Gonzales, attorney talk about indictment

By Jason Bennert, Bay City News Service

June 26, 2006

SAN JOSE (BCN) - San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales said today that his actions in connection with the controversial Norcal Waste Systems garbage contract were all designed to achieve the goals set by the City Council and that the contract saved rate payers millions of dollars even with the additional $11.25 million paid to Norcal.

Gonzales held a news conference at San Jose City Hall in which he reiterated his commitment to serve out his term of office.

"I don't intend to resign. I'm innocent,'' Gonzales said.

Gonzales's attorney, Allan Ruby, said that the City Council's three main goals with the garbage contract were "prevailing wages, retention of displaced workers and labor peace."

Gonzales said, "The end product is the product that the City Council sought to have. There was about a $60 million savings from the second bidder.''

Ruby displayed a number of documents on an overhead projector during the news conference to bolster his case that Gonzales was carrying out the council's wishes in his actions with Norcal. The documents included a memo from then-City Manager Del Borgsdorf to the City Council that predates the Oct. 6, 2000 meeting between Gonzales and Norcal that forms the basis for the indictment. Ruby said that document proves the City Council wanted the workers to receive higher wages as part of Norcal's contract.

"The intent as shown by the September 22 document was always prevailing wages,'' Ruby said.

Gonzales was joined at the news conference by his wife, family and friends. He said his family has been in Santa Clara Valley for more than 50 years and the Gonzales name has always had a strong reputation. He vowed that he would be found innocent of the charges against him.

"We're going to continue to have that strong name,'' Gonzales said.

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