Dev Davis and Helen Chapman are similar to the District 2 candidates in that they disagree on how to solve many of the city’s major issues. Unlike that race, however, the District 6 contenders can lucidly explain their positions and have a record of service that makes them both exceptionally qualified representatives.
Willow Glen and its surrounding neighborhoods are among the most politically engaged in all of San Jose, and a crowded, drawn-out primary that began almost as early as the presidential race has given D6 voters a clear idea of who they’ll elect.
Chapman retired after running a small business for 16 years and helping mentor youth for San Jose Unified School District. She has served on numerous city and neighborhood committees and chaired San Jose’s Parks & Recreation Commission. She has compassionate concern for the homeless and believes a solution to public safety issues can not only be aided by increasing the number of civilian community service officers, but also making infrastructure improvements to make roads safer for children.
Davis, a Stanford policy analyst by day, takes a methodical approach to every issue and has also served on a wide range of neighborhood committees, such as chairing the city’s Early Care and Education Commission. She has more conservative positions on rent control, minimum wage and Measure E, but these positions appear to be painstakingly researched without coming off as condescending. “People can think [dates and numbers] are cold or heartless, but I think that’s the most objective way,” she says.
The recent decision to build temporary housing for homeless people on Evans Lane offers a split in how the two women would vote on a contentious issue: Chapman supported the project, which the council passed on an 8-3 vote, while Davis says she would have opposed it in favor of building permanent affordable housing, which would have taken about six years.
Davis calls herself “socially inclusive, fiscally conservative,” which is certainly a trait that resonates in Willow Glen. But on other issues, such as the city’s commitment to the arts, Chapman has proven to be an outspoken champion. The pair also disagrees on how the city should develop into regions like Coyote Valley. Chapman opposes the urban sprawl.
Residents are unlikely to agree with either of the candidates on every issue, but at least constituents will know they’re representative is listening and taking the time to inform themselves.
San Jose Inside will be publishing endorsements and information on local races, ballot measures and state propositions throughout the rest of the week.
How I wish we had either one of these fine candidates as a choice in district 10!
Helen Chapman is the best choice. She has worked in this community far longer than her opponent, and is far more in touch with the needs of not just D6’s, but our entire City. I have worked with Helen on community issues for a very long time and have never heard of her opponent. That in and of its self speaks volumes.
“..Willow Glen and its surrounding neighborhoods…” shows an incredible lack of understanding of what D6 is. Willow Glen is a part, not the whole of D6. And not a majority of the district when you look at the neighborhood groups/boundaries and how we identify ourselves. So, please, stop identifying us that way so we can elect people who don’t look at our district that way.
Dev Davis is endorsed by Chuck Reed and the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce (aka Big Business and Real Estate). She is endorsed by Pete Constant but his name has been removed from her web site.
Her idea for Public Safety is more CSO’s (they already added a bunch). “Predictive policing models” (aka software to predict crime) and subsidizing camera security cameras.
District 6 can do much better.
Dev Davis’ proposals to hire more CSO’s to increase public safety is akin to buying more fire extinguishers to catch arsonists.
Dev Davis’s perception of CSO’s as a stopgap has nothing to do with what CSO’s can actually provide and everything to do with what those responsible for the severity of the policing crisis (Reed, Liccardo, Oliverio, Constant, et al) can’t provide, which are the full police academies and improved retention promised.
To be fair, Ms. Davis is deserving of credit for having the courage to go all in with her blatant ignorance about policing and bet her chip stack that neither the media nor Willow Glen’s clueless majority will call her on it. Her strategy – banking on media irresponsibility and voter stupidity, is a proven winner here in San Jose, where the fallout from dumb leadership is absorbed as if it were as natural as the seasonal rain.
With her smart glasses and Stanford street cred, Dev Davis seems a tailor-made successor to Mr. Oliverio, a momma’s boy who, in his efforts to create an electable persona, rearranged his résumé almost as often as he did his given name. Though it will be a challenge for Ms. Davis to bring as much disaster and embarrassment to this city as has the incumbent, her disingenuous claims about CSO’s and crime suppression suggest she may have what it takes.
Charming (barf)
Just the fact that she’s endorsed by Chuck Reed , Chamber of Commerce and Pete Constant , Should be a HUGE Red Flag for anyone with half a brain