Chuck Reed was born and raised in the small farming town of Garden City, Kansas. Growing up in America’s Heartland taught Chuck the small town values he learned to live by: Tell the Truth. Keep your word. Be responsible for your actions. Follow the law. Chuck’s first home in Garden City was in a public housing project. The Reeds were always a working class family and Chuck went to work at a very young age. He started working in elementary school sweeping floors. In middle school, he was digging ditches, shoveling gravel, and working in the fields. Chuck Reed was operating a bull dozer at age 15. By age 16, he was driving an 18 wheeler semi truck. Chuck Reed competed for and won an appointment to the Air Force Academy. The Air Force Academy was a great education and leadership training program, and he lived by an Honor Code of No Lying, No Cheating, No Stealing and No Toleration of those who do. He learned a lot of things, but the most important things he learned were core values that he lives by today: Integrity First – Service Above Self – Excellence. Chuck was elected Mayor in 2006 for a 4-year term with over 59% of the vote. Prior to serving as Mayor, Chuck served as a Councilmember from San Jose's fourth district. Chuck began his career in San José as an attorney in 1978, specializing in environmental, employment, land use and real estate law, and commercial litigation. He went to the United States Air Force Academy (BS in International Affairs and 1st in military order of merit), Princeton University (Masters in Public Affairs), and Stanford University (Law Degree). He served in the U.S. Air Force (Equal Opportunity Officer) and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Chuck has been married to Paula Reed for over 35 years. They have two children, Alex Reed, who recently graduated from Santa Clara University, and Captain Kim Campbell, who is an Air Force fighter pilot.

back