Showing off their multiple talents on the field, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
They did it all with running, passing, and a determined defense destined to decimate and dominate.
The weather was cool, and the 49ers were hot, knocking off the conference-leading Chargers, demonstrating they are contenders against the best. In the football world, they are foes to be feared. In politics, well, they are better at football.
Meanwhile, in the Santa Clara election for mayor, the outcome will be like making a field goal as the clock expired.
Council Member Anthony Becker’s race for Mayor against incumbent Lisa Gillmor has been so close we are now into overtime.
Becker received heavy support from the 49ers PAC as he had demonstrated a willingness to work with them on stadium issues.
Gillmor, having become a household name over the past 30 years, was not denied, and it looks like she will return to the council and the mayor’s job for another four years. But it would be a mistake to ignore that a determined adversary with only two years on the council has come so close to winning the mayor’s office.
Now, it would be gracious of Gillmor to end her grudge against the 49ers, enjoy her victory and take up her role as a partner with them as the city contracts state.
Working with a partner is much healthier and more productive than being an adversary. Gillmor has demonstrated she is the voter’s choice. However, with a handful of votes separating her and Becker in this win, there is a message. Santa Clara wants Gillmor as Mayor and residents want collaboration.
This vote was not a mandate for malice. It was more for peace within the partnership.
It appears this is a great opportunity for both sides. Gillmor holds the City gavel, but residents have made clear they want cooperation.
The numbers in this election tell the story and provide both sides with opportunities.
It is time for the olive branch of cooperation to be offered up by both Mayor Gillmor and the 49ers.
Find a mutual objective, perhaps a project, and work jointly to make it successful. The election is over. Time to drop the hatchet, identify some common ground (like fixing the City budget) and jointly work together to make that happen.
