Election 2024: San Jose official wants to keep improving District 8
By Joyce Chu,
23 days ago
Domingo Candelas has hit the ground running since being appointed to represent District 8 on the San Jose City Council in 2023.
As the incumbent, he wants a chance to his continue the work he started for a full four-year term, but first he has to beat his challenger Tam Truong who came in a close second during the March primaries . District 8 is part of Southeast San Jose that includes Eastridge Mall, Evergreen Valley College and Lake Cunningham.
During his 20 months in office Candelas has hosted town halls, meet and greets and made sure his office accommodated people speaking multiple languages, including Vietnamese, Hindi and Spanish. He said he learned public safety and cleaner streets and parks are the biggest issues in his district.
“People have stressed over and over (they) want to be safe,” Candelas told San José Spotlight. “Public safety is an issue. (They) want to see cleaner streets, cleaner parks. So I’ve done a dumpster day every single month since I’ve been in office.”
Born and raised in Evergreen, Candelas, 35, didn’t have plans for public office, but knew he wanted to serve his community. He worked for retired state Sen. Jim Beall and most recently as director of government affairs at Stanford University before being appointed to the city council last year.
San Jose Councilmember Domingo Candelas speaks at a news conference in February. Photo by Annalise Freimarck.
In addition to advocating for more money in last year’s budget to hire additional police officers, Candelas helped secure funding for a camera pilot program in the business corridor on Tully Road to deter retail theft and supported strengthening catalytic converter theft.
To strengthen communities, Candelas has helped lead park cleanups and the revitalization of the Meadow Fair Neighborhood Association, in addition to securing $2.3 million from federal and state funds to restore Lake Cunningham, a man-made body of water near Tully Road. The lake’s revitalization is estimated to cost between $3 million and $20 million, according to a city study. He also secured $35,000 to improve Fernish Park and $100,000 for a pedestrian bridge in the Yerba Buena neighborhood.
Candelas previously told San José Spotlight after his appointment, which was controversial due to claims of cheating, that his priorities were focused on increasing the city’s affordable housing inventory, expanding public transit, providing more child care services and park upgrades. His priorities for this upcoming term, if elected, are to continue making communities safer, empowering neighborhoods and keeping the streets clean.
On the housing side, Candelas said he wants to focus on the tiny homes sites the city has approved before considering bringing one into his district. There are two new sites set to open this year — one on Branham Lane and Monterey Road , the other on Via Del Oro . Two other proposed sites and an expansion of the Rue Ferrari site have not begun construction.
“I’m proud of the new investments we’re making in the interim housing side and the spectrum for folks who are unsheltered, while also maintaining our housing unit production,” Candelas said.
Candelas put in budget requests last year for upgrading barbecue pits and playground equipment in his district. He supported the city’s Children Youth Services Master Plan , approved in April, with goals to provide accessible and affordable child care services.
“Obviously there’s more work to be done,” Candelas said. “But given the trade-offs, I think it’s integral that we partner with our school districts and with our county to make sure that we’re all stepping up for the well-being of our children.” If elected, Candelas wants to make room in the budget to hire additional police officers, revitalize more neighborhood associations and continue cleaning up the parks and streets. More than 30 organizations and elected officials have endorsed Candelas, including former state Sen. Beall and Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen.
Beall said Candelas is well trained for the job and has a deep understanding of the constituents he serves.
“He’s committed to San Jose. He knows every detail about that district, growing up there,” Beall told San José Spotlight. “You’ve got to have a sense of empathy and compassion, and he’s got that.”
Candelas said he has more to give to the residents in his district.
“If not me, then who? This is an opportunity to serve the neighborhood that I’ve called home forever,” Candelas told San José Spotlight.
Contact Joyce Chu at joyce@sanjosespotlight.com or @joyce_speaks on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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