Serving San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy

December 2025

The VOTER

President's Message

Helping those in need

As League members and supporters, we believe in the importance of democracy. But even more important to quality of life is one of the basic requirements for survival – food.

Rising grocery costs and the disruption of the government safety nets that help so many feed their families reminded our Board that we could all do more to help those who are struggling. At its November meeting, the Board questioned how the League could get involved and tasked a subcommittee to research the options.

Our answer is to encourage the hundreds of people who read this newsletter to make a donation to one of the nonprofit organizations that are making a difference in our community. Our subcommittee recommends these two in particular:

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is a large food bank with an extensive network of partner agencies. Its long-standing relationships with food suppliers make the most of your cash donation. Second Harvest can purchase the most needed healthy food items at discounted prices and has the distribution system to get perishable and nonperishable food to those in need quickly and efficiently. Click HERE to make a secure donation online.

Latinas Contra Cancer is a local nonprofit that supports those most impacted by health inequity through every step of their cancer journey. Having a healthy diet and peace of mind that their families have enough to eat are critical factors in recovery. Latinas Contra Cancer knows the individual stories of the clients they serve and can use donation funding to provide the items specifically needed for that person and family. Click HERE to make a secure donation online.

Special thank you to Michelle Fernandez, Danette Green and Anita Romero for taking on this project and their thoughtful approach to a holiday food donation program. I hope that many of you will decide to be part in this effort.

On behalf of the entire Board, we wish you and your families a joyous holiday season.

Diane

Diane McNutt, President

League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara

Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org

Reminder: All League members are invited to attend the monthly Board business meetings, usually held on Zoom on the first Thursday of the month. If you would like to attend, contact me for agenda, time and link information.

Holiday Buffet Dinner

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

5-7:30 p.m.

Palermo Italian Restaurant, 791 Auzerais Ave., San Jose

Buffet includes mixed and Caesar salads, penne pasta in fresh tomato sauce, Sicilian meatballs, tortellini Alfredo in white cream sauce, and Italian biscotti. No-host bar.

Cost: $40 per person

Join us in this beautifully-decorated setting for an evening of good friends, great food, and outstanding memories.

Watch for an eblast invitation in the next few days with registration details or visit our website lwvsjsc.org for information.

December 30 Special Runoff Election for County Assessor

A Special Election for Santa Clara County Assessor was held on Nov. 4. Four candidates vied for the position and none received a majority of the vote so a runoff election between the top two vote-getters will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Ballots will be mailed the week of Dec. 8.

Welcome new Board members

At its November meeting, the Board appointed two League members to join the leadership team: Susan Skorey as Treasurer and Laurel Prevetti as a Director. Susan takes over the Treasurer position from Elizabeth Chien-Hale who was elected at the June Annual Meeting. Elizabeth had to resign because of work commitments but remains on the Board as a Director.

Susan Skorey grew up in Illinois and earned a B.A. in mathematics from Grinnell College. While living in Illinois she joined LWV Geneva/St. Charles and served on their board in many capacities including president. She joined our League in 1982 when she moved to San Jose and has served on the board at different times. Susan became an Enrolled Agent (income tax professional) in 1985 and started a business with a friend in 1994 providing tax and financial services to individuals and small businesses. She sold the business in January 2025.

Laurel Prevetti has been a local government professional for almost 40 years. She worked 28 years for the City of San Jose in the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement. She spent 10 years with the Town of Los Gatos, of which she served nine years as the Town Manager. Laurel also taught in the Master’s Program of Urban and Regional Planning with San Jose State University. Now retired, Laurel enjoys volunteering with local and regional nonprofits. Laurel has both her Master’s and Bachelor's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.

Join us to participate in League teams to conduct legislative Interviews in January and February with our locally-elected state political leaders: State Senators Dave Cortese and Aisha Wahab, and State Assembly Members

Marc Berman, Alex Lee, Ash Kalra, Patrick Ahrens, Gail Pellerin and

Robert Rivas. The interviews will focus on their legislative priorities for the upcoming session in 2026 and their responses to questions about local district concerns. Summaries of the interviews will be posted on our website.

If you are interested, please email co-chairs Gloria Chun Hoo and Elizabeth Chien-Hale at leginterviews@lwvsjsc.org.

Save the date!

Election Year 2026 Kickoff Rally

Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Learn more about the League's Voter Service activities including voter registration and engagement, Candidates Forums, Pros & Cons presentations, VOTE411 and more! Special guest speaker: Matt Moreles, Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. Watch for details in the January VOTER newsletter.

It was all about water at November Lunch with League

Members of the League's Climate Change/Natural Resources Committee with Jim Beall, Santa Clara Valley Water District Director, who was the featured speaker at the November 20 Lunch with League. From left: Leslie Hallenbeck, Carol Watts, Judy Chamberlin, Jim Beall, Virginia Holtz, Trudy LaFrance.

Applications are now being accepted for the Water 101 Academy mentioned by Director Beall at Lunch with League. The program is free and open to all Santa Clara Valley residents ages 18 or older. The Academy consists of four virtual sessions, an in-person infrastructure tour and a graduation conducted between April and June 2026. Application deadline is Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 at 5 p.m. For details and to apply, visit valleywater.org/water101.

November Voter Service activities

The Voter Service voter registration/voter engagement tabling team continued its busy schedule in November, under the capable leadership of Michelle Fernandez. The League was represented at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Dia de Los Muertos event, First Friday at San José Museum of Art and the Gilroy Senior Center. Thank you to volunteers Alicia Marin, Angel Mina, Carol Pavan, Xcaret Rodriguez, Norma Ruiz and Maureen Wheatley for helping to reach voters throughout our community.

Click HERE to read LWV California's annual newsletter

The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

QUICK LINKS

League of Women Voters of the U.S.

League of Women Voters of California

League of Women Voters of the Bay Area

League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara

Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters

Join the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara HERE

Donate to the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara HERE