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The representative for San Jose’s downtown core and its surrounding neighborhoods, District 3 rep Raul Peralez has lived in the city his whole life. When he ran for office in 2014, Peralez left an eight-year career with the Police Department to become San Jose’s first active-duty officer elected into public office. (He continues to serve as a reserve officer.) Peralez got a taste of community service as vice president of the Rosemary Gardens Neighborhood Association and as a member of the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission. While on the council, Peralez has concerned himself with public safety needs, the housing crisis, and transportation improvements, as well as seeking equitable economic development and maintaining city services for residents. In early 2020, he created the Greater Downtown San José Economic Recovery Task Force, which he describes as “an inclusive forum for our local community to navigate the pandemic, and its work continues today as we navigate the recovery.”
First elected: Nov. 4, 2014
Alma mater: San Jose State University (bachelor’s degree, mathematics)
Notable quote: “I care less about making it easier on a developer and more about how we preserve and build the affordable housing that we have, in addition to supporting projects like Google,” he added. “While I’m willing to support new development and the growth of the tech industry, I’m also fighting for affordable housing. In my mind, you can’t have one without the other.” (Source: SanJoseSpotlight.com)
Committees, board and commission assignments
San José Public Safety, Finance, & Strategic Services Committee (chair)
San José Rules & Open Government Committee (vice chair)
San José Transportation & Environment Committee
San José Community & Economic Development Committee
Association of Bay Area Governments Executive Board and Administrative Committee
Airport Commission (liaison)
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (vice chair)
Downtown Parking Board (liaison)
Hammer Theater Advisory Committee
League of California Cities – Latino Caucus
Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force
Team San Jose Board (liaison)
Santa Clara County Reentry Network
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
