Pete launched his career in Arizona at Garret Turbine Engine Company (now part of Honeywell Aerospace) and then moved to Minnesota to work for MTS Systems Corporation, where he spent many years in multiple roles. As Product Manager, Pete was responsible for leading product development and managing existing products in a newly formed Aerospace Division of MTS. Among his early accomplishments was managing the production of Aero-90™, the company’s flagship structural test offering. Introduced in 1991, this product family is still being sold today and is considered the industry’s most successful product ever.

Promoted to Senior Program Manager in 1995, Pete continued to provide not only company, but industry leadership. Combining his knowledge of engineering with a natural leadership style, he managed a variety of large-scale engineering projects while mastering the often-confusing landscape of managing contracts in both the commercial and governmental arenas.

In 2000, Pete took a sabbatical and became a mountaineering instructor and taught teambuilding skills to corporate groups. This unique year of seeing the world through day-to-day encounters with nature’s awesome terrain gave Pete insight into managing teams and personal commitment.

Pete returned in 2000 to MTS as a Senior Account Manager, representing the entire line of products in multiple market segments. Pete handled many key accounts for MTS, including those with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Cessna, and Alcoa. Pete was named Sales Engineer of the Year in 2002 and 2003.

Director of Product Strategy for MTS Systems Corporation was the next step up the ladder for Pete, who reported directly to the Executive Vice President. Pete accomplished much during his leadership role at MTS and soon founded his own company - Appteric Inc. - in San José, which provided manufacturers’ representation for advanced manufacturing technologies.

Pete also brings two years of intense community involvement as a core downtown resident. He served on the board of the Saint James Historic District Neighborhood Association, where he was the land-use and development subcommittee and retail subcommittee lead. Pete is a founding member of CalSJ, a group of San José citizen leaders committed to improving the quality of life in San José, and the Downtown Neighborhood Leadership Forum. He also has been involved with the Coalition for a Downtown Hospital (formerly "Save San José Medical Center"), an organization dedicated to bringing emergency medical services to downtown San José residents.

Pete earned a Bachelor's degree in General Engineering and a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of Illinois. Pete is married to Lisa Voss, an Organizational Effectiveness Manager at Cisco. He has two daughters; Amanda Furman a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist in Orlando, Florida, and Lauren Furman an interior designer in Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to his tenure in the District Four Council Office, Armando served as budget analyst for the operations division of the San José International Airport. Between 1997 and 1999, Armando served the San Francisco Ethics Commission and the San Francisco Board of Supervisor’s Budget Analyst’s office. At the Ethics Commission, Gomez assisted with the development of the City and County of San Francisco’s Campaign Finance Audit Program, audited campaign committees for compliance with state and local laws, and developed an online filing system for campaign committees.

Armando also serves as a City Councilman for the City of Milpitas, a position he was elected to in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. He was appointed Vice Mayor by his colleagues in 2004. Armando has served on numerous committees including the Finance, Transportation and City/School Subcommittees.

Michelle began her career as the Bay Area editor for McClatchy’s Senior Spectrum division and a managing editor for NurseWeek magazine in Sunnyvale.

Michelle was on the staff for former San José Vice Mayor Frank Fiscalini from 1995 to 2000, serving first as Legislative Aide, then as Chief of Staff. Her work included media and community relations, public policy, land use and budget issues.

Michelle also served as Senior Director for Media and Community Relations for the $1.7 billion Silicon Valley Community Foundation, overseeing outreach to the press, community and civic leadership. She joined the Community Foundation in 2000 as Director of Communications and Marketing and coordinated the foundation’s marketing strategy, websites and online outreach, community research, and public relations.

While a member of the Rotary Club of San José, she served as President of the club’s endowment from 2007 to 2008. Michelle has been a frequent speaker on communications strategies for nonprofits, foundations, and public organizations. She is a past board member of CommA, the national Communications Association for Community Foundations.

A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Michelle is currently pursuing an MFA in creative writing at Lesley University She has lived in San José’s Shasta-Hanchett Park neighborhood since 1994 with her husband, Santa Clara University photographer Chuck Barry.

In her capacity as Director of Industrial Development, she managed economic development programs and redevelopment projects in five technology parks that house over 2,500 multinational companies employing over 80,000 people. Corporate retention and attraction efforts are a critical component of the Agency’s industrial work program.

The Industrial Development Division of the Redevelopment Agency was also tasked with initiating and facilitating strategic programs related to emerging technologies and ensuring the continued economic health of San José’s technology parks.

Ru served as the Redevelopment Agency’s representative during preparation of the City’s Economic Development Strategy, the North San José Vision 2030 Area Development Policy Update and the Edenvale Area Development Policy. In addition to overseeing a $100 million capital improvement program over the past 15 years, Ru managed the City’s incubator program which includes a $20 million redevelopment investment in small business development.

Ru graduated from Holy Family Convent High School in Sri Lanka. She received both her B.S. and Masters degrees in Economics from San José State University. Ru and her husband, Richard Keit, live in San José where they are raising their son, Ryan.

Jeff began his political career working as a volunteer coordinator for the Tom Bradley for Governor campaign in 1986. He joined the Gephart for President campaign in late 1987 and worked in Iowa for several months as a Field Organizer before moving on to the national Advance staff in 1988.

Jeff then returned to Santa Clara County to manage several more local campaigns, and in 1989, he joined Congressman Norm Mineta’s district office where he worked for the next 5 years filling various roles focusing on social service and healthcare issues.

After leaving Congressman Mineta’s office, Jeff returned to campaign work where he managed the successful effort to create the Open Space Authority, the Sam Farr for Congress campaign and the Mike Honda for State Assembly campaign. Jeff left politics in 1997 to go into the private sector where he had a successful career building and managing sales organizations for small high tech companies.

Jeff returned to politics in 2001 to manage the campaign for Rod Diridon Jr. in his bid for State Assembly. He has also worked on projects with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the San José Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. Jeff joined Chuck Reed in December 2005 as his Campaign Manager.

Jeff received his B.A. from Northern Illinois University and lives in Los Gatos with his wife, Jennifer, and two children.

Jose graduated high school from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mountain View. Although he originally planned to become a priest, he eventually followed his brother into the public safety field. In 1977, he started his career in the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office, and became a lieutenant in 2002. He has also held positions as Assistant Division Commander over the Jails Administration Division, Watch Commander overseeing the Patrols Division and as a past President of the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Santa Clara County, in addition to managing the Records Division.

In additional to his professional record, Jose participates in many community organizations. He has held positions in the Hispanic Political Action Community – Silicon Valley, the Bellarmine College Prep Dad’s Club and the Central Coast Chapter of PORAC (Peace Officers Research Association of California). At present, he serves on the board of directors for Sacred Heart Community Services.

Jose received his B.S. in Business Management and his Masters in Public Administration from San José State University. He currently lives in Willow Glen with his wife, Mary, and his two children, Declan and Conor.