In a ceremony marked by tearful farewells, standing ovations, and cheers, Gilroy welcomed its new city council this week and sent off three of its seven members — a move that represents a remaking of the council, after three of four incumbents were voted out of office.
Many residents say the results represent a call for change, and have entrusted that to the newly elected leaders who have promised more scrutiny on spending and a focus on bringing business to Gilroy.
“We needed change. Three out of four members of the council are new — the proof is there,” said incoming Mayor Greg Bozzo. “I believe that with the collective personal and professional experiences of this community, we can reach our full potential.”
The mayoral race saw incumbent Marie Blankley unseated by Bozzo, who won by only 211 votes in an exceedingly narrow race. Bozzo, a landscape contractor, leveled criticisms at the current city government, argued for more collaboration between officials and residents, improved customer service at the city, and the return of the Garlic Festival. While the Garlic Festival is not run by the city of Gilroy, Bozzo maintains that the city can play a role in easing its return.
In the city council, retired teacher Kelly Ramirez and businessman Terence Fugazzi joined the fold. Ramirez says she hopes to be a “voice of common sense” focused on solutions, and Fugazzi says he will take a “fiscally conservative lens” to his role, using the budget as a way to prioritize the most essential services for the city.
Along with Bozzo, Fugazzi’s election shifts the representation on the council, with a majority in the business sector as he joins Councilmembers Dion Bracco and Tom Cline, both of whom started their own companies.
Firefighter and self-described progressive Councilmember Zach Hilton is the only remaining incumbent on the council. “I want to be the changemaker and not someone the people want to change,” he said.
Many at this week’s swearing in ceremony and in exchanges online stressed the need for change — including revitalizing the city’s downtown, bringing more business to the city, and reviving the Garlic Festival. Several expressed their hope that Bozzo and the new city council could enact those changes.
“The city of Gilroy needed a vitamin B-12 shot of new ideas on how to attract and retain (up and coming) small businesses,” said Gilroy voter Brent Jones in an exchange with this news organization on Nextdoor. “We need a Gilroy 2.0 … Hoping Greg (Bozzo) is a change agent.”
The desire for more vibrant business was expressed by each of the newly elected leaders, who said that bringing in more business was crucial to ensuring the city could afford to take care of its citizens and bolster its struggling public safety services.
While each of the newly elected members admitted that the call for change was a part of the electoral shift, they pointed to several other factors as well, including their on the ground campaigning and negative advertising by outside parties.
They all asserted that their position was essentially non-partisan.
“There’s a real need for me to try and represent the entire city,” said Fugazzi. Even so, he noted that fiscal responsibility was a crucial part of his approach. “I think there will be a little more scrutiny about where dollars are spent. There’s no doubt that that’s going to be a big issue in the next budget cycle.”
Ramirez noted that she would share in the “scrutiny” but was “open to all options” that didn’t cut back services, such as combining or contracting out certain city responsibilities or making new investments where needed. Even Hilton mentioned he would be open to belt-tightening if it didn’t compromise services to the city, though he stressed bringing more money to the city as his preferred option.
Regardless of ideological leanings, several expect a more collaborative council moving forward. “I come to this council with hope,” said Ramirez. “I’m very optimistic that this will be a very different council that will be more inclined to work together.”
