Mayor Addresses Republican Party Members

About six months after Milpitas voters elected Jose Esteves for his fourth term as mayor, he addressed party members on June 6 about his priorities and political stance on issues.

Esteves is part of the Berryessa-Milpitas Republican Assembly, a chapter of the Santa Clara County Republican Party of Silicon Valley. 

So what has changed in Milpitas since Esteves was first elected into office?

"On my first term as mayor, I focused on capital projects like the new library," he said. "Now we must maintain financial strength by cutting costs. Revenue must equal expenditures. We must not borrow."

The city should be allowed to subcontract out at lesser cost the police, fire, and park maintenance services that would be more competitive, he said.

"We should be very transparent. Pension reform should have a second tier to lower costs," he said.

"If we eliminate employees it must be on their performance rating not seniority," he said. "We're trying to reduce employee benefits. The police cost 85 percent of their salaries. They should be 40 to 45 percent."

On business development and retention, Esteves said he was pleased with the council's approval of the WalMart expansion in the McCarthy Ranch shopping center, which isn't doing well with empty storefronts.

On the issue of campaign reform, he said unions give a lot to candidates and he called for disclosure of all contributions even from unions to see what limits could be imposed.

BMRA Secretary Ty Greaves said, "The South Bay Labor Council gave $3.5 million  their candidates for higher salaries and higher taxes." Mayor Esteves said he would try to fight and be vocal about it.

When asked about developer donations to candidates, Esteves said he would try to avoid allowing individuals giving through multiple companies and organizations. "Disclosure is the key word."

On redistricting, he said, "We can never be worse than now," referring to the 20th Assembly District, a . "I want to stay within our own Santa Clara County. They have different interests in Fremont."

About one-third of registered voters in Milpitas decline to state their party affiliation. Democrats are the largest political party, at 42 percent, compared to Republicans at 21 percent.