Willow Glen Resident

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Reed, Chavez disagree on all topics except the arts

By Monica Heger

About the only thing San Jose's mayoral candidates Chuck Reed and Cindy Chavez agreed on during a debate decidedly more heated than most was the importance the arts would have on bringing BART to San Jose.

Ethics were a main focus of the debate at the San Jose Repertory Theatre, following revelations Reed billed the city for $39,000 in personal expenses, such as memberships to community groups. The expenses were well above those of any other council member, but Reed paid the city back. Reed, who has run his campaign for mayor on a platform of honesty and high ethical standards, did not let this new turn of events throw him off course, as he continued to criticize the current culture of city hall as secretive and corrupt.

"[Norcal] was one of the most egregious examples of corruption in the city of San Jose," Reed said. "The independent investigator recommended the investigation be continued, but the city council punted it at Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez's request."

Chavez defended her decision, saying the investigation ended up where it belonged, in the hands of the district attorney's office.

"The only thing that disappoints you is that I didn't do anything wrong," Chavez said.

Reed also criticized Chavez for her votes on the $4 million Grand Prix subsidy, the vote to use eminent domain on the Tropicana shopping center, which cost the city $8 million and the lawsuit against Santa Clara County, which cost the city $22.5 million.

"There are times when leaders need to take risks," Chavez said, regarding the Tropicana vote. " And the changes that happened in that neighborhood are priceless."

Chavez criticized Reed for not being a collaborative leader and for focusing only on the negative at city hall. She questioned him as to how he planned to get a council to consider his views, since he frequently is in the minority on a vote.

"I'll do what Tom McEnery did--win," Reed said. "That will change the environment on the council. When the people speak, the council will listen."

In their visions for San Jose, Reed is focusing on changing the culture at city hall and putting the ethical problems behind the city. His goal is to make San Jose the best place to start and develop a business, live and raise a family.

Chavez is focusing her vision for San Jose on education, health care and green business. She said the next mayor needed to start thinking ahead to make San Jose "the center of innovation for the next technology wave--green business and clean energy."