By Debbie Tryforos

I knew former Santa Clara Councilmember Debi Davis for 10 years. She was my friend.

We also served together in Soroptimist International, working to help young women in our community achieve their dreams. Through that work, I saw Debi’s character firsthand. She cared deeply about Santa Clara, respected the people she worked with and always tried to do things the right way.

That is why I was appalled to hear Councilmember Suds Jain use a public City Council meeting last week to disparage Debi after her death.

Jain claimed that before he joined the Council, Debi “used to go and sit in directors’ offices for hours,” taking up their time, a violation of our City Charter if she was trying to influence their actions. 

But Jain also admitted in the same sentence that this was merely something he had heard.

He offered no firsthand knowledge. No evidence. No documentation. Not even the name of the person who supposedly told him.

It was hearsay directed at a woman who is no longer here to defend herself.

Mayor Lisa Gillmor immediately and correctly objected.

“You are giving an example of something that you have no direct information about,” Gillmor told Jain. “She’s passed away and you’re disparaging her name. I really object to that. That’s wrong.”

Former Councilmember Kathy Watanabe, who served with Debi, later called into the meeting to correct the record.

Watanabe explained that Debi always received permission from the City Manager before speaking with department directors or seeking information from City staff. Debi understood the proper process and followed it.

That description is consistent with the Debi Davis I knew.

Debi was conscientious. She respected the City Manager form of government. Suggesting otherwise based only on rumor is unfair and irresponsible.

The decent thing is to raise concerns about people while they are alive and able to answer them, not use the City Council dais to repeat hearsay after they are gone.

There is also more than a little irony in Jain lecturing others about ethics and council conduct. 

The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury has raised serious concerns about Jain’s own conduct.  Its 2022 report concluded that his actions and inaction were inconsistent with Jain’s duties to the residents he was elected to serve.

In 2024, the Civil Grand Jury specifically recommended that Jain receive one-on-one conflict-resolution training “to learn to work more effectively for the good of the City.” It also recommended that he participate annually in training with an outside government ethics expert.

Perhaps Jain should reflect on those recommendations before making unsupported accusations about the ethics or conduct of someone who dedicated years of her life to Santa Clara.

Debi Davis deserves better. Her family deserves better. The residents of Santa Clara deserve better from an elected official.

Councilmember Jain should issue a clear and public apology at tonight’s council meeting. 

That would not undo what Jain said. But it would be the right thing to do.

Editor’s Note: Debbie Tryforos is a lifelong Santa Claran who has served many different roles in the community.