With Councilmembers Gino Borgioli and Rene Spring both retiring from their seats, the City Council race is taken over by four fresh faces looking to make their mark on Morgan Hill.
Incoming members will be need to to tackle a myriad of issues that deeply affect residents — including managing the need for affordable housing while finding ways to support a growing population without drastically changing the face of Morgan Hill. The new councilmembers also will have to strike a balance between being a “bedroom community” of commuters to Silicon Valley and attracting new jobs so people can live and work in the city. All the while, the city faces a looming budget deficit, adding urgency to the need to create revenue streams and bring in economic growth.
District A
David Dindak
Dindak, 67, is the owner of Bubbles and Brew, a downtown wine bar, and president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association. A Morgan Hill resident since the 80s, Dindak says he hopes to use his business acumen to maintain the same “safety and quality of life” even as the city grows, including pushing for more police officers.
Dindak argues that improved service “all starts with a sustainable budget.” He would like to find ways to cut costs and create revenue for the city, including by attracting diverse businesses such as advanced manufacturing, research and development and tourism.
On housing, Dindak hopes to lobby the state so that increased housing requirements are balanced with resources that support the demands on infrastructure and city services.
“I really think that Morgan Hill is on the right track,” said Dindak. “It’s just a charming, charming city …I just love this community, and I just want it to be successful.”
Dindak’s endorsements include Morgan Hill Mayor Mark Turner, the South County Business Alliance, and the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors.
Miriam Vega
Vega, 47, is currently a culinary instructor for the Salinas Unified School District, and was the former chef and owner of La Niña Perdida restaurant in Morgan Hill.
Vega says she grew up and raised her son in Morgan hill, and she wants to create a city where people like him can live and work without commuting. “We want to keep a certain feel to Morgan Hill,” said Vega. “And I think that if I don’t get involved, then we’re going to lose some of the things that I fell in love with Morgan Hill for.”
She supports the push for more affordable housing and is an advocate for housing dedicated to workers like teachers, law enforcement and firefighters so that they can live in the communities they serve.
If voted into office, she hopes to grow public safety, invest in parks and open spaces, and push for more economic development — focused on the medical industry, manufacturing jobs, and mid-sized businesses that can “grow with Morgan Hill.”
Vega is endorsed by the Santa Clara County Democratic Party and District C Councilmember Rene Spring.
District C
Soraida Iwanaga
Iwanaga, 54, is a nurse at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and was inspired to run by the “frustrating” speed of growth in Morgan Hill.
“I’ve already seen one of my hometowns explode,” said Iwanaga, a San Jose native, adding that Morgan Hill is being forced to grow without proper funding for infrastructure or public transit to nearby job centers. As the city grows, she hopes to push to preserve parks and advocate for spreading a mix of high-density and lower-density housing throughout the city.
On economic development, Iwanaga favors bringing in more medical industry, which she argues will bring in revenue for the city while expanding health services to an underserved region.
She says that in order to navigate budget struggles, the city will need to distinguish between “wants and needs,” noting that businesses like car sales may not be popular, but bring in funding. “I get that we don’t want certain things, but sometimes we have to do them for the bottom line,” said Iwanaga.
Iwanaga’s endorsements include Morgan Hill mayor Mark Turner and District A Councilmember Gino Borgioli.
Michael Orosco
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Orosco, 53, is an electrical engineer and the founder and CEO of MORE Consulting. He wants to find the right balance of growth of housing and jobs so people can live and work in Morgan Hill.
He previously served as a planning commissioner, and he maintains that gives him the experience to guide the city through state-mandated housing growth that could permanently change Morgan Hill.
“With the knife on our throat from the state … We need somebody to hit the ground running .. who can defend our city,” said Orosco.
To do so, he plans to develop commercial land — in part so that it cannot be taken over by housing – by attracting companies to relocate to Morgan Hill and bringing in “trainable” manufacturing jobs that do not require college degrees.
He also hopes to encourage the growth of home businesses and push for more tourism via Morgan Hill’s sports complex.
On housing, Orosco favors a diverse mix of housing options and would like to concentrate higher-density housing downtown to prevent sprawl.
Orosco is endorsed by current Councilmember Spring.