SAN JOSE — Days before his deadline to appoint a vice mayor, Mayor Sam Liccardo has finally made a decision — and the new vice mayor is Councilwoman Magdalena Carrasco, who represents the city’s East Side.

“Magdalena brings a strong voice, real-world experience, and an unwavering commitment to expanding opportunities for the many residents in our community who struggle to survive and make a better life for their children,” Liccardo said in a prepared statement. “As the Councilmember representing East San Jose, Magdalena has also been an important partner in our collective work to broaden prosperity and educational opportunity in our city.”

Carrasco said she was “honored” to be chosen for the role, in which she will work closely with the mayor on the council agenda and in his absence run meetings and represent the city.

“The Mayor and I have a shared vision for San Jose, one that believes it is our goal as leaders to ensure the rising tide lifts all boats,” Carrasco said in a statement. “As the daughter of hardworking immigrants who found the American dream, I’m honored to have an opportunity to serve this incredible city and to bring this dream to all San Jose residents.”

Carrasco, who joined the City Council two years ago, appeared to be a front-runner for the job because of her ties to the East Side — where Liccardo did not enjoy strong support in his run for mayor — and her alliance with newly-elected Councilwoman Sylvia Arenas.

“When Liccardo ran for office three years ago, he did not win on the East Side so he needs help there when he runs for re-election,” said Terry Christensen, a political-science professor emeritus at San Jose State. “I think it’s a smart decision for Liccardo. It helps him pull in more support on the council and adds to his coalition.”

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Liccardo lost two reliable supporters on the council this year with the departure of former Vice Mayor Rose Herrera and former Councilman Manh Nguyen, making it tougher to secure the six-vote majority needed to advance his agenda.

Liccardo had backed Carrasco’s run for the District 5 seat against former Councilman Xavier Campos. In recent months, Carrasco and the mayor have shared concerns about immigrants with the election of President-elect Donald Trump.

Carrasco also stood with Liccardo on a controversial land use decision six months into her term. The defining vote was to deny a housing project on the O.C. McDonald and Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods sites on San Carlos Street. The plan required converting land used for jobs to housing — a financial drain to San Jose.

The councilwoman faced controversy in 2015 when she accepted a free trip to New York from the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. The $2,400 gift exceeded state limits — which applied to her as a school board member — and barred her from voting on taxicab issues for a year because Yellow Checker Cab paid for most of the trip.

She also received a warning that year from the District Attorney’s Office and the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to file campaign disclosures.

Other San Jose council members under consideration for the vice mayor role were Raul Peralez, Chappie Jones and Johnny Khamis, who has the most experience on the current council.

Peralez said he’s “pleased” his colleague was selected. “Magdalena and I have been on the same side of nearly all or a majority of the issues,” Peralez said. “I think Magdalena is a great choice for vice mayor.”

Carrasco, a child of immigrant parents and the first in her family to finish high school, graduated from San Jose’s Independence High School and later earned a degree in Chicano Studies from U.C. Santa Barbara. She worked as an advocate and spokesperson for the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children Services’ foster care and adoption program, as well as with First 5 Santa Clara County and the Gardner Family Health Network.

Carrasco also served for two years on the Eastside Union High School District board.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on Carrasco’s appointment as Vice Mayor at its January 24 meeting. If confirmed, the appointment would take effect immediately until December 31, 2018.