CA: Mayor vows he'll beat all charges (`labor peace' not a bribe, what Mayor Ron Gonzales was after)

Mercury News ^ | 6/27/06 | Deborah Lohse and Brandon Bailey

[NormsRevenge]

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales faced a judge and a packed courtroom for the first time Monday, but he saved his first public defense against felony bribery and fraud charges in a garbage contract scandal for a friendlier environment: a press conference surrounded by supporters at City Hall.

The embattled mayor postponed entering a plea in a brief arraignment before Santa Clara County Judge Rene Navarro, and made a hasty exit into the glare of dozens of cameras, holding hands with his wife.

About an hour later, he was back at City Hall, vowing to remain in office and declaring that the controversial trash contract that led to his indictment was a good deal for the city.

Gonzales and his attorney, Allen Ruby, said ``labor peace,'' not a bribe, was what he was after when he tried to help Norcal Waste Systems secure an extra $11.25 million in labor costs from the city starting in 2000.

``There's no case,'' said Ruby, who presented documents on a large overhead projec- tor to dozens of reporters. ``There's a criminal indictment that alleges multiple, serious ugly felonies, and none of them happened.''

Ruby's assertions did little to sway the growing call for Gonzales' resignation. Two more council members, Nora Campos and Judy Chirco, added their names Monday to six others -- including mayoral candidates Cindy Chavez and Chuck Reed -- who have urged the mayor to step down.

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But on Wednesday, the council will hold a special meeting to discuss the mayor's indictment. At that session, the council will also discuss whether it has the power to remove some or all of the $1 million or so allocated to the mayor's office in the budget, in case he doesn't resign as requested.