It has been 15 years since the LGBTQ community in San Jose has had out representation on the city s governing body. During that time three gay men and one lesbian have mounted unsuccessful bids to win council seats.
Now planning commissioner Justin Lardinois, a bisexual man who is a San Jose native, is aiming to break that losing streak. He is the first person to declare their candidacy for the San Jose City Council s District 1 seat that includes the famed Winchester Mystery House and the city s west side neighborhoods to the south of the tourist attraction.
The current officeholder, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, will be termed out in 2022. If no candidate to succeed him secures a 50% plus one vote in the June primary next year then the top two vote-getters will compete for the seat in the November general election.