An abbreviated 12-week campaign for the vacant San Jose City Council District 3 seat began this week.

The City Clerk’s Office reported that while 13 people pulled nomination papers for the April 8 special election, five failed to submit the paperwork by last Friday’s deadline, and another was disqualified.

This left two women and five men in the race for the coveted downtown seat: Gabby Chavez-Lopez, Philip Dolan, Adam Duran, Matthew Quevedo, Irene Smith, Anthony Tordillos and Tyrone Wade.

The District 3 council chair has been empty since Oct. 1, when former Councilmember Omar Torres went into seclusion after revelations of sexual impropriety in a police affidavit related to a search warrant. Torres was arrested Nov. 5 on felony child molestation charges, hours after submitting his resignation to city officials, effective Nov. 27.

If no candidate receives a majority in April, the top two candidates will run against each other in a special runoff election on June 24. The winner will serve the remainder of the term through 2026.

In the interim period this year, the council will be appointing a councilmember to represent District 3 until the final outcome of the special election, or runoff.

Eleven people applied for the interim position, according to the city clerk. Any of these applicants who receive four or more “indications of interest” from current council members will be invited to the city council’s Jan. 28 meeting for public interviews, where the appointment vote is expected to be made. The council stipulated that none of the applicants for the appointed position can run in the District 3 special election.

Of the seven candidates for the elected post, five submitted campaign statements to the city clerk.

Gabby Chavez-Lopez, the executive director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, is in her first campaign for elected office.

In her statement, she wrote:

“My plan is simple: Focus on core city services, accountable and viable solutions for homelessness, safer streets through community policing, cleaner and more welcoming neighborhoods and stronger support for small businesses.”

“As a business leader, community advocate, policy expert and working mother, I know what it takes to get things done.”

Philip Dolan, a self-described “knife sharpener salesman,” did not submit a campaign statement.

Adam Duran retired from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department after 29 years, as a lieutenant. Duran reported giving $20,000 to his council campaign. This is his first bid for an elected office.

In his statement, he wrote:

“I will prioritize solutions that expand affordable housing, strengthen mental health services and revitalize our downtown while addressing and improving public safety.”

“I’ve managed budgets, supervised civilian and badge staff and worked tirelessly to protect our community.”

Matthew Quevedo is Mayor Matt Mahan’s Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Neighborhood Outreach. He led an initial campaign to recall Torres before the council member resigned.

In his statement, he wrote:

“As the manager of Mayor Matt Mahan’s Revolution of Common Sense campaign…I will focus on these four Cornerstones of Common Sense: We can bring everyone indoors; we will make San Jose safe; we will promote a vibrant downtown with more affordable housing; and we will grow our economy so families can pay their bills.”

“I am the former president of the Downtown Residents Association who has fought my whole life for good jobs, better housing and to clean up every neighborhood.”

Irene Smith is the only current candidate who previously ran for election to District 3. She came in second in the 2022 primary, and lost to Omar Torres in the general election, with 34% of the vote. Smith reported giving $10,000 to her 2024 campaign.

In her candidate statement this year, she wrote:

“My focus [is] on four policies that need immediate attention: fiscal accountability and much greater control of how D3 and City Hall monies are spent; bigger, faster, more cost-effective, large-scale homelessness solutions; pro-local business incentives; a much more responsive public input process.”

“My background in fiscal management, entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership – along with my successful fun to the 2022 D3 finals – provides the right mix of skills to galvanize the change we so clearly need.”

Anthony Tordillos, the current chair of the San Jose Planning Commission, is a software engineer with YouTube. This is his first bid for elected office.

In his statement, he wrote:

“City Hall insiders have had their shot….I’m running for City Council because I’m tired of the excuses, special interests and same old battles that are getting us nowhere.”

“I believe in what San Jose can accomplish with a fresh approach. Together, we will tackle public safety head-on, combat our affordability and homelessness crises and end the excuses.”

Tyrone Wade, a retired family counselor , has twice run for mayor of San Jose. He came in second to Matt Mahan last June, with 13.4% of the vote. In 2022 he announced, but didn’t file candidate’s papers. In 2018, he came in last in a four-person field, with just 2.8% of the vote, which saw Sam Liccardo elected to a second term.

Wade did not file a campaign statement with the city clerk.

Here is a list of the individuals seeking appointment this month to the interim council seat:

Kathryn Bell, a Primrose Evergreen preschool teacher; Danielle Marie Christian, a retired county policy director; Balthazar Lopez, a Caltrain government affairs officer; David James Pandori, a former council member and prosecutor; Jose Posadas, a county Registrar of Voters election specialist; Syna Saberi, an aerospace engineer; Carl Eugene Salas, engineer; Robert Staedler, land use and development consultant; Jeff Tang, insurance agency manager; Jahmal Williams, San Jose State University director of DEI partnerships; Roxanne (no last name).