[ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]

Take a Sad Song: Mayor Ron Gonzales' staff chieftain Jude Barry says he's quitting because the timing is right. Others say his relationship with the mayor has become 'strained.' Public Eye Breaking up the Band THERE WAS A JOKE about San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales going around not too long ago that went like this: "When Ron's father died, he lost his soul; when he left his wife, Alvina, he lost his heart; and when Jude Barry quits, he'll lose his mind." This week, Ron lost his mind. The mayor's brainy chief of staff and Machiavellian strategist, Jude Barry, announced his resignation Monday, ending one of the valley's most enduring and successful political partnerships. "It's good timing for me," said Barry, who had just returned from a two-month leave of absence to run the victorious Measure A campaign to bring BART to San Jose, Gonzales' pet issue. "The mayor's office is in a much stronger position than it was earlier this year." Barry would only say that he made his decision "recently," though his departure has been long rumored (see June 22, 2000, Eye). Insiders say Barry made his intentions known to HizRonner in the spring around the time he began to suspect the mayor of having an affair with a 25-year-old aide and confronted Gonzales about it. The mayor denied the office romance, but later confessed to it after the news was reported in this space a few months later. A Barry sympathizer says that--ever the loyal soldier--he delayed announcing his departure because he didn't want to add to the mayor's political woes. During the Measure A campaign, the media-savvy Barry repeatedly told skeptical reporters that he would return to City Hall after the election, which he did--for less than a month. ... While both Barry and Gonzales are remaining cordial publicly, sources close to the action say that privately their relationship has been "strained" for many months. A friend of the mayor's estranged wife tells Eye that Gonzales never forgave Barry for helping Alvina find a divorce lawyer, well-respected and aggressive family law attorney Lynne Yates-Carter. But Gonzales insists, "I had no problem with that. We discussed that ahead of time." Barry wouldn't comment on anything having to do with the mayor's personal affairs. "There has already been enough said about the mayor and his relationships," Barry sniffed. "I don't think it is beneficial for me to add to that topic." By the by, Barry claims he doesn't have a new job lined up yet, but hopes to land work in the private sector. Jobs Wanted Jude Barry isn't the only San Jose City Hall regular facing a major career change. Three council members--Frank Fiscalini, Charlotte Powers and Alice Woody--will be out of a job at the end of the month because their terms come to a close. ... Fiscalini confirms that he is pondering becoming a government-relations consultant. The council's elder statesman says he might join Pete Carrillo, Ash Pirayou and Ed Alvarez at Silicon Valley Advisers, a San Jose lobbying firm. The only foreseeable hitch: The city's revolving door ordinance, which bars council members from lobbying City Hall for one year after they leave office. ... Meanwhile, Powers tells Eye she is considering a post at the Bay Area Council, a business-sponsored public policy think tank. Although the organization is based in San Francisco, Powers says that she might be able to negotiate an arrangement where she works out of the offices of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University. She would be working alongside a couple of familiar faces: Ex-Supervisor Rod Diridon, the institute's chief, and ex-San Jose Councilwoman Trixie Johnson, the institute's research director. But Powers cautions, "I haven't made a decision yet." ... As for Woody, she says she just plans to chill: "I intend to take a deep breath, relax, and visit my grandchildren who are in Georgia." Contrary to rumors that she's leaving San Jose, Woody says she's remaining in these parts for a while because her husband works in the Bay Area. "At some point," she acknowledges, "and I am not sure when, there is the possibility that we will move out of the area as we want to be close to our family and especially our grandchildren." Planning Ahead First he lost his bid for north county supervisor. Now, Terry Trumbull will more than likely lose his prized seat on the county Planning Commission. Supervisor-elect Liz Kniss, one of Trumbull's opponents in the March primary, will decide whether to re-appoint Trumbull or tap someone else next month when she takes office. "We're going to advertise for the planning commission [seat]," Kniss tells Eye; "we'll do due diligence, then we'll interview the applicants. And may the best person win." If Kniss doesn't sound like she thinks Trumbull is the best person, consider this: She's still annoyed by what she considers Trumbull's behind-the scenes support of her opponent in the general election, Dolly Sandoval. Sandoval sucked up to Trumbull by writing a letter to previous District 5 Supervisor Joe Simitian, asking him to reappoint Trumbull (which he didn't). Kniss says Trumbull asked her to write a similar letter, but she refused. Later, the League of Conservation Voters--an enviro group for which Trumbull serves as endorsement chair--endorsed Sandoval. "Although Terry didn't come right out and support Dolly," Kniss grouses, "it was pretty clear he was supporting her in a variety of other ways." ... But Trumbull insists he truly remained neutral in Kniss' race and even recused himself from the League of Conservation Voters' endorsement vote. Trumbull guesses there's a 50-50 chance Kniss will reappoint him. When asked about Trumbull's chances, Kniss would only say, "I've got to wait until I've interviewed everyone." Bush Beating George W. Bush may not officially be president yet, but a couple of Bay Area eggheads are already being talked up as worthy of a federal appointment from Dubya. Stanford Provost Condoleeza Rice has been mentioned in the media as a likely choice for national security adviser. Rice certainly would be a logical choice: She worked for Poppy Bush as a Soviet specialist on the National Security Council and she also advised the younger Bush during the campaign. A more surprising name making the rounds is that of Portola Valley angel investor Bill Peacock, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for Congress earlier this year. Peacock, who served as assistant secretary of the Army under Jimmy Carter, doesn't deny having chatted with the Bush league about a federal appointment. If either Bush or Al Gore taps him, Peacock vows, "I'm prepared to serve my country." Peacock surely didn't hurt his chances with the Reeps when he endorsed the GOP's Silicon Valley congressional nominee, Jim Cunneen, against Democrat Mike Honda. Eye has yet to gather any solid intelligence on Cunneen's own career plans, though a former campaign adviser predicts Jimbo will stay out of electoral politics for a while. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]