San Jose Mayoral Candidates Speak at Education Forum at Santana Row

Candidates running for mayor in San Jose made their case for education and helping students succeed.

Ten people will be on the ballot for the mayor’s race, and five candidates showed up at Saturday’s Education Forum at Santana Row.

Their first question–what role can the next mayor play in schools and education in San Jose?

"One of the things that a mayor can do is leverage her power to make sure that she coordinates with the corporations," San Jose City Councilmember Madison Nguyen said. "Because these CEO’s want us to invest in these students…so when they enter the workforce, they’re ready to work and contribute to the economy."

"These parents have timelines and milestones to make that makes my work on the city council look like nothing," Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio said. "I have huge admiration for the parent-teacher organizations, and I think the next mayor should work alongside those parents who are actively involved in the excellent preparation for their students into the college years."

The mayoral candidates also answered questions about funding for schools and how they would raise more money for classes and activities.

"I hope that Mark Zuckerberg is watching right now," Nguyen said. "Because he gave $100 million to a school in Newark...and recently, he also gave millions of dollars to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to help with education endeavors. And since San Jose is in his backyard, I don’t see why Mark Zuckerberg should not contribute to the schools here in San Jose."

"I certainly support the idea of encouraging Mark Zuckerberg to kick in a few bucks our way," Councilmember Sam Liccardo said. "But I don’t have him on speed dial, so I have, however, spent an awful lot of time fundraising from the corporate sector to support schools."

The mayoral election is on June 3.

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