District 2 residents needs an independent voice who will stand up for the neighborhoods' concerns.

By Kathy Chavez Napoli

I was the only candidate to speak up at three crucial meeting opposing the Calpine Power Plant. I will continue to act independently and decisively when I am elected to represent the residnets of District 2.

In deciding which candidate to vote for, many people look for qualities that distinguish the candidates from each other. I hope you will read all the literature and follow the news so your decision on who to support is based on as much information as possible. When you finish comparing the candidates, I am confident that you will find that I am the best prepared to represent District 2 on the San Jose City Council.

While I am not yet an elected representative of District 2, I have involved myself in the current controversy over Calpine's proposal to build a high-polluting power plant in the middle of our district. The negative impacts the facility would have on our community led me to strongly oppose the plan.

In fact, I was the first candidate to announce my opposition to the proposal, and was the only candidate to speak out against the power plant at meetings of the San Jose and Morgan Hill City Councils, and at a hearing before the California Energy Commission.

Elizabeth Cord, president of the Santa Theresa Citizen's Action Group, has said, "Kathy was the first candidate to understand and support the thousands who oppose the Calpine power plant project. That's the kind of strong leadership we need in our community." I am proud that, although I had not previously known Ms. Cord, she is now one of my strongest supporters.

Just as with the Calpine issue, I will never surrender my independence, and I will always do what is best for our community. The San Jose Mercury News' SV Magazine recently selected me as one of the "Millenium 100" people who have made Silicon Valley what it is today. In the article, they point out that I had "made an impact on public policy by looking out for the little guy."