MEET GENNY

Genny gets the challenges San José families face because she’s lived them. She's running for City Council to make city government get the job done for you on housing, homelessness, and public safety.

Raised in District 9, Genny followed in her dad’s footsteps, working in law enforcement as a sexual assault detective and hostage negotiator. Today, she runs a successful small business and is raising her family on the same streets she grew up on. 

Genny grew up in the Pinehurst neighborhood.  After high school at Archbishop Mitty, she followed in her dad’s footsteps—earning a degree in criminal justice from San José State and becoming a police officer. 

As an officer, she took on the toughest cases, first as a detective in the sexual assault unit, and then as a hostage negotiator. And on one tragic case, Genny’s work in the line of duty earned her a police heroism award.  She learned firsthand the importance of government getting the job done for people in their hour of crisis. 

At work, Genny saw how her fellow officers struggled with their health and mental health. So, Genny earned a master’s degree in psychology and opened a therapy practice, providing mental health support to first responders just like her.  

Today, Genny lives in the Dartmouth neighborhood, raising her two daughters with her husband Marcelo, who still works as a police officer. She’s heavily involved in the community. Genny serves as a commissioner on the City’s Appeals Hearing Board, overseeing blight cleanup in our neighborhoods. She is also a parent mentor for special needs families like hers and serves as a board member on the Branham High School PTA. 

Genny sees how families like hers are struggling in San José with unaffordable housing, crime, and a homelessness crisis. Mayor Matt Mahan is making real progress on these issues. But he needs a partner on the City Council who will stand up to City Hall insiders and special interests to do the work for our neighborhoods. 

As a special needs mom, small business owner, therapist, and former police officer, Genny’s gotten tough jobs done. Now she’s ready to get the job done for you on City Council.