San Jose City Council’s District 3 needs a different kind of leader from the rest of the city.

Downtown’s combination of neighborhoods, business districts and cultural institutions is unique in San Jose and important to the city as a whole — to all of Silicon Valley, really. Seeing this big picture is even more critical for candidates now that the Redevelopment Agency is gone, leaving less money for projects but more opportunity to create a distinctive character that will enable the downtown, including its neighborhoods, to thrive.

In the field to succeed Sam Liccardo, who is running for mayor, Don Gagliardi is the best choice.

Gagliardi has practical ideas for nourishing the city’s arts community and historic resources — elements that give a place character — and tying together neighborhoods from Japantown to the Martha Gardens arts district. It’s a broad vision that awakens new possibilities for improving livability as well as opportunities for business, from small stores and restaurants to tech headquarters.

Gagliardi’s roots are in neighborhood activism as a leader in the Northside Neighborhood Association, the 13th Street Neighborhood Advisory Committee and other causes. He knows what makes neighborhoods safe and livable, and he has worked with council members to get things done. But he also has been active with the San Jose Downtown Association for years.

Rather than choosing to be a city-center advocate or a neighborhood advocate, he grasps the synergy between them.

Gagliardi also has been a driving force behind Soccer San Jose — and “driving” is definitely the word. A lawyer, he can be prosecutorial, even intimidating, when making a point about a soccer stadium or a neighborhood need.

But he realizes that being a council member is different from being an individual advocate for a cause. He is listening to people and committed to representing constituents’ wishes. He understands the diplomacy needed to win majority support on the council for his goals.

A supporter of pension reform Measure B, Gagliardi stands by the need to control costs. But he believes that when this year’s mayoral free-for-all is over, it will be in everyone’s interest to try to make a deal to resolve ongoing court battles. We agree.

There are two other qualified candidates in the race, Kathy Sutherland and Raul Peralez.

Sutherland would be good in any other district. Her background as former Councilwoman Nancy Pyle’s chief of staff, a small business owner and an effective neighborhood activist are good preparation for the council. She is likable and a good listener.

But she is clear that her priority is neighborhoods. She doesn’t seem to grasp the importance of that other side to District 3 responsibilities. We’re also less confident of her commitment to controlling costs. She favors a majority-vote sales tax increase, something none of the mayoral candidates supports.

Peralez is a San Jose police officer and has the support of the police and other unions. His resume of community involvement and his participation in candidate forums show a breadth of experience and interests well beyond his profession. At another time and in a another district, he too could be a good council prospect.

But the city’s financial challenges, the power of city unions and the intensive political activity of the police union in particular make this the wrong time to put a police officer in one of the 10 council seats. Every candidate for mayor and council agrees improving public safety is the city’s top priority.

Others on the ballot are John Hosmon, Maurice Mejia and George Kleidon. They have varying degrees of community involvement, but they are not contenders for the runoff.

Gagliardi’s passion for creating a vital — and safe — downtown is critical to District 3 and the city. We recommend him.