Willow Glen Resident

News

It's bittersweet for District 6 as Yeager wins supervisor race

By Monica Heger

San Jose City Councilman Ken Yeager won 52.1 percent of the vote in the District 4 Santa Clara County supervisorial race, avoiding a November runoff election.

"I'm very excited about it," said Yeager about his June 6 victory. "I was totally surprised. We were all expecting a runoff. I consider it a wonderful opportunity to have six months to meet with people and to learn the issues in greater depth rather than waiting until November."

Yeager is replacing Supervisor Jim Beall, who is termed out as of January.

Yeager, who represents District 6, which includes the Willow Glen, Rose Garden and Burbank neighborhoods, still has two years left on his city council term, so either a special election will take place in November or the council will appoint someone to fill the vacancy.

"It's so early, the city council and city clerk's office are trying to figure out what the options are," Yeager said.

Yeager said the biggest issue his successor will have to take on is land use.

"There are some large parcels that will be developed, particularly in midtown," he said, "and that has to be well-planned, making sure we get as large a park as possible."

He also cited Westfield Shopping Center at the former Valley Fair and its continued expansion plans as another big issue. The neighbors and the city have conflicting points of view about the center's future growth. While the expansion will be good for the city by bringing in more tax revenue, Yeager said, it will also increase traffic in the surrounding neighborhoods.

"That's what dominated my six years--land development and trying to mitigate all the problems that growth causes," he said.

Other projects that have been started during Yeager's terms include a new community center and library, the renovation of the Willow Glen library, a trail system that needs to be completed and airport noise mitigation.

As for his legacy, Yeager said he hopes his greatest accomplishment will have been involving more people in government.

"I'm proud of my work on the airport curfew and trails and libraries," Yeager said, "but I really hope that what's lasting is that more people are involved in local government and feel empowered, and that they do make a difference if they participate."

Ed Rast, president of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, said Yeager's victory was bittersweet.

"On the one hand, he's been a great councilman, and at the same time I think he's going to be great on the board of supervisors," Rast said.

He agreed with Yeager that land use will be a critical issue for the next council member.

"We need somebody who has an understanding of planning and land use," Rast said. "There are a lot of challenges with infill housing, the impacts and proper mitigation."

He also said it would be important that the next representative be as involved in the community as Yeager.

"One of the big issues is that the next council person continues to be responsive to the residents and the neighborhoods and keep us informed," he said. "We've had a number of meetings where Ken or Tony Filice, from his staff, have been there. They've done an excellent job of keeping everyone informed."

Thom Schied, president of the Rose Garden Neighborhood Preservation Association, said he will be looking for a candidate who will make the school system and parks as big a priority as Yeager did.

"The great thing about Ken was that he lived here," Schied said. "We're looking for someone who can appreciate, or ideally, live in the neighborhood."

Like Rast, Schied will miss Yeager's commitment and continued presence in District 6.

"Now that the election's over and Ken's won, it's a reality," Schied said. "We have to face the fact that we're losing Ken. But, he's still always going to be a neighbor."