Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 3

Kathy Sutherland is a strong advocate for neighborhoods with City Hall experience. She has been a leader in creating strong neighborhood associations and has a successful track record of supporting economic development while balancing open space protection.

Raised in San José, Kathy and her husband, Craig, bought their Downtown home in 1980 in a neglected area of San José where auto body shops were built next door to family homes. They saw the potential of the area and decided to establish their roots and raise their family here.

Living Downtown sparked Kathy's advocacy for her neighborhood and led to her founding the Delmas Park Neighborhood Association. Kathy was also a key member of the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative Project, serving as the Neighborhood Advisory Committee President from 2001-2007.

As Co-Chair of the Diridon/Arena Strategic Development Plan, Kathy helped guide the long-term development around this 166 acre parcel including the over-all character of the Arena, surrounding neighborhoods and public amenities and planning the public transit infrastructure to accommodate this growth.

Kathy understands that prosperous, safe communities are built upon quality public schools. For four years, Kathy serviced as the Destination Imagination Team Manager and Program Coordinator to mentor underachieving boys in our public middle schools. She was also an active volunteer in her daughters' schools, eventually becoming a Service Unit Manager for the Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County. During this time, the City enlisted her support to successfully encourage San Jose Betsuin Buddhist Temple troops to become more interactive with other troops in the Downtown San Jose Service Unit.

In 1996, Kathy launched her own small business where she worked with community organizations and nonprofits to coordinate special events, with a focus on the greater Downtown area including Bark in the Park, Pumpkins in the Park, and the Guadalupe River Park Grand Opening. Kathy also worked for the West San Carlos Street Neighborhood Business Association as a liaison between businesses, residents, the school district, and city departments.

Due to her extensive work with neighborhoods and small businesses, in 2007 Kathy was hired by Councilmember Nancy Pyle as a policy advisor for economic development. In this role, she worked with businesses and the City planning department to ensure businesses had the support from the City that they needed to succeed and grow. She later became Chief of Staff, working closely with residents and City Hall staff on development projects as well as park and trail improvements. This experience gives Kathy a unique understanding of City Hall and is qualified to successfully navigate City government to better serve constituents.

Kathy and her husband Craig raised their two daughters, Rachel and Lauren, in their downtown home and the girls attended local public schools. Today Rachel is a Family Practice resident and Lauren is a 6th grade teacher. She has two grandchildren, soon to grow to four.

ASSOCIATIONS, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

• Steering Committee Member, CommUniverCity
• Citizens Advisory Committee Member, Open Space Authority
• Board Member, Tabard Theatre
• Member, San José Arena Authority
• Executive Board Member, San José Parks Foundation
• Founder, Delmas Park Neighborhood Association
• Co-Chaired Diridon/Arena Strategic Development Plan
• Past Member, Healthy Neighborhood Venture Fund Committee
• Past President, Neighborhood Advisory Committee
• Past Member, Neighborhood Housing Services Silicon Valley