City of Gilroy City Council Councilmember Carol Marques

Gilroy native Carol Marques retired from teaching in the Gilroy Unified School District in 2013, and has since turned her energies toward city government. After serving a year on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, in 2018 Marques finished first in the race to fill a two-year term in an open seat. And though her bid for reelection failed, Marques soon was back on the council after she was appointed to a two-year term in the council seat Marie Blankley vacated after winning the mayoral race.

First Elected: November 2018

Day Job: Retired teacher

Notable quote:
“The un-housed is a diverse group requiring different programs to find safe housing. The working un-housed who are struggling to afford homes need to be connected with programs that can assist them with rent in a safe community. One solution may be a managed mobile home park. There, residents would then have their own home for a reasonable fee. For those struggling with mental illness or drug/alcohol issues, a roof is not enough. Long-term facilities allow for housing, medication, job training, counseling and placement. This uplifts struggling residents, integrating them back into the community.” (Source: Gilroy Dispatch)

“Economic development is the key to a sustainable city. Companies looking to locate in a city, gauge their potential success in that city, based on the vitality of the Downtown. My goals are to support our city staff, the Downtown Business Association, Visit California and the Chamber of Commerce in making our Downtown and all sections of the city prosper for the good of Gilroy.” —Carol Marques, Carol4Council.com

Committee and board assignments:
Vice-chair on the Un-reinforced Masonry Committee
Council liaison for the Gilroy Downtown Business Association
Council liaison on the Gilroy Gardens Board
Founding member, Vice Chair, Gilroy Growing Smarter: Fought to protect Gilroy’s open space through passage of Measure H
President, Gilroy Tennis Club
Monterey Bay Area Coordinator for USTA (United States Tennis Association)