The other candidates include Councilmembers Cindy Chavez, Dave Cortese and Chuck Reed as well as J. Manuel Herrera, East Side Union High School District board president.

Nearby, in downtown Willow Glen, are the buildings owned by Mulcahy's family real estate and investment firm, SDS NexGen Partners--the Garden Theater, the Aqui Cal-Mex Grill and Blockbuster building, and the building on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street that houses Elite Cleaners.

Since Mulcahy, 40, took over the family business in 2000, he's worked to improve buildings, such as the current remodel of the Garden Theater, and attract profitable businesses to Lincoln Avenue. He also serves as vice president of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association, where he worked to help raise the association's business improvement district fees to strengthen downtown Willow Glen.

Yet some of the firm's choices--such as bringing a Starbucks to the Garden Theater and a proposed Beverages & More into the former Barbarella storefront at 1133 Lincoln Ave.--have been controversial. Residents, in letters to the Willow Glen Resident, say the downtown doesn't need any more liquor stores or coffee shops or chain businesses.

But Mulcahy said the downtown needs a balance of independent and regional or national retailers to succeed. He points to Bella James, a start-up boutique by two local women that will open next month in the Garden Theater adjacent to Starbucks.

"They would never have gone to the Garden Theater if Starbucks wasn't next door," Mulcahy said. "They know they need to have activity around them to be a start-up."

The former Barbarella location has been hard to fill, he says. Beverages & More was looking at the former D's Bar and Restaurant at 1177 Lincoln Ave. before B Civilized moved into the space. Beverages & More then went to Mulcahy to inquire about the former Barbarella space instead.

"The worst thing we can do is say Willow Glen is open for business and then not allow businesses to come here," Mulcahy said. "I think that balance is important."

The lessons Mulcahy has learned in Willow Glen, he says, have helped him understand some of the difficulties faced by small business owners throughout the city. As mayor, he would like to see the city reach out to local entrepreneurs and guide them through the complicated permitting process.

Mulcahy does have fans in the business district, namely Aqui owner David O'Mara. O'Mara has worked with Mulcahy over the years, most recently collaborating to bring the Willow Glen Farmers Market to the parking lot behind Aqui.

"Michael is a very inclusive owner. He speaks to you about what his vision is and how to enhance Willow Glen as a community," O'Mara says. "That's a landlord you don't see very often."

Mulcahy says the family's investments on Lincoln Avenue began as a passion of his mother, Shirlee DiNapoli Schiro of the DiNapoli family.

Willow Glen roots

In 1941, Frank DiNapoli co-founded Sun Garden Packing Co., one of the largest tomato packers in California. DiNapoli had three children, Richard, Shirlee DiNapoli Schiro and J. Philip.

Schiro had five children --Tim, Eric, Brian, Paula and Michael. By the time Mulcahy was in the eighth grade, his older brothers were starting their careers, and he spent his summers working in the family business, driving forklifts and dumping 50-pound sacks of sugar into vats from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. He would then head off to rehearsal at the Children's Musical Theater.

Beginning at the age of 6, Mulcahy was a performer in plays at the Children's Musical Theater, professional shows in San Francisco and television commercials. He attended St. Christopher School on Booksin Avenue and, later, Bellarmine College Preparatory. He graduated from high school in 1983.

Mulcahy started his college career at San José State University, working toward a career in entertainment. He transferred to the University of Southern California two years later and graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications in 1988.

"I quickly realized when I was there that something was pulling me home," Mulcahy says. He returned to San Jose, rekindling his relationship with the Children's Musical Theater, first by participating in alumni shows and later, serving on the board of directors.

In 1993, Mulcahy was helping the board find a new executive director when he decided to pursue the position himself.

"I knew we had so much potential. We weren't taking opportunities and developing partnerships," Mulcahy says. "I wanted to give kids the same chances I had."

Through his work with the organization, Mulcahy became closely acquainted with the city. He worked with various city departments on issues ranging from space rentals, to school and community center programming, as he developed relationships with elected officials in an effort for give the arts greater city exposure.

"I was a customer of the city and saw how it could improve," he says.

During his time as executive director of CMT, the people he impressed most were his colleagues. Attorney David Stock served on the theater's board while Mulcahy vastly increased the theater's budget.

"He had a really singular vision of where it had been and where it needed to go," Stock says.

Stock also witnessed Mulcahy appeal to a wide constituency, including families, public agencies and investors. This experience, Stock says, could prepare him well for the mayoral post.

"With the arts, you're always walking a fine line. That's the first thing people are pulling money from," Stock says.

Kevin Hauge, the theater's artistic director, has worked with Mulcahy since he was a teenage performer.

"He's always been a leader, whether he was 16 or 26 or 36. He has that quality of quiet confidence and the ability, even in a room of confusion, to step up and get things done," Hauge says.

Now Mulcahy is trying to put his leadership to the test in the city's top seat. Family members are stepping in to help run the family business, and he enters the race with the support of his wife Kimberly and daughters Claire, Camille and Ella.

The June primary will narrow the field to the top two, with a runoff in November. Mulcahy says he will be a "citizen leader" and is forgoing contributions from lobbyists.

"There are times when you need to break the mold," Mulcahy says. "I don't think we can take someone from the inside. We need someone like us."

For more information on Michael Mulcahy's campaign, visit www.solutionsforsanjose.com.