San Jose councilman gets early jump on the job

San Jose Councilmember-elect George Casey is starting his job a couple of weeks early.

He stepped into his new position before his other colleagues Michael Mulcahy and Pamela Campos, who won their elections in District 6 and 2 respectively, because the District 10 seat had been filled by appointment in January 2023. Casey attended his first San Jose City Council meeting as a newly-elected city official on Dec. 10 to prevent a gap in district representation after incumbent Councilmember Arjun Batra bid farewell the previous week.

City Clerk Toni Taber said the explanation lies within the city’s appointment process. Batra, who lost to Casey in November, was appointed and served for two years after Matt Mahan left mid-term to serve as mayor.

Councilmember Domingo Candelas, who was also appointed last year to fill the District 8 vacancy when voters elected Sylvia Arenas to the county Board of Supervisors mid-term, kept his seat after being formally elected to office in November.

Their appointed terms began Jan. 30, 2023 and were set to end after a candidate was elected in the next regularly scheduled election, and the results were certified. County election officials certified the November election results on Dec. 5.

“Therefore, both Councilmember Candelas and Councilmember Batra’s terms end upon certification of the election. This leaves a gap from Dec. 10 to Dec. 31, 2024 where no councilmember is in office,” Taber told San José Spotlight.

Since Candelas and Casey’s terms don’t officially begin until Jan. 1, 2025, Taber recommended to city officials that both councilmembers be allowed to temporarily serve between Dec. 10 and Dec. 31.

Casey did not respond to requests for comment.

Given Candelas won his election over Tam Truong, he will remain in his seat through the temporary period.

“The difference between an appointment to an actual campaign is having been born and raised in this district — I know the neighborhoods,” Candelas told San José Spotlight after polls closed on Election Day.

Batra, a retired tech worker who held leadership positions at companies such as IBM and Intel Corporation, said serving District 10 is among his greatest achievements.

“I stand behind every vote I made and everything I was able to move forward. During my farewell meeting, the Deputy City Manager Kip Harkness said many of my questions helped their process,” Batra told San José Spotlight. “I feel blessed that I had an opportunity to help the city and my District 10 constituents.”
Batra’s final act in office was the proclamation of Human Rights Day on Dec. 3.

“Am I going to miss the election? No. Am I going to miss the council meetings? Very much so,” he told San José Spotlight.