Dear Neighbor,

I am honored and humbled to announce my candidacy for Gilroy City Council in next year’s election.

The decision to run for public office did not come easily to me. I was approached by many respected individuals in our community, including former and current members of the City Council. I solicited the views of family and friends. And, I prayed about it. The most important endorsement to me is that of my husband of 36 years, Pete, a veteran of forty years in law enforcement. We have three children, Melisa, PJ and Kaitlin and are now blessed with three grandchildren, Stevie, Shiloh, and Peter. I’m also a military Mom with a son in the service.

I have lived in Gilroy since my freshman year in high school and am grateful for the many wonderful friendships and relationships that have developed over the years. As a retired teacher, non-profit organization executive, and current member of the Gilroy Planning Commission, my leadership experience working among people with diverse interests and backgrounds has made me a consensus-builder and I will be a consensus-builder on the City Council.

I have been associated with many of our most important local institutions, such as St. Mary’s School, Gavilan College, the Gilroy Garlic Festival, the Rotary Club of Gilroy, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Gilroy – which I brought to the community of Gilroy and chaired for the first 3 years.

I recently chaired a Recall campaign aimed at ensuring greater accountability among our elected officials in Gilroy. At a time when the public’s respect for our governmental institutions is rapidly eroding, I believed it was necessary to take a stand for political integrity.

I still believe that.  And “Leadership with Integrity” will be the theme of this campaign.

The people of Gilroy deserve leadership that is transparent and responsible. You have my pledge to work to expand opportunities for all our residents.  I will focus on public safety to ensure that our streets, schools, parks, and neighborhoods are clean and safe. Another area of focus will be on local control: promoting balanced growth while considering the impacts on our infrastructure.  Economic development is another top priority: welcoming and strengthening local businesses so they have the opportunity to thrive.

Your endorsement and contribution today will help guarantee we can run a campaign to be proud of, all the way to victory on November 5, 2024.

Thank you for your consideration.

Warm Regards,

Kelly Ramirez