October 7, 2005

2006 candidates speak at Evergreen Democratic Club barbecue

By Tom Harney
Staff Writer

“As the district attorney for Santa Clara County, I would work to protect families, to keep neighborhoods safe for business, and to address changing enforcement needs in high-tech and environmental crime,” began Chief Assistant District Attorney Karyn Sinunu, at the Evergreen Democratic Club’s annual barbecue Sept.18.

District 8 Councilmember and mayoral candidate Dave Cortese enjoys the Evergreen Democratic Club’s annual barbecue with (from left) Maria Delaney, son Matthew Cortese and Bob Delaney.

“I would scrupulously honor the tradition of non-partisanship for which the county is known,” added Sinunu, who is seeking election for the Santa Clara County District Attorney post in the 2006.

“A culturally diverse and brilliant community such as ours deserves the most efficient, fair, and compassionate prosecutors in the state,” she continued. “I would pledge to lead an office of lawyers and investigators committed to public service, high standards and the fair and vigorous administration of justice for all. I would pledge my service to the people of the community I love.”

Despite her youthful appearance, Sinunu has received the prestigious Napoleon Menard Trial Advocacy Award after prosecuting 50 jury trials, and she’s the proud mother of an adult son and daughter, and grandmother of two grandchildren.

Sinunu has the enthusiastic endorsement to be the next district attorney from current District Attorney George Kennedy, who is not running for re-election. Sinunu’s opening words set the tone of free expression for the rest of the day.

Informed Villagers
Villagers proved once again that they are tuned into national and local political issues, they want to be informed about the candidates and they truly enjoy being with the candidates and with one another.

Karyn Sinunu, deputy district attorney and district attorney candidate speaks to the Evergreen Democratic Club.

Blue skies prevailed to provide a clear, beautiful day at Gazebo Park that Sunday afternoon for candidates and guests to interact with Villagers, as the enticing aromas of barbecued sirloin and chicken wafted among the lively participants of this free and open political process that is so highly revered in America.

In addition to Sinunu, other invited speakers who attended and voiced their non-partisan messages and greetings included District 8 San Jose Councilmember Dave Cortese, a 2006 mayoral candidate; District 3 San Jose City Councilmember and Vice-Mayor Cindy Chavez, also a 2006 mayoral candidate; Mike Potter, district director for District 23 Assembly Member Joe Coto; James Kim, vice-chair, Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee; and Sanjeev Bery, district director for the soon-to-be-opened San Jose office of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Mayoral candidate Cindy Chavez
Chavez, who has been in office for almost six-and-a-half years, addressed the audience with her 4-year-old son, Brennan, at her side. “I grew up in this area, and I love San Jose … I’m very excited by the momentum that I’ve seen coming our way in San Jose, but I think that there’s a lot more that we can do,” she noted.

“I’m running for mayor because I want to help bring people together to reach our full potential as the 10th largest city in the nation,” she continued. “We are one of the first large cities in the nation to be truly multicultural. We are very diverse, but no one ethnicity has a majority.”

“We need to compete in the world economy because we have some of the fastest, most nimble-minded, knowledge-based workers coming up through the ranks,” she added.

“I want to lead the city of San Jose to see itself as a major participant in the world economy,” said Chavez. “We need to totally understand our role. I believe that the century that San Jose will be most known for, will be the century that is coming up. We need to build on the fact that we are the Garden City, in the Valley of Heart’s Delight, that grew into the high-tech city with a future in the world economy that knows no limits.”

Mayoral candidate Dave Cortese
Cortese, who has been in office for more than five-and-a-half years, spoke next, with 5-year-old son Matthew flanked at his side.

“I became politically active at the age of 10 when I wrote my first letter to my local congressman here and received a very personal letter back from him,” said Cortese. “That response by him was what first inspired me to believe that politics is a noble vocation and that elected officials can be like caregivers to their constituents.

“My father taught me that there is only one reason to be in public service and that is to help people,” he continued. “I have never forgotten that advice. As a candidate for mayor of San Jose, I have a vision for San Jose. It is a collective vision, based on input from the people of San Jose. It is a vision that I believe will bring about positive changes that will grow as we come together.”

Cortese went on to say, “As the originators and craftsmen of the high-tech era, we are world-renowned. We have become the preeminent multicultural melting pot in the world. I’m running for mayor of San Jose because I believe that one person who cares can lead us toward a new Valley of Hearts Delight, and a new San Jose, a city of light whose government keeps pace with the highest and noblest aspirations of its people.”

James Kim, vice-chair for the Santa Clara County Central Committee, speaks to the Evergreen Democratic Club.

Evergreen Democratic Club President Bob Applebaum was very pleased with the event. “It was great to have a turnout like this. We had 88 members and guests.”

Mike Potter from Assembly Member Joe Coto’s office said after the events of the day, “It was really a fantastic barbecue. The weather was great. The food was great. And, the speeches were short. We enjoyed all the conversations that we had with everyone. Joe couldn’t attend the barbecue this year because he is attending a trade conference in China; but he was here last year, and I know he would have loved being here.”

Mayoral debate Oct. 11
The next meeting of the Evergreen Democratic Club will be a forum for all three mayoral candidates, San Jose City Council Members Cindy Chavez, District 3, David Cortese, District 8, and Chuck Reed, District 4.

The meeting will take place at the Foothill Center at the Villages on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Please phone Bob Applebaum at (408) 238-5811 if you would like to attend.