Jan 29, 2004

District 10 candidate countdown: William Gabbett

By Candy Richter
Staff Writer

Although his name may not be well known, to any citizen who has followed the issues in and about San Jose over the years, the measured voice and articulate ponderings of District 10 candidate William Gabbett will definitely strike a chord of familiarity.

No stranger to city council sessions, Gabbert has appeared before many a meeting, acting, in his words, as “a representative of the minority voice in San Jose,” often representing a group of advocates known simply as “The Public.”

Called a gadfly by some and a professional advocate by others, Gabbett had lent his voice to a wide range of issues, through by his own admission, not all of the viewpoints he espouses in the public address portion of council meetings are necessarily his own.

“First, I am a liberal, evolving person. I accept diverse viewpoints and accept other people’s stands on issues. Two-thirds of the issues [I represent] are views that I do not share,” said Gabbett. “But I represent others and their viewpoints. I can represent others well, with sincerity. I see no conflict in this. At city council we are all nice people, talking freely, without repercussions, except in my own district.”

If elected to represent District 10, Gabbett assures that he will be able to put aside his “advocate for hire” stance and adopt a set of parameters that will make him an effective decision-maker. “At some point there is a ethic developed—a killer instinct in the world of politics. I am ex-military and a religious person. I’ve served many places, done many things, and I’ve never hesitated to make the proper decision. “

He further stated that, in his opinion, many votes are traded and negotiated. “No matter what the issue at hand,” said Gabbett, “I will be a politician with a [voting] record.”

Critics have noted that Gabbett’s constant presence at city hall, carrying the torch for others as an advocate for hire, has cast doubts as to his own level of commitment. To this, Gabbett assured that he is serious in his District 10 election bid. “I am called a gadfly,” said Gabbert. “But we have other gadflies, called gnats, a group against redevelopment, here in San Jose. I come back week after week, presenting a voice, presenting a viewpoint, which is still viable. [I] do have some substance. I am in this [election] to the end.”

Although he has never held a political office, Gabbett has been on the ballot of many San Jose elections, from city council to the office of mayor. A resident of San Jose since 1970, Gabbett feels that his longtime residency and extensive knowledge of the issues facing the district are his best qualifications. “I’ve been following city hall for approximately 31 years,” stated Gabbett. “I feel I’m the best [candidate] because I know the issues well, and the history behind [them].”

Gabbett also believes that one of his most important responsibilities is to represent all areas within the District 10 boundaries. “[District 10] is not only Almaden Valley, but Blossom Valley as well,” said Gabbett. “This area contains a wide [sic] range of economic and educational levels—like California as a whole. You cannot just cater to one sector.”

Gabbett also asserted that out of the four individuals running for the District 10 seat, he alone is free from any “outside influences.”

“The others are vested in Almaden Valley’s community,” said Gabbert. “Ron is from banking, Rich from insurance, Nancy from education, and I am just a member of The Public.”

However, according to Gabbett, his vocal public scrutiny of the City and its managing body has caused some negative repercussions. “My publicly stated views have caused certain retaliation by public officials in a manner that is less than lawful,” stated Gabbett. Refusing to elaborate further, Gabbett went on to say that he had “no comment at this time, I am at the mercy of the city.”

Gabbett’s background
A native of Dallas, Ohio, Gabbett joined the U. S. Navy out of high school and served a five-year stint in Vietnam before returning to the U.S. to attend the University of Louisville. While there, he got a taste of politics when he took part in a mock political convention during the Kennedy years.

Gabbett came to the Almaden area when he married his wife, a native of San Jose, and has two daughters and three grandchildren.

Gabbett’s professional background includes experience in the telephone industry, electronics and metrology. Currently retired, Gabbert cares for both his 94-year-old mother-in-law and his own mother, who lives out of state. Gabbert praises San Jose as “the most international city, with a balanced ethnic mix,” and as proof of his interest, has kept abreast of the ebb and flow of the city’s hot topics over the years.

Contact information
According to Gabbett, he has neither a Web site nor Internet access, nor has he established a campaign office or provided this publication with a telephone number. He does assert that “constituents find me all the time,” citing that he occasionally frequents the Coco’s Restaurant on Hamilton Avenue in Campbell. “I’m as accessible as the city of San Jose allows me to be,” concluded Gabbett.