Let’s be proud of our D3 special election

(KTVU interview below)

Representation.

Speed.

Impartiality.

These are the principles I believe the SJ City Council must keep top of mind when designing the special election for District 3.*

The principles are intertwined, but all lead to fulfilling this simple objective:

Ensure that the D3 councilmember replacement process delivers the most representative candidate possible, and not one unduly influenced by City Hall shenanigans and big special interest money.

Some quick thoughts on how the council can make this happen.

1.) Representation. Let’s do what elections are supposed to do: put D3 citizens’ choice first.

A councilmember is an elected representative. Read that sentence again: elected representative. Not a bureaucrat managing a constituent services staff. Not somebody who gets along with Big Business and Big Labor. Not somebody who understands how City Hall works. It’s somebody who is in touch with her community, puts community interests first, and views herself as someone who relentlessly works to embody, understand, and implement the people’s will. Someone who represents.

2.) Speed. Let’s not stretch out a process that can be done quickly.

When the council decides today to pursue a special election, the city charter states we can have that election March 13, 2025 (after 114 days). That seems like an awfully long time to me, but regardless: there is no reason to let that deadline slip. I predict we will be hearing all sorts of nonsense regarding how it will take the city longer — much longer — to organize an election. It’s bunk. We can do better than Berkeley (also a charter city) which calls for a special election within 60–90 days. Or Alaska and Mississippi which also call for a 60–90 day limit for special elections. Unnecessarily delaying the election extends our (already long) period of non-representation, and also invites pernicious election meddling (see #3, below).

3.) Impartiality. Let’s not let special interests determine our choice.

Here’s a sad — but sadly true — fact: the longer we wait to organize an election, the more time it gives for big special interests like political parties, labor unions, corporate interests, and non-profits to raise money to influence the result. These groups are the ones that want a longer election cycle because it privileges their money-raising capabilities. I ran as an independent in 2022 and can tell you with 1000% certainty that these groups see elections as a game, and $ as the pieces on the board.

The kind of representative we deserve — especially after the Torres disgrace and debacle — needs to be unconstrained by special interests: a representative wholly committed to D3 — and only D3. Free of undue influence. Nonpartisan. Even-handed. This impartiality should be the North Star of our election process. But remember — big Special Interests and City Hall Insiders are not interested in securing an independent candidate that represents the district. They want to own the candidate that wins.

In D3, we should own the process and the result. Because there’s really only question that deserves an answer: Who can represent us best?

Together,

Irene

• I am writing this on Monday, Nov. 18th, the day before the Council formally votes on how to fill the D3 vacancy, and I am composing my thoughts under the assumption that there is absolutely no-way-in-Hades the Council will vote for an unrepresentative backroom deal that puts an appointed candidate in office to replace Omar Torres.

KTVU Interview

San Jose City Council approves special election to fill Omar Torres’ seat

Resident Irene Smith, who ran against Torres and lost two years ago, plans to run again and does not want an appointment.

“If any district deserved an election, it would be (District 3) right now, at this moment. We’ve been through a lot,” said Smith. “We want somebody who has the interest of the people. That put their interests first. Who’s willing to work relentlessly and implement the will of the people.”