Gilroy Mayor Perry Woodward J.D. ’96 was interviewed by the Gilroy Dispatch, wherein he touches on his family history in Gilroy, answers some sticking questions on Caltrain scheduling, and addresses the recent controversy regarding some 721 acres north of town. He says, "I see being mayor as a rare opportunity to lead the city as our community resolves issues that will affect all of our futures. There are many thorny issues facing us. Some nights I lose sleep thinking about the downtown; the next, it’s crime or maybe the pitiful condition of so many of our roads. It helps that I respect all six of my colleagues on the council. We frequently disagree, but they work tirelessly and often thanklessly to make Gilroy a better place. Each is motivated to do what they believe is best for Gilroy. So to have been appointed mayor by them—5-to-1 on the first vote—means a lot. I am grateful to the people of Gilroy, who elected me to the council by large margins in 2007 and again in 2011. Each day I am mayor, I strive to live up to the profound trust they have placed in me.

"My great-great grandparents settled here in the early 1890s, where they worked in the fields. This isn’t just my hometown, it is my great-grandmother’s hometown. Born here in 1895, she died here in 1982. I can also still recall what Gilroy was like when it was about 10,000 residents. How I wish my great-grandmother were alive to see Gilroy today. She would urge me to work hard to make sure Gilroy stays a wonderful place for my great-grandchildren to grow up. I cannot let down the four generations of Gilroyans that came before me, or far more importantly, the countless generations who will come after me. Now that’s pressure."

Prior to holding elected office, Woodward’s public service included six years as a judge pro tem for the Santa Clara County Superior Court. He is in the litigation group at the law firm of Hopkins & Carle. He previously was a partner of Terra Law LLP in San Jose. Before practicing law, he was a real estate broker in Santa Clara County. He is licensed as a commercial pilot, and enjoys flying his small private plane. Woodward is also an avid backpacker and fly fisherman, enjoying both activities regularly in the Sierras.