ABOUT JOHN MCKAY

From 2018:

My family set roots in Morgan Hill because we saw the community we wanted to live in and have come to love. Over time I observed things I didn’t like, so I got involved. The last seven years have been dedicated to making a difference through the Planning Commission, Downtown Association, and other organizations.

I value parks and family, so I built the Big Blue Chair and helped develop downtown pop-up parks. I helped create an environment where tourism is a valued industry. I brought young community members to the forefront because we benefit from their insight.

I support and work for smart growth and believe that our open spaces and agricultural heritage will continue to define us. We also need more good jobs here in town so work to understand what opportunities exist in our community. Infrastructure and public safety will always be top priorities as we grow in a smart manner. I’ll work to control the outside influences of high-speed rail, oppressive housing requirements, and traffic that affect our quality of life.

With a deep understanding of our community’s issues, I’ve already set to work. With your vote, I can do more. A vote for me ensures that the town we love today will be the town we love tomorrow.

Read my Viewpoints on critical issues facing our community
See my list of Supporters, including local leaders and
District D residents
Learn how you can Get Involved and support my campaign

Today in 2022:

Nothing has changed, except what more we’ve been able to do as a community! I love this community like it’s a living and breathing thing - which it is! We must make sure it is provided with the best opportunity to thrive and grow in the right ways.

TIMELINE of Honors and achievements

1996:

A founding member of Western Sea Kayakers sea kayak club, now one of the largest in California

2000:

Moved to Morgan Hill

2010:

Graduated Leadership Morgan Hill
Became a nuisance to City Hall as I complained about quality of work on the 3rd Street Promenade. Work was later repaired and the then Mayor Tate commented I was right… I started my community activism

2011:

Created Morgan Hill Creeks and Trails Committee fighting for the preservation of the W. Little Llagas Creek through downtown
Created Morgan Hill Wine Advocates
Appointed to Planning Commission

2012:

Started discussions with City of Morgan Hill Economic Development Coordinator to develop a coordinated tourism effort with a “master plan”
Santa Clara University requested I speak at their conference on Urban/Wildlands interface for the visiting Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) Note: had to decline

2013:

Became a founding member of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance, which hosted the Community Forum on Tourism

Joined Morgan Hill Downtown Association Board of Directors
Created “Wine and Food Week” events to align with MHDA Wine Stroll event
Started writing “Our Town” column for the Morgan Hill Times highlighting local good news

2014:

Participated in the planning of the “Complete Streets” program
Helped plan and implement “Parking Day” where parklets were built and used for a day.
Helped create “Meet Morgan Hill” campaign slogan for consistent tourism messaging

2015:

Helped plan the Spring Classic bicycle event with Specialized Bicycle Components and Bicycling Magazine
Built the “Big Blue Chair” as part of the temporary art display in the downtown, apparently it’s not temporary now
Helped plan, sponsor, and build the first Pop-Up Park
Helped create the “Award Winning Wine Region Celebration” event celebrating local wineries. Sponsored and worked on event. Later became the “Passport Friday Night” event
Served on the Community Panel in reviewing the new 4th Street Parking Garage. Encourage the acceptance of building construction type and influenced the design to be respectful of structure torn down to make way for the new garage
Helped plan, build and inform the community about the Monterey Road lane reduction through the downtown later known as the Complete Streets project.

2016:

Helped build Pop-Up Park V.2, much easier this time
Brought “Moveable Feast” gourmet food trucks to Downtown Morgan Hill
Appointed to the High-Speed Rail Community Working Group
Initiated “small lot - affordable by design” working group to study affordable by design and size housing options
With fellow Planning Commissioner Joe Mueller and urging by former Council Member Gordon Siebert prompted a conversation about the “Monterey Corridor” south of the downtown as an area that needed master planning

2017:

Became President of the Downtown Association
As a member of the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill’s Community Service Committee solicited a $100,000 donation from the Morgan Hill Rotary Club for the bridge and big slide in downtown parks, it passed
Honored as “Philanthropist of the Year” by the Morgan Hill Downtown Association

2018:

Appointed Chair of the Amgen Tour of California Local Organizing Committee Local Events
Helped create the Morgan Hill Restaurant Association
Served as Chair of the Planning Commission
Announced candidacy for City Council
Elected to represent Morgan Hill City Council District D on City Council.

2019:

Elected to the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill, Service Projects Directorship. Became Chair of the Community Services Committee.
With others represented Morgan Hill and the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill on an international good will trip to Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico.
Shared the honor of “Philanthropist of the Year” by Visit Morgan Hill as a founding member of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance
Initiated the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill Christmas and Breakfast event for the guests staying at the Morgan Hill Safe Car Park for the unhoused
Elected by my peers to the League of California Cities (now CalCities) Board of Directors of the Peninsula Division representing Santa Clara County

2020:

The Covid-19 pandemic hit, not my fault…

Worked as Rotary Club of Morgan Hill Community Projects Committee Chair to redirect club philanthropic giving to local community’s needs based upon the impact of Covid-19
Continued to represent the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley. Recommended Alara Cellars wines to Assemblymember Robert Rivas for a California State Assembly Agriculture Committee wine competition which Alara Cellars won.
Worked to help bring the Morgan Hill High School’s Class of 2020 photo banners to the downtown. Banners honored the graduating class that did not have the traditional graduation ceremonies due to Covid-19 restrictions.
As a councilmember helped craft a new Zoning Ordinance restricting construction of “E-commerce” large distribution centers and warehouses by type of use in lieu of a community referendum which attempted to restrict the same with building design and construction. We tried to overcome an anti-business sentiment which was created, we lost a car manufacturer due to this sentiment. There never were any distribution warehouses ever planned, it was all misinterpretation and lack of understanding of how commercial buildings are built speculatively
Organized a meeting between County of Santa Clara and City of Morgan Hill representatives (including MH Chamber of Commerce and MH Downtown Assoc.) and Morgan Hill restaurant operators to prepare for the ensuing winter season and the requirement for outdoor dining during the pandemic.
Shared the honor of “Philanthropist of the Year” by the City of Morgan Hill for participation in creating and maintaining the two downtown pop-up parks
Elected by peers to a second term on the League of California Cities Board of Directors, Peninsula Division, as Legislative Action Committee Co-chair representing Santa Clara County (work year 2021)
Appointed to the League of California Cities policy committee – Housing, Economic and Community Development Policy Committee – advising and advocating statewide legislation for our local region (Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties) (work year 2021)
Appointed to the League of California Cities policy committee – Transportation, Communication, and Public Works Policy Committee – advising and advocating statewide legislation for our local region (Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties) (work year 2021)

2021:

Named 2021 “Man of the Year” by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
Hosted and sponsored event to celebrate the work of Morgan Hill Fire Chief Jake Hess who oversaw the SCU Lightning Complex firefighting effort as Incident Commander. I secured proclamations from State Senator Laird, Assembly Member Rivas, and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Wasserman. I hosted a barbeque lunch for the entire CalFire crew at the station to celebrate their incredible work.
Appointed to the League of California Cities Public Safety Task Force. Twenty two statewide presidential appointees to work on upcoming and past legislation that effects policing policy.
Helped man and manage over 50 Covid-19 vaccination clinics for adults and children right here in Morgan Hill
Assisted in creation of the “Meals for Heroes” to feed the overworked staff at St. Louise Regional Hospital with Cecliy Murray, Carolyn Wallace, David Dindak, Nick Gaich and so many others

2022:

Met with a State Senator to open discussions regarding broadband resiliency. Meetings with staff and CalCities staff have initiated this conversation with a State Legislative Committee working on broadband issues
Fought for the Redistricting Map from the very beginning which was eventually adopted by my motion after the City got embroiled in and lost a lawsuit. City Attorney recused himself from lawsuit and attorney hired by the other council members lost the lawsuit in record time
We lost Abby, one of our beloved dogs, after a brief illness which set my re-election efforts back over a month
Now I’m ready and campaigning to continue supporting our community

P. S. Everything here is verifiable and please don’t believe everything you read on social media. Do a deep dive on the information, it’s your community at stake. Thank you.