He would frequently join them in the fields to pick crops in the summers and after school. At a young age, his grandparents always encouraged him to read and write at the kitchen table or out on the lawn, which helped him learn English. 

He came from a strong and supportive family, but one evening as a kid he got off on the wrong track – spending some time in juvenile hall for stealing a radio. The love of his family, meeting his wife, and support from his community got him straightened out quickly. But that experience taught Joe a lesson he always remembered – people can turn their lives around with hard work, and by taking personal responsibility for their actions.

Joe returned to school and made up his credits working nights in the frozen food sector as a Teamster’s member. And after working briefly for the United Farm Workers union, Joe went on to San José State, and then to a career in law enforcement, where he always worked to give everyone a second chance – but only if they would work to hold themselves accountable.

He went on to serve three terms on the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury fighting waste and fraud in government, as a commissioner on the Human Services Commission and on the San José Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices working to clean up politics and government.

Now, Joe is running for City Council to continue that career of service — and to continue working to hold city hall accountable — so our city is safe and clean, our tax dollars are not wasted, and we end the tragedy of street homelessness by creating shelter everywhere in San José and requiring people to use it. Joe is proud that our district has already done its fair share of hosting homeless shelters — now he will make sure every district does the same. 

San José was once one of the safest big cities in America – and on the City Council, Joe won’t stop fighting for us until we reclaim that important title.