The Willow Glen Resident WGNA hosts a forum for mayor, sheriff candidates The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association has always concerned itself with political issues that affect the Glen, but on Oct. 28, WGNA members will be able to ask questions of politicians seeking to effect change city- and countywide. As part of its biannual general meeting, the WGNA is hosting a candidates night with San Jose mayoral hopefuls Pat Dando and Ron Gonzales and sheriff contenders Laurie Smith and Ruben Diaz. At the forum, the candidates will each make opening statements and then take questions from the audience. WGNA member Paul Kanter will serve as moderator. The forum is open to the public as well as WGNA members. According to WGNA president Kris Cunningham, about 160 people attended the association's last candidates night in May, and she expects approximately the same turnout for the Oct. 28 event. The association will begin its general meeting at 7 p.m., followed by the sheriffs candidates at 8:15 p.m., in order to accommodate Diaz, who has another commitment earlier in the evening. As this is one of only two general meetings the association holds each year, Cunningham says, the discussion prior to the candidates forum will focus more specifically on WGNA business, including a report on the Oct. 17 planting project undertaken by the neighborhood group along the median at Meridian Avenue and Highway 280. WGNA's membership may also start planning future planting efforts at the meeting, Cunningham says. The WGNA general meeting and candidates night is set for Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Willow Glen United Methodist Church, Newport and Minnesota avenues. --Anne Gelhaus [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, October 21, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.