Willow Glen businessman Michael Mulcahy has thrown his hat in the ring for mayor.

On Jan. 24, Mulcahy filed his "declaration of intent" to seek office, along with candidates Chuck Reed, Dave Cortese and Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez, all city council members. Mulcahy said he will be a "citizen leader," open to new ideas and forgoing politics as usual, such as personal attacks on his opponents.

Mulcahy's campaign will focus on improving education, fighting traffic gridlock, promoting family-friendly neighborhoods and retaining high-wage jobs in San Jose.

Mulcahy, 40, is the former director of Children's Musical Theater in San Jose, and has served as co-chair for the Greater Downtown Development Strategy Task Force and on the board of the San Jose Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Currently, Mulcahy is managing partner of Willow Glen-based SDS NexGen Partners. Mulcahy owns the firm with his mother, Shirlee DiNapoli Schiro, and his siblings Brian and Tim Mulcahy, Erin Stein and Paula Keaney. All are Willow Glen natives.

The real estate and investment firm owns the Garden Theatre, the Aqui Cal-Mex Grill and Blockbuster building, and the building on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street that houses Elite Cleaners, Willow Glen Bicycles, The Fitness Group of Willow Glen and Vic's Coin Shop.

Mulcahy also serves on the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association board. He lives with his wife, Kimberly, and their three daughters in Willow Glen.

Silicon Valley Reads
author comes to WG

Louise Steinman, author of The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father's War, comes to the Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave., on Feb. 11 at 11 a.m., as part of Silicon Valley Reads Month.

The event is part of the fourth annual Silicon Valley Reads program, which asks Santa Clara County residents to read the same book in February. Steinman's book was chosen because it pertains to the impact of World War II on California families.

A mix of memoir, biography and history, Steinman's book details hundreds of letters written by her father when he was in the Pacific during World War II and Steinman's own journey to Asia.

For more information, visit www.siliconvalleyreads.org or call 408.354.1242.