Candidate for
Council Member, 3; City of San Jose; Council District 3

Sam Liccardo, 36, is a prosecutor of sexual assault and child exploitation crimes in the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. He is running to restore the trust of San Jose's residents in a city government led by public servants, not by professional politicians.

Sam volunteers as a tutor to homeless children, and currently serves on the boards of two affordable housing organizations, including EHC Lifebuilders, the largest nonprofit provider of shelter and related services in the county.

A graduate of Bellarmine, Sam grew up in the Santa Clara Valley. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University, where he studied government, economics, and Spanish. After obtaining a law degree at Harvard Law School and a master's degree in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Sam returned to the Bay Area.

In 2000, Sam took leave from his job as an attorney with a private law firm to become a spokesperson for a local transit ballot measure, to bring BART and other transit improvements to Santa Clara County. That measure passed, garnering over 70% of the vote. Sam began his tenure as a Deputy District Attorney in 2001.

Sam's family has a long history in downtown San Jose, where three of his grandparents spent much of their lives. One grandfather, Ted Aceves, grew up downtown, and Sam's mother, Laura, attended Notre Dame High. His paternal grandparents, Rosalie and Samuel A. Liccardo, lived in the district for decades, and for many years, they ran the Notre Dame Market, a fixture to long-time downtown residents. His father, Salvador, also grew up in the district and attended Bellarmine.

Sam enjoys spending time with his friends and family, and is an avid triathlete. The USA Triathlon Association recently honored Sam with "All American" status in its 2005 rankings of amateur triathletes in the United States.