Kris Cunningham never thought that Christmas shopping would be political, but since her name got tossed into the ring as a potential candidate for City Council District 6, even that holiday tradition turned strategic.
Cunningham's first encounter with the ubiquity of local politics happened at Valley Fair Mall a few weeks before Christmas. She and her 15-year-old son Patrick were midway through the mall when an old acquaintance from San Jose Unified School District intercepted them to press a question--would Kris run for District 6?
"I can honestly say I was not myself thinking I was going for City Council," Cunningham said. "I said to him, 'No I don't think so, I still have one more in the nest.'"
But through the holidays and into the month of January, the calls trickled in--people encouraging her to run. Assemblyman Mike Honda and Democratic party fundraiser Chris Schumb said they will back her if she runs.
"When the Mercury News Insider article came out and they listed the names of potential candidates [for District 6], my name wasn't on it," she says, referring to a column that ran in late December. "I kept running into people who would say, 'I saw that list, and your name wasn't on it. You'd be a good candidate.' "
Local residents stopped Cunningham at the supermarket, Christmas parties and at shops in downtown Willow Glen to inquire.
Suddenly, Cunningham was forced to contemplate a run. Her decision? Well, she won't formally commit, but she seems to be leaning toward favoring the notion.
Other potential candidates are in the same boat. During an informal Resident poll of local noteworthies, 'I'm seriously considering it,' was the phrase of the day.
Frank Fiscalini's chief-of-staff Michelle McGurk, and former WGNA board member Tiralisa Kaplow were the exceptions: Kaplow says she's not planning to run, and McGurk says she's not considering anything until after her April wedding.
"It's too early for me to make that kind of a decision and I think it's very difficult for Frank that some people are already out there starting to actively gather support--Frank still has two full years left," McGurk said. "As far as me personally, I'm getting married in the middle of April and I've been Frank's chief of staff for all of a month now. Those two things combined are taking up all of my mental energy."
Energy is not the problem for potential candidate Ken Yeager. Early in December, Yeager told a group at the Billy De Frank Gay and Lesbian Center, where he was holding a book-signing, that he would run. Now, he's backpedaling until he finds out if his former boss, Terry Poche, whom he worked with under Congressman Don Edwards, will run for the seat.
"Terry is about the only person who could change my plans," he said.
Poche had the same to say about Yeager. They'll have to draw straws at an upcoming meeting, because she too does not plan to run against her old pal. "We'll work it out, but I doubt seriously if we would run against each other."
Meanwhile, John Gibbs, who has no ties to either Poche or Yeager, has asserted that he too, is seriously considering a run.
"As somebody who has been in local government for years, I know what it means to take this step, and I'm taking some serious time to consider it," Gibbs said. "This is something you don't do half-heartedly."
The chief-of-staff for county supervisor Don Gage, Gibbs also has time on WGNA's board as background experience.
More names might be thrown in the running later, but probably not before someone takes the first step and announces his or her intentions.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
