Dave Cortese
Dave Cortese
2020 Dual Endorsement
California State Senate, 15th District
Prior to joining the Board, where he has served for over a decade, with four years as Board President, Dave Cortese served eight years on the San Jose City Council, including two years as Vice Mayor. He grew up in San Jose as part of a family that has been active in civic, cultural and business activities for generations. He is married to Pattie Cortese and has four children. His deep local roots and love for this county fuel his passion for public service.
Dave was educated at Bellarmine College Prep and UC Davis where he earned a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Political Science. He earned his Juris Doctorate at Lincoln University Law School in San Jose.
Growing up in Santa Clara Valley during a period of great growth and expansion, Dave understands the issues facing our County today. One thing is for certain: as a leader in the Bay Area and hub of high-tech innovation, the County must strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Dave proposed and helped ensure that all County government operations will transition to 100% renewable electric power by 2019 years end.
After years of running his own businesses, Dave has seen the trials and tribulations of the business environment both from the perspective of small business owners and the recent immigrants who are striving for the American Dream. In these tough economic times, he is looking to find ways for the county to become leaner and more efficient without cutting jobs. As Chair of the Finance and Government Operations Committee, Dave provides oversight and direction to the County Executive in areas of Finance, Budget, Technology and Capital Projects.
As a member and former Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Dave fought hard to bring federal stimulus funds to the South Bay to rehabilitate our aging roads and ease congestion. As a member of the Valley Transportation Authority, he pushed to ensure that BART will continue its expansion into Santa Clara County and is continuing to look for inventive ways to increase the use of mass transit for the ease of those who cannot afford a car and to ease the burden on our public thoroughfares.
With his first-hand experience gained as a Trustee for the East Side Union High School District including two years as the President, Dave fully understands the need to give students the opportunity to succeed. Seeing the fast-growing student population, particularly in the Evergreen area of San Jose, Dave jump-started dormant plans to build a new high school in Evergreen and co-chaired the $80 million bond campaign that led to Silicon Valley's first new high school in 25 years.
In addition to providing places to learn, Dave believes that all students have the potential to succeed, even if it takes a helping hand. He was a major architect of a continuation program at Foothill High School, which became School Linked Services, a program that connects students and families to Social Services, Probation, etc. Furthermore, he helped expand and fund the City of San Jose's "homework center" program at the East Side Union High School District.
With the knowledge that children who are touched by the social service system often face increasing hardships in school and life, Dave, as the Vice Chair of the County's Children, Seniors and Families Committee, has focused his efforts on reducing the rolls of the child welfare system and on decreasing the over-representation of minority youth in juvenile dependency, juvenile delinquency and other safety net services.
Dave has had the opportunity to work with his father, former Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese over a political career that commenced in 1968. Over that time, Dave has seen the trials and tribulations of public service, as well as the rewarding role it plays in uplifting our community and bridging divides among all of us.
Past Endorsement History
2008 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District 3
2012 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District 3
2014 San Jose Mayor
2020 Dual Endorsement (alongside Ann Ravel) for State Senate District 15
Party: Democratic
Support for the LGBTQ Community:
Supported the creation of Santa Clara County's Office of LGBTQ Affairs
Supported county funding for the "Getting to Zero" HIV campaign