It is only July and it appears there is more interest in the November election than the results of FIFA World Cup finals.

It appears there will be so many choices for mayor of Santa Clara that you may need all your fingers to count them.

The mastermind of Santa Clara politics is current mayor Lisa Gillmor. I say mastermind because she has honed her political skills for the last thirty-some years and has remained on council 22 of the last 34 years.

During that time, she has advanced the low-key acquisition of multiple properties throughout the city. Maybe more important is her skills in developing relationships. Any political figure in the county knows Gillmor, and she knows them. She has used her position to direct political traffic in multiple elections.

Clearly, she is a skilled public figure who has also become influential in the city and the county.

As we soon approach another election in November, Mayor Gillmor is termed out.

That is, as mayor. Will she retire from council? Don’t even give it a thought. Gillmor has planned ahead for years as to how to remain on council, and this year will not be an exception.

Think about this. Lisa Gillmor has been on the council for 22 of the last 34 years. Her political influence is so entrenched with staff, who learn quickly that there is one way to keep their jobs: subscribe to the Lisa Gillmor decision process. 

Soon she will step down as mayor and support Kathy Watanabe, a former council member, to replace her. Kathy is just as spiteful as Lisa.

Currently, there are at least a half dozen hopefuls who are hanging on to their hats, hoping to toss them in the political ring as a mayoral candidate. That’s perfect for Gillmor’s plan.

The votes for mayor will be divided among the multiple candidates,  making Watanabe Santa Clara’s new mayor.

Gillmor will be termed out as mayor, but she will run for the council seat from her district and likely be elected. How do I know she will be elected again? It’s easy if you think about it. Gilmor has worked hard to garner favor from the Santa Clara police force, and they will throw the full force of their PAC’s money machine and vicious campaign methods behind any candidate she endorses.  The “favor” she regularly returns to the force is compensation. The SCPD are the highest-paid officers in the state of California.

So, when called on by the Gillmor election team, all off-duty SCPD officers are “invited” to canvass any voting district promoting a Gillmor candidate and, of course, including Gillmor.

There is most likely only one candidate in Santa Clara capable of matching wits with the Gillmor political operation. 

Any suggestions?

Previous Milestones:
Milestones – Late to the Party – Opinion
Milestones – Bullet Train to Wealth Tax? – Opinion
Milestones – You Have to Ask Why? – Opinion
Milestones – Welcome to Santa Clara – Opinion