Self-Esteem Icon John Vasconcellos Still in Politics
By Phil Yost, San Jose Mercury News, Calif., San Jose Mercury News, Calif.
Dec. 18–Is there life after a lifetime in the Legislature?
John Vasconcellos answers in the affirmative. Vasconcellos spent a career, 38 years, representing Santa Clara County, first in the Assembly and then in the Senate, before term limits retired him at the end of 2004.
The passionate Democrat is still in politics in his unique way, aspiring to “create a whole new politics called the politics of trust.”
“We’ve got a new economy, we’ve got a new demography,” Vasconcellos said. “The same old politics doesn’t fit any of this new stuff.”
These days, he’s parked in friendlier climes than Sacramento, physically and intellectually. He splits his time between Maui and Santa Clara. He has founded the Vasconcellos Project, a small non-profit with offices in Milpitas that is developing an online “Politics of Trust Network.”
“The new politics is bottom up rather than top down,” Vasconcellos said. “It’s faithful rather than cynical. It’s not manipulative, it’s not hierarchical, it’s not cynical, negative or divisive.”
The mission of the Vasconcellos Project, outlined on the Web site www.politicsoftrust.net, is to “educate and empower all Californians (ultimately all Americans) for effective and civic engagement based upon our faithful vision of our selves, our human nature and human potential.”
From the human potential movement came Vasconcellos’ most publicized cause: raising personal self-esteem as a cure for social ills. He hasn’t given up on it. “If I believe in myself,” he said, “then I take care of myself more responsibly.”
The Vasconcellos Project has attracted enough donors, led by Intel founder Gordon Moore, to be able to employ a staff of four, supplemented by interns. Genentech, Applied Materials and Hewlett-Packard are among supporters listed on the Web site.
Through the Politics of Trust Web site, “we want to make a tool that will allow people to get involved in politics” said executive director Jim Weston, by putting them in touch with like-minded people and with links to studies, resources, and experts.
“People all over are looking for something new,” Vasconcellos said, “and so far I haven’t heard anything from anybody that I find appealing.”
Otherwise, he plans to polish some rusty piano-playing skills.
On Maui, “I snorkel and swim every day,” he said, but mindful of his age, 73, and a bodysurfing accident 40 years ago in which he broke his neck, “nothing dramatic or exotic.”
Contact Phil Yost at pyost@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5636.
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Copyright (c) 2005, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.
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