Santa Clara City Council has enjoyed a majority of solid representatives. They have worked for and enacted policies beneficial to the Santa Clara community.
This council has successfully hired a city manager and city attorney with common sense. In turn, they have made intelligent decisions beneficial to residents and to the city.
The multi-year reign of Mayor Lisa Gillmor and her council majority was replaced by representatives who placed Santa Clara first.
However, the sanity enjoyed from this current council is in question. If you ever thought Lisa Gillmor was stripped of her influence with an independent council, think again. Gillmor has more political skills than most city councils collectively.
While she remains mayor until 2026, those who have known her over the years have little question that she has already plotted out a strategic plan for the next election … or two.
Yes, she will be termed out as mayor next year. However, that does not guarantee she will leave the council. It is reasonable to predict that she will likely run for the council seat currently occupied by Kelly Cox.
Now, take a look at the current council. Raj Chahal is termed out and wants to run for mayor. Karen Hardy is termed out and wants to run for mayor.
While this group is planning their strategy, Gillmor has already lined up Gillmor-favored candidates to run and replace them to regain her majority on the council.
The outcome of another Gilmor majority could very well mean the replacement of Santa Clara’s city manager, Jovan Grogan, and city attorney, Glen Googins.
The last time Gillmor had a council majority, she gave Santa Clara a city attorney whose decisions cost the city five million dollars. That’s five million dollars that could have been used to repair the International Swim Center. In addition, she hired Sunnyvale’s city manager, whose financial package approached a million dollars a year. Besides busting the city budget, she drove away long-term employees and their institutional knowledge.
Then there is Gillmor’s ongoing feud with one of Santa Clara’s most important business partners, the SF 49ers. They have sponsored more positive activities and local grants to our kids and schools than anyone.
It would be healthy for Santa Clara to support independent and progressive council members in our next elections. The alternative is not promising.
Previous Milestones:
Milestones – Incompetence – Opinion
Milestones – The “Story” Continues – Opinion
Milestones – Around Town We Observe – Opinion
