Jimenez, Nguyen and Davis for S.J.
San Jose has a lot at stake in the November election.
Passage of Measure F is critical for the city to settle litigation, capture significant pension savings for taxpayers and rebuild a decimated police department. Measure B, the countywide transportation measure, would give the city an annual funding stream to repair its crumbling streets and provide the local matching funds to bring BART all the way downtown. The county’s Measure A would address the homeless crisis gripping the region, but especially San Jose.
And there are three lively city council races for voters to settle. We recommend Sergio Jimenez in District 2, Dev Davis in District 6 and Jimmy Nguyen in District 8.
Davis and Nguyen get the nod because both are more independent than their opponents. Jimenez is closely aligned with labor unions, but his life experience, community service and support from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce make him a good choice.
District 6 has two good candidates. Helen Chapman raised her family in the district and has been a strong community leader for years on a wide variety of issues, particularly fighting for parks. Davis has shown leadership in her North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and has a solid resume of community service.
But Davis, a research manager and policy analyst at Stanford, has a strong analytical bent, evaluating issues and particularly spending questions with intelligence and clarity.
Both candidates would try to do good things, but the city’s fundamental challenge remains fiscal. This is why Mayor Sam Liccardo wants Davis in City Hall.
Davis is a Republican who repudiated Donald Trump early on and is socially progressive. We’ll probably disagree with her at times, but we’re confident she will represent the district well and help keep spending priorities in line.
In District 8, Evergreen School Board member Sylvia Arenas popped onto the primary ballot with the support of Councilwoman Magadalena Carrasco and her ex-partner, state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León. Arenas is well regarded in school circles, but she barely campaigned in the primary, not even showing up for forums. She won on the strength of supporters.
This fall she met with us, and she was catching up on city issues. She said her reticence in the spring was because of “bad advice.”
Our advice to District 8 is to elect attorney Jimmy Nguyen, who ran four years ago. He’s short on government experience, but he has worked hard to get up to speed. Last time Nguyen had union support, this time the Chamber of Commerce — but he says his principles haven’t changed, just the opponents he’s facing.
And he’s never been afraid to talk to people he wants to represent.
In District 2, Jimenez has an inspiring life story, growing up poor in East San Jose and overcoming challenges to graduate from San Jose State and raise a family here. He founded the Oak Grove Neighborhood Association and chairs the city Parks and Recreation Commission.
His opponent, Steve Brown, has a resume of public service and the support of the Chamber of Commerce. But he has been slow to form his ideas for the campaign, and he has been murky on the rights of gays and lesbians.
The Values Advocacy Council, which opposes gay marriage, said Brown supported the right of business owners to refuse service based on their religious beliefs. Others say he told them the same thing, but after gay and lesbian leaders denounced the position, he insisted to us and others that he would never condone discrimination. He either didn’t understand what he was saying earlier, or he’s changed his mind for expedience. Either way, we’re with Jimenez.
If key ballot measures pass Nov. 8, San Jose will be much better able to address its challenges next year. But it all depends on how the mayor and city council follow up. Jimenez, Davis and Nguyen are the best bets.