Don Gagliardi is a longtime neighborhood organizer and champion of parks and soccer fields. He reflects downtown’s idiosyncratic nature just fine and knows the city blocks well. He’s been around City Hall enough to understand the levers of power and brings the perspective of an urban homeowner and small businessman to the council.

Kathy Sutherland has been a neighborhood organizer as well and served on a number of regional committees. She’s the former chief of staff to Almaden Valley councilmember Nancy Pyle and well-liked by just about everyone. Sutherland's passion for community makes her a strong candidate, but it seems like her work would be best done behind the scenes.

Raul Peralez has a great story—he’s a San Jose policeman who stuck it out after Measure B and serves as president of his neighborhood association. But Peralez is far too green for the job, having just waded into politics a few years ago. He cites county Supervisor and labor machine leader Cindy Chavez as his mentor, which leaves little question who he’ll take marching orders from as he gets up to speed.

Gagliardi’s our choice to re-energize downtown’s business district while championing neighborhood quality and tackling tough issues, like the much-needed cleanup of St. James Park.