November 30, 2007

Patrick Waite announces candidacy for District 8 city council seat

Patrick Waite, a longtime Evergreen resident, has announced his candidacy for the District 8 city council seat. “I’m excited by the opportunity to help make San Jose a great city,” Waite explains. “By focusing on improving our quality of life, I think that our city government can make a huge difference in the lives of the people of San Jose. Making this happen will require a return to an honest government led by representatives who believe that the needs of the people of San Jose must come first.”

Patrick Waite

Waite and his family moved to San Jose in 1984 and settled in Evergreen in 1987. A successful twenty-year corporate career included employment in a variety of high technology companies such as Memorex Corporation, Tandem Computers and Seagate Technology, where he was a vice president in their finance organization. Throughout his career he focused on building efficient organizations that were responsive to the needs of the business and its customers. “My corporate experience will translate well into the business of city government,” Waite points out. “It is imperative that we establish an atmosphere of fiscal integrity, where the focus is on delivering quality services at a cost that remains within our means. We need civic leaders who are responsive to the needs of the people of San Jose, and vigilant stewards of the commonwealth.”

Since taking leave from corporate life in 2004, Waite has been very active in San Jose’s nonprofit world. He is president of the board of regents at Archbishop Mitty High School and a board member and treasurer of TransAccess, a local nonprofit that provides school to career transition services and access technology to youth, young adults, and adults with disabilities. He is on the board of directors of Catholic Charities Silicon Valley, sitting on their long-range planning and finance committees. He is also the chair of the finance team at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community, and a member of that church’s leadership council.

In addition, Waite serves as a role model in The Role Model Program, a local nonprofit focused on helping at-risk youth realize academic achievement and set ambitious goals for their future. As a graduate of the Community Leadership San Jose/Silicon Valley class of 2006, Waite has been working to make a difference in our community. “My nonprofit work has exposed me to many of the issues that San Jose is facing, issues that we must resolve if we want San Jose to continue improving. Taking part in the leadership of our city is a logical step for me to take in order to help find solutions to the issues facing District 8, and the city of San Jose as a whole.”

“This is a wonderful city, and Evergreen is a great place to live and raise a family,” Pat observed. “But there are many issues that we must address right now to keep it that way. Affordable housing, well-maintained roads and reasonable traffic, safe neighborhoods, and a more friendly business environment are important aspects of a great city. Our challenge is to deliver these, while at the same time balancing our budget.”

Mr. Waite graduated magna cum laude from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Economics and a Political Science minor. He received an M.B.A. from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, graduating with highest honors. He lives in Evergreen with Ginny, his wife of twenty-six years. Their two adult children attend college. Visit his campaign website at www.patwaite.com for more information.