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Club Gonzo

The players and pols backing Ron Gonzales Mike Fox Sr. Beer distributor and philanthropist Fox, one of the most prolific campaign donors in the South Bay and a member of Gonzales' fundraising committee, worked with Gonzales on the ballpark measure in 1992. Fox is a key player in the current effort to lure the A's to the South Bay. John Neece Director, Building & Construction Trades The construction union chief is perhaps Gonzales' most unwavering labor supporter. He unsuccessfully lobbied the San Jose City Council six years ago to grease construction for single-family homes in Coyote Valley. Susan Hammer San Jose mayor After her protégé, Margie Fernandes, dropped from the race, Hammer quickly got behind Gonzales. He's responded by backing the mayor's positions on the proposed Town & Country project and restricting development in the Coyote and Almaden valleys. John Vidovich Developer and owner of De Anza Properties Gonzales met Vidovich during his Sunnyvale days, when the developer came to the city with various development proposals. As a county supervisor, Gonzales appointed Vidovich to the county planning commission in 1990. To date, the Vidovich family has donated $3,500 to Gonzales' mayoral campaign. Larry Stone Tax assessor Another friend from Gonzales' Sunnyvale days, the two met in 1975 when Stone first ran for the Sunnyvale City Council. According to Stone, "[Gonzales] is a minority candidate for mayor that the business sector trusts. They don't believe he's the stereotypical minority politician that's going to get elected and take the city checkbook to the barrio." Susanne Wilson Ex-county supervisor and lobbyist She worked with Gonzales her final two years on the board. Splits her time between volunteer stints with the YWCA and the United Way and lobbying for developers like Lee Brandenburg. Other important supporters: The California League of Conservation Voters, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and six returning council members. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]