come into fruition before he considers moving on.
“The city is really good at starting initiatives, but it needs help in finishing them off,” Velasco said. “One thing I’m very proud of is, I believe, I’m helping the council stay focused on getting the cultural center developed.”
City Council Monday authorized the purchase of two lots that will make up a portion of a future arts and culture center. The cultural hub, complete with a theater and an art gallery, will be located on the corners of Monterey Road and Seventh and Eigleberry streets.
Velasco said the primary role of local government is to provide for public safety and believe in “giving the police department and fire department the tools and training they need to be at the best of their game.” Velasco also believes his county connection brings an advantage to Gilroy interests.
Velasco is entering an election race that still has unknowns in addition to Arellano and Correa’s currently unclear intentions.
Weeks ago, incumbent Charlie Morales said he had not made up his mind if he would challenge Mayor Tom Springer and incumbent Councilman Al Pinheiro for the mayoral post. Then on June 29, the longtime Councilman was arrested for drunk driving – his second violation within the last three years – making a mayoral bid unlikely. Morales has publicly apologized and said he was “strong enough” to continue his term on the dais which expires November 2005. If Morales is convicted, however, he could face up to a year in jail.
Velasco believes that if Morales resigns, he should do it now.
“The decision is up to him. He’s going to have to weigh his ability to perform based on his legal issues,” Velasco said. “But it would be better for the citizens of Gilroy if he did it sooner than later.”
