San José City Council, District 5
Why does this race matter?
District 5 covers a diverse swath of East San José, with large concentrations of Latino and Asian residents, and has faced historic inequities. Incumbent Peter Ortiz is running for a second term against three others, including Nora Campos, a former council member who lost to him in the 2022 general election.
Candidates
Nora Campos Businesswoman
Vy DangSmall business owner
Karen MartínezTrustee, San José-Evergreen Community College District
Peter OrtizCouncil member, San José
Positions on Key Issues
Candidate summaries are based on interviews with the candidates, questionnaires, statements made at debates and public events, and past news coverage.
In such a diverse district and city, how will you approach responding to President Trump’s ongoing immigration enforcement campaign?
Campos says she will continue to support the city of San José’s efforts to protect residents against “the unlawful tactics the Trump administration is using against the immigrant community.”
Dang says local governments “must ensure that residents feel safe accessing essential services, such as schools, healthcare and public safety.” She plans to strengthen partnerships with community organizations that provide legal help, education and support for immigrants. “Our priority must always be keeping families together, safe and supported,” she says.
Martinez did not respond to our question on this topic.
Ortiz says, “San José’s strength comes from its diversity.” He wrote an ordinance to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using city property as staging areas for enforcement operations. He supports further funding of immigrant defense efforts. Ortiz said he will “continue to work with regional, state and national partners to push for humane, practical immigration solutions that reflect our values and the realities of our communities.”
District 5 faces many challenges that affect daily life for residents, such as affordability, declining infrastructure and inadequate tree coverage. What would be your top three priorities if elected as a council member?
Campos says her priorities are housing, safe and thriving neighborhoods and business districts and safety.
Dang says affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and economic opportunities for small businesses are her top priorities. She will “push for more deeply affordable housing, protect renters and ensure that long-time residents are not pushed out of District 5.” Dang says fixing roads, sidewalks, lighting and expanding tree coverage will benefit safety, health and quality of life. She plans to support local businesses with “policies that bring more foot traffic and economic growth to our neighborhoods.”
Martinez did not respond to questions for this guide. On her website, she says, “East San José should be a place where families feel safe, children receive a quality education, and every neighbor has the opportunity to thrive.” She supports reducing bureaucracy, helping local entrepreneurs, and attracting investments that create “opportunity without losing the character of our neighborhoods.” She’ll prioritize “repairing streets, maintaining parks, and expanding neighborhood clean-up programs.”
Ortiz says his top priorities are affordability, infrastructure improvements and environmental quality. He supports preserving and building more affordable housing and strong renter protections to prevent displacement. Ortiz wants to fix roads, improve lighting and upgrade parks to make neighborhoods cleaner and safer. He’ll push for “aggressive tree planting” and maintenance to improve the urban canopy so the district is “cooler, healthier and more livable.”
San José’s approach to addressing homelessness has shifted significantly in recent years to favor temporary shelters. What is your view on this change in direction?
Campos says temporary housing is an important tool to help unhoused people transition to permanent housing and that temporary and permanent housing need to complement each other. She supports fast-tracking permanent housing for all levels of affordability, including creating new funding streams to pay for it.
Dang says temporary shelters are an important short-term solution, but cannot be a long-term plan. She supports a “balanced approach” of combining interim and long-term affordable housing. “We need stronger prevention strategies to stop people from becoming homeless in the first place, including rental assistance and eviction protections.”
Martinez did not respond to questions for this guide. On her website, she says homelessness needs to be approached with “urgency and compassion.” She supports “building affordable housing, cutting red tape, and providing humane, effective shelter while keeping streets and parks safe and clean for everyone.”
Ortiz supports temporary shelters to get vulnerable people off the streets quickly, “but only as part of a comprehensive approach that prioritizes dignity, effectiveness and long-term solutions.” Short-term housing must be connected to services like mental health care and jobs and be combined with “sustained investment in permanent, affordable and supportive housing” for stability, he says. “If we’re not helping people transition out of homelessness, then we’re just managing the crisis, not solving it.”
All residents agree that a safe community is important. How do you view safety in District 5, and what do you plan to do to improve it?
Campos views safety as a community “being comfortable to spend family time in their neighborhood park or shopping in their local shopping districts,” where children feel safe at school and where teenagers “don’t have to worry about being bullied by gangs.” She says funding public safety departments and supporting “community policing” will help residents get to know officers and assist in preventing or solving crimes.
Dang says safety is “not just about enforcement — it’s about prevention, environment, and trust.” She wants to invest in “community policing” to help build relationships between residents and officers. She wants to support youth programs to “address root causes.” Dang says cleaning streets and addressing blight, improving lighting and activating public spaces will help prevent crime.
Martinez did not respond to questions for this guide. On her website, she says “safe streets and clean neighborhoods are the foundation of a strong community. … I’ll work to fully staff our police, reduce crime, improve traffic safety and partner with residents to fight blight and build trust.”
Ortiz says safety is something that is built holistically. Residents don’t just worry about crime, he says. "It’s about whether their streets are well-lit, whether illegal dumping is addressed, whether they feel safe walking to school or whether help comes when they call for it,” he says. He supports “effective and responsive policing,” expanding youth programs, after-school activities “and creating pathways to jobs so young people have opportunities and aren’t drawn into cycles of violence.”
Key Supporters
This list represents notable organizations and individuals who have taken a position on the ballot measure or candidate, or who are funding campaigns in support or opposition. This list is not exhaustive, and may be updated.
For Campos
- N/A
For Dang
- Madison Nguyen, former City Council member, San José
For Martinez
- Silicon Valley Biz PAC
For Ortiz
- Betty Duong, supervisor, Santa Clara County
- Ash Kalra, member, California Assembly
- South Bay Labor Council
Get weekly election reporting from KQED’s Political Breakdown newsletter.
To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy.