Woodward drops out of mayor race, backs Don Gage

Councilman Perry Woodward announced Thursday that he is no longer running for mayor, in light of former Gilroy Mayor Don Gage’s decision to enter the race. 

“I’ve done a lot of thinking over the last couple months, and I had to remember the reason I entered the race in the first place,” Woodward said. “I saw a need that wasn’t being filled. I wasn’t satisfied with Dion Bracco and Peter Arellano as choices. But with Don Gage entering, I had to reconsider.”

Woodward, who was elected in 2007, said he plans to run for a second term on city council, and plans to fully support Gage’s mayoral campaign. 

“The fact is that Don wants the job. I’m surprised but pleased. I think that will be good for Gilroy,” he said. 

Woodward’s council term expires in November, and had he ran for mayor and lost, he would have had to sit out from city politics until the next election. By dropping out of the mayoral race, Woodward believes he can best serve the city by being re-elected for another term on City Council. 

“You do get caught up in the campaign,” Woodward said, acknowledging it was difficult for him at first to think about conceding. “We’re all competitive people (on council), so it took me a little while of soul searching to come to the right decision.” 

Woodward, who is an attorney for Terra Law in San Jose, raised $10,000 for his mayoral campaign and spent about half of it. He is unsure, legally, what he should do with the remaining contributions. 

As for Arellano and Bracco, Woodward thinks they have their work cut out for them. 

“I think Don is going to be tough to beat,” he said.