California voters will narrow their choices for November’s ballot in the June 7 primary.
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Vote for Chavez to bring
collaboration to City Hall
It has been 24 years since the last time San Jose was led by a female mayor. As of 2021, nationwide only about 25% of mayors were women. What used to be the “Feminist Capital” as proclaimed by Mayor Janet Gray Hayes at an NWPC Convention has become Man Jose.
It is important for our government to reflect who we are. When women are represented at high levels in business, nonprofit organizations and the public sector, decisions are more collaborative, transparent and effective. Cindy Chavez is a strong, knowledgeable and passionate advocate for our community. She shares our values on reproductive justice, protection from sexual and domestic violence, and gender parity. She is also the most qualified candidate with a record of success in bringing services, funding and a voice to those historically disenfranchised.
Only 15% of voters have returned their ballots. Representation matters. Vote Cindy Chavez for mayor on or before Nov. 8.
Angelica Ramos
San Jose
Elect Zhao, Dalton
to Saratoga council
Preserve Saratoga, a volunteer group of residents protecting our open spaces, hills, low density and parks, is supporting Yan Zhao for re-election and Bill Dalton for election to our City Council. Bill will be a great asset to the council and will work well with Yan and the other council members.
As a member of Preserve Saratoga, I am delighted to see them support both Yan and Bill. Yan has fought hard to maintain our quality of life and support our small-town atmosphere while promoting our unique commercial areas. Bill, a hard-working member of our Traffic and Safety Commission, knows how seriously nearby dense development will impact our pedestrian and driver safety. He will be better able to promote our safety and community goals as a member of the City Council.
Please join me in voting for Yan and Bill.
Marcia Fariss
Saratoga
Vote for Jonsen
to fix Sheriff’s Office
If we are serious about change, we need an experienced outsider for the position of Santa Clara County Sheriff. Police Chief Bob Jonsen is the only choice to fix the problems that have plagued the office for years.
The other candidate, Kevin Jensen, was part of former Sheriff Laurie Smith’s leadership team. The donations from law enforcement unions to Jensen’s campaign tell a story, and it’s the story of keeping the status quo. These groups just put out a mail piece attacking Chief Jonsen with false and misleading information.
Jonsen is not beholden to the unions. He is endorsed by Rep. Anna Eshoo, The Mercury News, Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg (chair of the county’s Public Safety and Justice Committee) and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. Jonsen is the only candidate who can bring back respect to hard-working law enforcement professionals who keep us all safe.
Monica Podlesh
Los Altos
Why San Jose should
elect Chavez as mayor
Matt Mahan wants to deceive the public about crime.
Only judges can sentence people to jail or release people from jail. Judges also set bail. These judicial decisions are tightly controlled by the constitution and state law. Mahan knows this. He attended a City/County meeting in September at which numerous law enforcement professionals and judges affirmed these truths. Yet he deceitfully implies that county supervisors can overrule the courts. Why is he so dishonest? Is it because he has no idea how to improve public safety other than create a climate of fear?
Or is it because he has no record to compare with Cindy Chavez – a leader who has brought health care to tens of thousands of children and worked to protect women from domestic
violence and trafficking to housing over 20,000 individuals.
Black and Brown residents of San Jose recognize the racist dog whistles when candidates lie about crime to incite fear and hatred.
Walter Wilson
San Jose
Paper’s fair report
helps Prop. 30 decision
As I prepare to cast my ballot, I found myself very confused by Proposition 30. After all, it’s very unusual to find a Democratic governor taking the opposite position from the state Democratic Party.
So I read your very informative front-page article on Oct. 23 (“No slam dunk for ballot’s Prop. 30“), which laid out the facts both pro and con, without bias toward either side. By the time I reached the end of the article, I knew how I would vote on 30. And it’s the opposite of this paper’s editorial recommendation.
And that is exactly how journalism and democracy should work. Thank you.
Lisa Bail
San Jose
Election will decide if U.S.
leans toward autocracy
This Nov. 8 election is extremely important – our nation’s future path as a country is at stake. Look at what is happening in China, Russia, or Brazil, Hungary, Italy and now England where autocratic politicians are taking charge and are moving toward supreme control by eliminating citizen rights, controlling the media, placing unpopular restrictions on their citizens, and are limiting voting accessibility. We in the United States are on the verge of being in that situation – if we elect far-right extremists to leadership positions.
We are living in two alternative worlds depending on what source of news we choose. Everyone needs to look at alternate new sources to see what is being presented as facts, evaluate what they see, then vote. The basic choice is electing truthful people who support our democracy or electing people who will lead us from freedom to a more controlled, authoritarian country.
Bob Ruff
San Jose