This article was originally published in the Mercury News. Read the full article here.
Incumbent Sergio Jimenez, completing a second consecutive term representing District 2 in South San Jose, is barred by the city’s term limits law from seeking reelection.
Four candidates are vying to fill the seat. The standout is Joe Lopez, a retired sergeant who spent 35 years working for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department and has a firm grasp of the issues challenging the city. He says he entered the race out of concerns about the city’s homeless crisis, blight and crime.
In addition to his law enforcement career, Lopez, a 54-year resident of the city, brings a solid resume of community service, including serving on the San Jose Human Services Commission, the city’s Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices and the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. He is also president of the National Latino Peace Officers Association of Santa Clara County.
The other candidates in the race are Vanessa Sandoval, who is Jiminez’s chief of staff; Pamela Campos, a policy and program officer with the Low Income Investment Fund in San Francisco and a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Policy Advisory Council; and Babu Prasad, the owner of two small retail businesses.
Sandoval and Campos are also well-versed on city issues, but it’s Lopez who is best aligned with the mayor’s vision for the city. Lopez ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2016. If he fares better this time, he will be a solid addition to San Jose’s governing board.
