Milestones – You are One of Two! – Opinion

There are only two possibilities when you vote for a candidate.

One: you are informed and objective; you evaluate the individual’s record, their success and contribution to your community; and find they used funds judiciously and made common-sense decisions.

Or, two: you vote by name recognition or friendship.

In Santa Clara, if you are a voter in category 1, the lineup of candidates provides either one of two options.

One: The candidates have been hand selected by Mayor Lisa Gillmor — so selected that they don’t even appear to be campaigning for themselves — and represent her philosophy of politics and management, or…

Two: The candidates that you pick represent the community and have made and will make common-sense decisions.

Now, this is where you fit in. You’re the voter and you are the one that is going to determine the direction of Santa Clara.

Friendships or name recognition aside, you must examine the record. Ask yourself this question. Would you loan Mayor Gillmor a million dollars of your money to manage based on her record?

Now we are getting into reality.

Lisa Gillmor has spent millions of your money foolishly and selfishly:

1. The $6 million challenging the court decision to make six council districts in Santa Clara — money that could have rebuilt the Senior Center.
2. The $800,000 a year compensation package Gillmor gave City Manager Deanna Santana could have hired a Wall Street guru. Santana duplicated Mayor Gillmor’s lead and hired cronies from her previous posts. You would think the salary awards she handed out were on helium.
3. The $2 million the City lost because Gillmor’s hand-picked City Attorney, Brian Doyle, withheld a settlement offer from the council. This would have been enough to rejuvenate Central Park.

Over the past year, this column has covered the actions and decisions of the council members and substantial coverage has been given to Mayor Gillmor.

While the current council has a handle on the budget, the inheritance left by  Gillmor is a $17 million deficit.

Lisa Gillmor has a lot of collateral wrapped up in the title of Mayor. To move on and up in politics it reads better when you read “Mayor” as opposed to “former Mayor.”

This year you will decide if you vote for more of the same leadership. Or, a candidate who will return sanity to the budget, who works with his associates and who arrives at collaborative decisions.

Consider these thoughts as you cast your vote. Just maybe, Anthony Becker is better.