City of San Jose City Council Councilmember Rosemary Kamei

Aside from District 9’s Pam Foley, who ran unopposed, Rosemary Kamei is the only one of the four new councilmembers taking office in 2023 who won her seat outright in the June 2022 primary. She got off to a good start once in office, with newly-elected Mayor Matt Mahan nominating her to serve as vice mayor. The choice makes sense given her experience on elected boards, since the ten-member council will have six new members (two appointed to fill vacancies) and a newbie mayor.

In addition to being Director of the Santa Clara Valley Water District for 17 years, Kamei has been involved with the community through various nonprofits, the business sector and serving on various government committees, including the Santa Clara County Board of Education. Prior to being elected to City Council, Kamei served as the Chief Development and Innovation Officer at the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

Kamei holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Political Science, and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from San Jose State University. She and her family reside in District 1.

Notable quote: “I would be honored to serve as vice mayor to the San Jose community and be able to have the opportunity to bring my expertise in governance and leadership to the San Jose City Council.” (Source: San Jose Spotlight)