3 Newcomers Compete For Open South San Jose City Council Seat

SAN JOSE, CA — San Jose District 10 City Councilman Johnny Khamis is leaving city government for a shot at the state Senate this year, freeing up a seat in Tuesday's election for one of three newcomers to represent the affluent Almaden neighborhood in South San Jose.

Businessman Matt Mahan, Bay Area Women's March president and businesswoman Jennifer Higgins Bradanini, and retired nurse and health care professional Helen Wang have not served in prior elected positions. Each candidate wants to tackle the local housing crisis, as well as transportation and public safety issues.

Higgins Bradanini had begun campaigning for the seat in December when she was involved in a car collision, striking and killing 66-year-old Timothy Starkey of Santa Cruz in Los Gatos across from Blossom Hill Elementary School.

She said in a statement days after that she was heartbroken by his tragic death and expressed condolences to his family.

"Words cannot adequately express my sorrow, and I ask for your support in sending your thoughts and condolences to the devastated family," she said.

Her campaign was suspended briefly but resumed about a month later in January. Bradanini is billing herself as "from our neighborhoods, not the political class," and highlighting her 20 years as a resident of District 10, and experience in City Hall as a policy aide to former Sam Jose Councilman Don Rocha.

Higgins Bradanini's primary goal will be to combat the housing and homelessness crisis through partnerships between regional government and municipal organizations, expanding safe parking and emergency housing alternatives and addressing the scope and diversity of homeless residents.

Mahan grew up in Watsonville, attended school in San Jose and worked as a public school teacher in Alum Rock before founding Brigade, a startup for voters to discuss issues in a nonpartisan space.

In addition to his plans surrounding housing, transportation and public safety, his platform explicitly states opposition to relocating Leland High School and Bret Harte Middle School miles away to build teacher housing in their location.

The San Jose Unified School District seems to have canned the plan for now, but Mahan has backed up his opposition with a strategy to address the housing shortage.

Wang has extensive experience serving on volunteer governmental advisory bodies, including the Milpitas Tenant Protection Task Force and the San Jose Small Business Development Commission, which she was appointed to by former Mayor Chuck Reed.

She says her priorities are contracting for more police from Santa Clara County, using tax money for education and road repairs, and opposing Measure E, a property transfer tax intended to fund affordable housing. She is endorsed by former U.S. Rep. and state Sen. Tom Campbell, and former state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

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