San Jose employee enters District 9 City Council race

Lifelong District 9 resident Gordon Chester says he’s observed San Jose stagnate or even backslide on a number of fronts over his 39-year life — from road safety to public services and housing affordability.

Now, the longtime city employee is stepping into the crowded race to represent his home district on the San Jose City Council, running on a platform that emphasizes livability issues as well as broad-based economic growth.

“When I hear similar policies to the past three or more decades, I’m just looking to see where we can allow the change to happen to create new opportunities,” Chester told San José Spotlight. “Otherwise we’ll be in the same place in 30 years.”

Chester is one of four candidates who has filed paperwork to run in next year’s June primary election for District 9, which covers southwest San Jose. Whoever wins will replace Vice Mayor Pam Foley, who terms out at the close of 2026 after eight years in office.

The other candidates are Scott Hughes, Foley’s chief of staff, Genny Altwer, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former police hostage negotiator, and local entrepreneur Mike Hennessy.

Chester is African American. Currently, the city council has one Black member, District 10 Councilmember George Casey, who is not up for reelection in 2026.

Chuck Cantrell, a San Jose planning commissioner, San José Spotlight columnist and Chester’s campaign manager, said Chester would add an important voice to the council.

“Him being Black gives him a perspective that is missing from our other (District 9) candidates, as the Black community continues to decline here (in San Jose),” Cantrell told San José Spotlight.

Chester has been a city employee for more than a decade and currently works in the Department of Public Works, where he is part of the team that regulates telecom companies operating in San Jose.

Chester lives with his wife and 7-year-old daughter in the same childhood home he grew up in, in the Cambrian neighborhood. He said he has been contemplating running for office for years, but only made up his mind a few months ago. It’s a decision driven in part by concern over what kind of city his daughter will live in when she grows up.

“I just saw a gap and decided, you know what, as a father, it’s time to step up,” he said. “That’s just what you do as a dad.”

Amid a spiraling affordability crisis, Chester said he’s fortunate to still be able to live in his family home, which is owned by his mother. But he argues the prosperity of San Jose residents shouldn’t depend on good fortune alone.

“I want people to be able to have that space where they can start at the bottom and then still be able to afford to live here without that huge element of luck,” he said. “I think we could be a better partner for our small businesses. At the same time, that is being a better partner for all workers and families and retired people of all incomes.”

Chester said he’s keeping an open mind about how precisely the city might bring about such a transformation — but also outlined a number of policy priorities he is particularly focused on.

To address the housing crisis, Chester said the city must take steps to reduce the cost of affordable housing. He’d also like to see the city focus more on housing for older adults, in part by introducing incentives for the expansion of senior living facilities.

When it comes to road safety, he said he hears often from other parents that street conditions have gotten so bad in many neighborhoods they are reluctant to allow their children to play outside. He’s calling for improved crosswalks, wider sidewalks, better public transit shelters and the introduction of utility lanes for public service vehicles.
Chester said he’d also like to see San Jose expand work opportunities for homeless people living in emergency shelters. At the same time, he made the case that the city has focused too heavily on expanding temporary shelters, and should rebalance more of its housing dollars toward permanent supportive housing.

“With so few opportunities to move out of emergency housing and into permanent housing, their safety, their security is uncertain,” he said.

Supporter Belinda Hoose has known Chester for 25 years, ever since she took up residence two doors down from his family.

She said she’s grown frustrated with city leadership, and is hopeful Chester will better represent her progressive values.

“Gordon would be a really good representative for the underserved in San Jose,” Hoose told San José Spotlight. “He wants to serve his community. He cares about people. He doesn’t want anybody to be overlooked.”

Contact Keith Menconi at [email protected] or @KeithMenconi on X.