Willow Glen Resident
News
Diaz and Liccardo in runoff for District 3 council seat
By Eli Segall
Election Day is on the horizon for Greater Gardner residents.
Manny Diaz, a former state assemblyman and councilman, is in a runoff with Sam Liccardo, a Santa Clara County prosecutor. Both are vying for the District 3 seat in San Jose.
The district encompasses greater Gardner and downtown. Cindy Chavez, the district's current council member, cannot seek reelection because she is in her second and final term. Chavez is running for mayor.
The two Democrats rose above six other candidates in the June 6 primary, but were forced into a runoff since neither earned the necessary 50 percent plus needed to win outright.
Manny Diaz
Diaz, 53, who represented East San Jose's District 5 on the city council before running for an assembly seat, cites 10 years working in public office as valuable experience for representing Gardner.
"District 3 is one of the most challenging districts," Diaz said. "It's one thing to be an advocate, and it's another being able to get what the community needs."
Diaz said he supports reopening Gardner Community Center's Biebrach pool and opposes the city's current $250,000 citywide aquatics plan to analyze what residents want from their public pools.
Diaz said at community meetings, people always ask when the pool will be reopened.
"I think I did my own survey," he said, "and it didn't cost $250,000."
To slow down traffic through the Greater Gardner community, Diaz, an engineering graduate and San Jose Planning Commission member from 1986 to 1993, said a study is needed to analyze potential solutions. He suggested such techniques as diverting traffic, adding stop signs, narrowing the streets and building pedestrian bridges.
Diaz, raised in San Francisco's Mission District, points to his support of the city's Strong Neighborhoods Initiative program, which brings needed Redevelopment Agency funds to communities such as Gardner. SNI monies support street repairs, park improvements and anti-litter campaigns.
During his years as a city councilman, Diaz helped channel redevelopment funds toward neighbors outside the "downtown core," where it has been historically spent.
Gang prevention is another area Diaz wants to address.
One program Diaz supports is called SAVE, a crime prevention program run by the San Jose Police Department. Students caught with weapons at school attend an all-day Saturday crime awareness class; parents must accompany them. Diaz's wife, Sandra, a San Jose police officer, works with the program.
Diaz also said he is committed to fighting further cuts to gang-prevention programs that have occurred under Mayor Ron Gonzalez.
Acknowledging "a few rotten apples" have stirred public mistrust of elected officials, Diaz said, "I'm a trusted leader."
He points out that during his years as a city councilman and assemblyman he organized community roundtable discussions, something he plans to do again if elected.
He has been endorsed by more than half a dozen state legislators, San Jose City Council members Nora Campos, Linda LeZotte and Forrest Williams, and several local labor organizations.
Diaz said he supported the June 28 city council resolution that asked Gonzalez to resign in light of his indictment in the Norcal garbage scandal.
"As mayor of San Jose, you are the leader of a city and a region," Diaz said. "You must be able to drive the agenda of the city. If you lose support of the city council, you become ineffective."
Sam Liccardo
Liccardo, 36, works as a Santa Clara County criminal prosecutor in the county's sexual assault unit. He has taken a leave of absence since February to focus on his campaign.
Liccardo was the front runner in the June primary, earning 43 percent of the vote to Diaz's 36 percent.
Like Diaz, Liccardo wants to reopen the Gardner Community Center pool and secure more funds from the city park trust fund. He said if this was unsuccessful, he would look to the redevelopment agency for help.
"I'm very frustrated by the new aquatics plan," he said. "We have the money, so let's spend it and get the pool open.
"There is an addiction in this city to hiring consultants to protect decision makers from making risky decisions," he added.
Liccardo says he will strongly support programs that keep teens in school, and he will fight rumored budget cuts to local community centers and gang-prevention programs.
He has been particularly vocal about curbing the influence of lobbyists in city hall, noting his campaign has returned more than $2,000 worth of deposited contributions previously thought to be unconnected to lobbyists.
Raised in Saratoga, Liccardo moved to downtown San Jose in late 2004. He said he is committed to "making our neighborhoods more walkable" and continuing the transformation of the downtown into a safe and exciting neighborhood.
Liccardo, who is running for public office for the first time, cites as his reason "a real opportunity to make true a vision of San Jose as an exciting cultural and community center."
The Bellarmine High School graduate has also always been interested in public policy, noting he earned a master's degree in crime and housing policy from Harvard.
The San Jose Mercury News and San Jose-Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce endorsed him in the June primaries. San Jose City Council members David Cortese and Ken Yeager have endorsed him for the November runoff.
Liccardo said public mistrust toward elected officials boils down to access. He plans to "work with an open door, attend community meetings and not require a lobbyist" to arrange a meeting.
He supported the June 28 council resolution that asked Gonzalez to resign, not because he was prejudging guilt, but "because you can't effectively lead while under indictment."
For more information on Sam Liccardo, visit samliccardo.com or call 408.283.0646. For more information on Manny Diaz, visit mannydiaz4citycouncil.com or call 408.920.0722.
