Pete Constant

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Pete Constant
Councilmember for the City of San José
In office 2007 – 2010
Preceded by	Linda J. LeZotte
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	October 22, 1963 Dearborn, Michigan
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Julie
Profession	Photographer / Former Police Officer

Pete Constant is an American politician from California, currently a Councilmember-elect for District 1 of the San Jose, California City Council. Constant is an former San Jose Police Officer (1989-2000) and has owned several photography businesses. Constant was elected to the City Council during the June 2006 Primary and will assume office in early 2007, replacing Linda LeZotte.

Pete Constant was born on October 22, 1963 in Dearborn, Michigan and raised in Westland, Michigan, where his Greek immigrant father and second-generation Greek mother had settled with their four children (Pete has an older and younger sister and a younger brother).

As a young boy, Pete demonstrated a high aptitude for math and tested as a top student in Eastern Michigan University’s Math Experts competition. He also showed an early appreciation for initiative and hard work, doing odd jobs and washing dishes in the restaurant where his father worked, as well as selling Christmas and greeting cards door to door.

Pete’s family moved to San José in September 1977 José as a result of his father’s job transfer and settled into a small house in District 1. Since much of the material at Blackford High were things the new freshman had already learned in junior high school in Michigan, getting adjusted academically in San José didn’t take long. But being the new kid on the block, fitting in socially wasn’t as easy. Fortunately, Pete made his first friend, Bob Collins, at the beginning of the term and the two are still friends, twenty-eight years late, to this day.

While Pete was in high school he discovered photography, which helped him overcome some early shyness. Although he continued to work in the restaurant business, it wasn’t long before photography became a passion that he would pursue as a career. Pete began to hone his skills while working as a photographer for the Blackford High newspaper and year book and was soon applying for a darkroom assistant job at a local photography studio, Germain Photography. Though he was told he was too young, he persevered until the owner finally relented and gave him a limited part-time position. He kept his other jobs, but soon found himself staying late at the studio to learn the ins and outs of the photography business. Working steadily as a young boy instilled a discipline in Pete that carried over into his academic studies. Even with a number of part time jobs, Pete graduated 19th in his class and with his excellent SAT scores (750 math/650 English) was accepted to Santa Clara University School of Engineering as an Electrical Engineering major. Although his parents could not afford the fees at Santa Clara, Pete was able, through a combination of loans, grants/scholarships, and, of course, part-time work, to pay the necessary tuition. Toward the end of his freshman year Pete discovered that he was more passionate about business than he was about electrical engineering and tried to change his major. But the business school at Santa Clara was full and could not grant his request.

Rather than pursue an electrical engineering degree, Pete decided to plunge into photography full time at Germain Photography. But his job at the studio didn’t prevent him from furthering his education. He took a variety of courses at West Valley and De Anza Colleges, as well as just about every imaginable photography class available. In 1985 he became one of the youngest Certified Professional Photographers in the country, while at the same time becoming a Vice President at the company and receiving a 10% share in the business.

In 1986 Pete, with his partners from Germain Photography, and his close friend Bob Collins, opened a state of the art photo lab offering one hour photo and slide services, as well as services for professional photographers. That same year he also became a Reserve Police Officer for the San José Police Department.

After being a reserve police officer for three years, Pete became a full-time officer with the Department in 1989. His many assignments included uniformed patrol, community policing foot beat officer, traffic investigations unit (detective), street crimes unit, vice unit (under-cover detective), and robbery unit (detective). Most of Pete’s assignments were in the SJPD N district, which is within District 1. During his time with the Police force, Pete received numerous letters of commendation, including Day-to-Day Excellence Award, Project Crackdown Officer of the Year, City Manager’s Award of Excellence, and Employee Suggestion Award (that saved the department approximately $65,000 per year). He was also the director for the San José Police Officers Association.

Pete met his wife Julie in May of 1992 and married her two years later at Mission Santa Clara. The couple lived in a condo they had bought together on Winchester Blvd. in 1994, and then purchased a home in District 1 in 1996, just off of San Tomas Expressway and Williams Road, where they live today with their two sets of twins, Amanda and Alexandra, Pete Jr. and Samantha. As he had done throughout his life, Pete continued to work hard at other interests while serving with the SJPD. Unwilling to give up his passion for photography, Pete opened a photography studio and digital imaging lab, Image Concepts, Inc. dba Sharper Image Photography on Winchester Blvd. The studio grew to be one of the largest and best known studios in the area. He also became a partner in a real estate investment company, Collins & Constant Investments, LLC, which owned commercial property, also on Winchester Blvd.

Pete was severely injured in the line of duty during an undercover drug enforcement arrest in 1997. When the multiple injuries prevented him from returning to the streets as a police officer, he received a disability retirement in 2000. In recognition of these grievous injuries sustained in the performance of his duties as a law enforcement officer, Pete was awarded the Legion of Honor Award by the American Police Hall of Fame.

Because of his loyalty to his employees, Pete had kept his photography business open during his lengthy rehabilitation, resulting in heavy losses to the company. Nevertheless, Pete once again used his resourcefulness and discipline to overcome this difficulty. Regrettably, he was forced to close the company in 2002, but honored his financial commitments by implementing re-payment plans to all his creditors.

The setbacks in his photography business did not extinguish his passion for the craft, however. As Pete’s recovery from his injuries progressed, he and Julie began another photography business called Constant Image Photography. The business specializes in corporate, editorial, commercial, political, and event photography and the two continue to operate this business today. Also during his recovery, in 2002, Pete began to perform part-time contract photography for San José Magazine, eventually becoming Photo Editor until 2004. During his tenure at the magazine, Pete photographed and got to know many people in the San José area, including elected officials.

In addition to re-establishing his work as a photographer, Pete was also involved, during his recovery period, in various volunteer works. For example, he helped found, and became the president of, the Lynhaven Neighborhood Association (in District 1). He was also appointed by the mayor and city council to two positions, as the city’s representative on the Valley Transit Authority’s Citizen Advisory Committee and as a commissioner on the City of San José Appeals Hearing Board, where he has been appointed a second term and which he now chairs. Pete is also active in several non-profit organizations, serving on the board of directors for Young Audiences of Northern California (arts education for underprivileged children), Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers, Rotary Club of San José North, and The Salvation Army of Santa Clara County.

In 2004 Pete became co-publisher of the former Santa Clara Valley Life Magazine, which he re-titled Silicon Valley Magazine. While there he created an entirely new concept for the glossy periodical that included thoughtful and entertaining editorial content infused with a high level of design integration. Silicon Valley Magazine was launched in October 2004 to rave reviews and in 2005 Pete became publisher and co-owner. With three issues published, Silicon Valley Magazine is preparing for a fourth issue once funding for future growth of the magazine is secured.

Although Pete’s decision to not pursue his studies at Santa Clara University has never hindered his ambitions or accomplishments, he felt that to fill a need in his life, he wanted to complete his college education, this time around as the business major he had wanted to be following his freshman year at SCU. In January of 2004 he enrolled in St. Mary’s College and resumed work on a bachelor’s degree. His discipline and work ethic paid off once again and, despite the extreme challenges of trying to be a full-time student along with the demands of being husband, father, businessman, and community activist, Pete received his degree (Bachelor of Arts in Management) eighteen months later with a 3.7 GPA. Never one to let grass grow under his feet, Pete is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Leadership from St. Mary’s College.

Pete has always enjoyed his community service and sees his opportunity to serve on the City Council as one that he just cannot pass up. He sums up this feeling up by saying, “I’ve come to a point in my life where I’ve realized that I enjoy being of service to the community. When I look back at my career in law enforcement, what I miss most isn’t the action and excitement; rather it’s the loss of the intimate connection that I shared with the community. I think that that is the main motivation that has been driving me forward to run for public office.” When he has completed his two terms on the council, he hopes that he can look back on the eight-year experience with satisfaction and pride.

[edit] External links

• Pete Constant biography
• Smartvoter: 2006 Election Results