Jack McGovern
City and State: San Jose, California.
Current Company and Position: Political Director of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council.
Family: Married - my wife's name is Jacqueline Taysi.
First Job: Campaign Manager for Josh Becker for California State Senate.
Best advice you could give someone starting out: Your career will evolve and change as you move through it. Do not stress about choosing the right first job. Find something that aligns as much as you can with your values that also will allow you to grow and move up. Remember to build your skills and commit to going above what is asked of you. You won't have much to offer in terms of skills or experience, but what you will have plenty of is time and energy. Give your time and energy early on while learning as much you can, and you will see your skills, expertise, and success grow.
Who is your hero and why? My hero is James Connolly. James represents the best of both my Irish ancestry and labor values: courage, solidarity, and justice. Connolly understood that the struggle for Irish independence and the struggle for workers’ rights were connected, and he gave his life fighting for both.I was born in San Francisco, but my family has kept its connection to our family in Ireland. I grew up proud of my ancestry, and learning what it means to be just and stand in solidarity. I admire James because he stood with working people and oppressed people, particularly when it came at great personal cost. As someone with deep Irish roots and a life in the labor movement, I remember Connolly’s legacy and I hope I can be that brave in the face of great injustice.
Biography: An athlete, political operative, and public servant, Jack McGovern is committed to making a difference. His passion for policy and public service was sparked early in his life while watching his father manage and win many political campaigns. As the campaign coordinator for the Josh Becker for State Senate campaign, he honed his skills in politics and campaigning. As a policy aide for Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, he learned and emerged as a trusted and experienced voice in labor issues, housing and land use, economic development, and public safety and justice.
Playing a role in shaping local policy, Jack wrote policy measures such as the ban on vaping in the unincorporated area of Santa Clara County and a comprehensive study on the public cost of gun violence on Santa Clara County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked to support the County’s emergency and rapid response center, which provided PPE and other essential equipment to front-line health care workers.
Jack then stepped into the role of financial director for the Cindy Chavez for San Jose Mayor campaign. Even as a first-time fundraiser, he managed fundraising efforts, raising over $3 million.
In addition to my work in politics and policy, Jack is the namesake of and a founding board member of a charitable organization committed to finding a cure for a rare pediatric retinal eye disease. With Jack's athletic roots in NCAA Division I lacrosse, he brings a blend of tenacity, strategy, and team spirit to the political arena.
Jack serves as the Political Director of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council. He has won campaigns for candidates and ballot measures in the past two years to help working people in Santa Clara and San Benito counties. He is committed to the betterment of working people in the Bay Area, and he'll continue that work throughout his career.
