Joe grew up in Salinas, where his parents and grandparents were farmworkers, and 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. He was made a ward of the court and placed on probation, losing a year of high school credits as a result. But the love of his family, meeting his wife and the support of 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 coolers 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 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 Commission working to clean up politics and government.

Now, Joe is running for City Council to continue that career of service – and to continue holding city hall accountable, so our community is safe and clean, our tax dollars are not wasted and we end the tragedy of street homeless by creating more shelter all over San José and requiring people to use it.

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.