Irene Smith is the only candidate committed to a more fiscally responsible – and responsive – District 3
“I am an independent – and am only beholden to the people of D3. I will stand firmly with ideas that work, and against policies that continue to damage our neighborhoods, our businesses, and our quality of life.”
– Irene Smith, Ph.D.
My promises to you.
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I will insist on a more accountable, cost effective, and responsive D3
No more new taxes,no more out-of-control spending, no more wasteful programs that don't work.
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Much faster solutions for our homelessness crisis in D3
I will advocate for large-scale shelters in safe areas across the city—ensuring that our unhoused neighbors who need help, get it, and move inside.
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No more D3 as the city's dumping ground
I will put a halt to any new sanctioned encampments (like Watson Park) and affordable housing projects in D3 until other districts reach parity with us.
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A more business-friendly D3
An end to pointless red tape, onerous regulations, and sky-high taxes and fees—let's help our small and large D3 businesses succeed.
D3 Resident for over 3 decades. Parent. Small business owner. Mental health counselor. Corporate financial analyst. Pro Tem judge. Housing professional. Volunteer.
Irene is not a career politician; she didn’t build her resumé with a government job. Irene has real-life, real-world experience – and she has a plan.
What experience does D3 need?
If you’re going to manage a huge budget, you need in-depth corporate financial experience
If you’re going to work with businesses, you need small business experience to understand what it’s like to balance the books and keep your business afloat
If you’re going to help those with mental illness and addiction, you need counseling experience from a psychiatric hospital and psychology education
If you’re going to need more housing, you need hands-on experience actually providing housing.
We need solutions based on bona-fide experiences.
Message from Irene
District 3 should be – and can be – the pride of San Jose. But to get there, we need the sort of change that can only be realized with new ideas. New voices. Independent perspectives. I advanced to the general election for D3 in 2022 against Omar Torres. And my platform in 2025 sharpens my focus on four policies that need immediate attention.
One, fiscal accountability and much greater local control on how D3 and City Hall monies are spent.
Two, bigger, faster, more cost-effective, large scale, Homelessness solutions. Let's get our homeless neighbors off the street ASAP.
Three, pro local business incentives for Downtown and all of D3.
Four, a much more responsive public input process for D3 and the whole city. The people's voice and D3 needs to be heard.
I'm confident my background in fiscal management (12 years IBM finance), entrepreneurship (started three businesses in D3), and nonprofit leadership (started three local advocacy groups), along with my successful run to the 2022 D3 finals provides the right mix of skills to galvanize the change we so clearly need.
Let's lift up D3 and San Jose city politics together!