The race to replace soon-to-term-out Councilman Johnny Khamis for his District 10 seat on the San Jose City Council just got a bit more crowded.
Financial advisor Vinh Do has announced he’s making a bid to be the next representative for the Almaden Valley area. Do faces a tight race against ex-Brigade CEO Matt Mahan, former Bay Area Women’s March President Jenny Higgins Bradanini and local businesswoman Helen Wang.
Do told San Jose Inside that he decided to run for the council seat because he wants to make a difference in D10, where he plans on raising his own family. Do grew up in District 2, but moved to D10 more than a decade ago and has lived there on and off ever since. His employer, MW Wealth Advisors, is also headquartered in the Almaden Valley district, so he feels he already serves many of the residents in the district.
“[My clients] trust me to provide them with solutions that have their best interest in mind,” Do said of his job. “Having clients trust me with their life savings is a privilege that I do not take lightly and I will do the same for the constituents of District 10.”
Since Do is a newcomer to politics, he said his voice will be “unfiltered” and that he will “rely on [his] abilities to build relationships quickly with the constituents so that [he] can truly represent their voice in city hall.”
Do described a desire to focus on solutions that can have an “immediate impact” on some of the issues that plague San Jose and District 10. “I understand that processes in government will take time,” he said. “However, there are processes that are in our control, such as getting community involvement to address issues like homelessness—working with religious organizations to open up their land for temporary shelters to provide necessities like electricity, hot water or a place to use the restroom.”
Do added that he believes working with community and religious organizations is a way to address some of San Jose’s ongoing problems without using an exorbitant amount of city resources. The council hopeful said he will also draw on his experience of growing up in some of the more “impoverished areas of San Jose.”
“District 10 is dealing with many of the issues that I have experience[d] growing up in [District 2],” he said. “I believe this gives me a different perspective on how to come up with solutions that can be implemented immediately.”
The statewide primary election takes place on March 3, 2020. For more information visit the California Secretary of State’s website.
> The council hopeful said he will also draw on his experience of growing up in some of the more “impoverished areas of San Jose.”
What does Do expect voters in DIstrict 10 to do with this information?
Is he going to recommend to voters that growing up in poverty is a life enhancing experience and that the City Council is going help District 10 experience impoverishment?
@SJOUTSIDETHEBUBBLE- This may not be the best approach but like the article mentions, I am new to the political forum.
I’d like to fully understand your statement before I provide you with an answer.
Please feel free to email me at:
vi*********************@gm***.com
Your comment on an article dated 8/23 about wanting someone that “listens” and provides “actions” is a reason why I am continuing a run for council despite being an overwhelming underdog. I responded to your comment by saying, “I’m listening” and I hope this response shows that I’m willing to take action.
> “I’m listening” and I hope this response shows that I’m willing to take action.
Vinh:
“Listening” is better than “not listening”. If you can listen, you’re probably better than seventy percent of people running for public office. Probably better than one hundred percent of candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination. I wouldn’t identify a single one of them as a “listener”. They all want to TELL people about their vision, and their plans, and how much free stuff they’re going to give away.
And “action” is more than just showing up and voting present.
You’ve got to do a MUCH MUCH better job of figuring out what voters want and need and then SELL them on your abilities to win the political battles that have to be won to deliver on the things that are the reasons why voters think they voted for you.
Personally, as I voter, it doesn’t do anything for me when you tell me about your “experience of growing up in some of the more “impoverished areas of San Jose.””
I believe in the wisdom of Mae West who said: “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better”.
Being impoverished is easy. Most people don’t need any impoverishment leadership. And governments can and do create poverty. In a civilized society, an enlightened government does its best to create the circumstances where people can become prosperous — NOT impoverished.
There are WAY, WAY too many people who try to suggest that poverty is an “achievement” or a “qualification”. We don’t need any of those people at any level of government. We need people who are committed to prosperity.
@SJOTB- I learned a long time ago “people love to buy but they hate being sold to”.
I agree that what I need to do right now is to go out into the community and listen to the concerns of constituents in D10 so I can clearly represent your views in city hall.
It also seems that I need to clarify the “impoverished” quote without sounding argumentative. What I meant is, we can learn from other people’s experiences. For example, if someone burnt their hand on a hot stove and they told me not to put my hand on the hot stove or else I’d get burned, it would be in my best interest to listen to them. I would not advocate for someone to be poor.
Please email me next time for further clarification. I believe we share a similar view point but I will do a better job next time to make clearer statements.
“ I believe in the wisdom of Mae West who said: “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better”. Being impoverished is easy. Most people don’t need any impoverishment leadership. And governments can and do create poverty. In a civilized society, an enlightened government does its best to create the circumstances where people can become prosperous — NOT impoverished.”
***standing and applauding*** Very well said, sjoutsidethebubble!!!
Be real…there is not homeless issue in D10. The residents there want someone to make sure no homeless or vagabond crosses Coleman into their precious land. That’s what they mean by “dealing” with the homelessness issues.
> The residents there want someone to make sure no homeless or vagabond crosses Coleman into their precious land.
Dear Mr. Real:
You must live in a part of San Jose where the residents regard “the homeless” as a welcome presence. Please tell us where that is.
The residents of D10 will dispatch a shipment of “homeless” in your direction.
A classic win-win situation.
OOOHHHH!! So you don’t actually live in D10, hence “they”, yet you think you know all about us. It might interest you to know there is a huge homeless problem throughout D10. In fact, a woman (BAMBI LARSON), living a very short distance from D10, was murdered in her home by a homeless man who had been living at a homeless encampment in D10.
Tag…. you’re it.
Good news, Vinh!
A couple of the other D10 candidates are so awful that the more voters learn about them, the worse they do.
You’ve probably leaped to the top tier of candidates just by keeping a low profile.
Here’s a campaign tip: “Do not tell D10 voters that you want to get them out ot their cars”.
D10 voters like their cars. They feel that having a car is a wonderful way to make use of the streets in D10 on which their homes and business are often located.
Keep your head on straight, talk common sense, and don’t give up.
Mr. Do, with all due respect, this article and you say you want to represent Almaden Valley. Do you realize the D10 is far larger than Almaden Valley?
I would like to ask you a question or two:
How many full City Council meetings have you attended (not watched on TV)?
What qualifications do you bring to D10 besides your interest in serving on the City Council?
Why did you throw your hat into the ring late?
Are you aware the solutions you propose are already being implemented?
Have you considered running in a District where you might be more suited based on your first-hand experience with their need?
I’m looking forward to reading your replies.
My-Opinion: I will entertain a reply to one of your questions because it’s different from the ones I’ve been answering recently.
(Q) Have you considered running in a District where you might be more suited based on your first-hand experience with their need?
(A) are you familiar with the criteria to run for city council? if not, please research it. the tone of this question is basically saying that I should go back to where I came from smh. (smh= shaking my head).
Thank you for giving me more fuel to continue my “one man” march on the streets of D10‘s large area. Please get some rest next time instead of writing comments at 1 o’clock in the morning.
Signed: Vinh Do
(not hiding behind a screen name)