Fil-Am reelected mayor in California

By Philippine News Service (PNS)
November 25, 2006

MILPITAS, California, USA  –  In a tight and bitter fight in the mayoral race in Milpitas, California, incumbent Jose "Joe" Esteves, a Filipino American, was handily reelected last November 8.

Esteves, 60, defeated challenger Henry Chang Manayan, a Filipino-Chinese, who had served as city mayor, Council members Althea Polanksi and Armando Gomez also retained their seats, although Heidi Pham gave Gomez a fight for the second seat.

Before he was elected mayor the first time, Esteves had been a councilman. As a candidate for either a council seat or the mayoral post, Esteves fought for such issues as family values and quality of life for all, higher standard of education, safer neighborhoods and a financially strong city government.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines with a bachelor's degree in civil and industrial engineering, Esteves also has an MBA. At UP, he belonged to the Epsilon Chi Fraternity of which Manila Headline publisher Ric Ilanga is also a member.

He has received a number of awards, including a Certificate of Merit for Leadership from the Columbus Supreme Assembly, Mentor of the Month from the Milpitas High School, Certificate of Appreciation for Devoted and Invaluable Service from the Fil-American Association of Milpitas and Dr. Jose Rizal's Community Hero Award from the Community Development Council, Inc. and President's Award for Exemplary and Unselfish Achievement from the FAPESCO.