Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Congressman and namesake of San Jose’s international airport Norman Mineta dined at a downtown Morgan Hill restaurant Wednesday night.
Mineta, 86—who now lives in Maryland—was in the area visiting family and longtime colleagues. The Times caught up with him and his wife, Deni, at Ladera Grill Feb. 21. They were dining with Mineta’s former chief of staff and his wife, John and Michelle Flaherty, who live in Gilroy.
Mineta was born and raised in San Jose, and represented the U.S. congressional district that included San Jose and Morgan Hill during the 1980s. However, he said Wednesday it’s been some time since he stopped in town.
“I can’t get over how nice Morgan Hill looks,” said Mineta, who ordered osso buco for dinner.
Mineta’s political career began in the late 1960s when he served on the San Jose City Council. He served one term as the city’s mayor starting in 1971.
He then served 11 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
After a few years in the private sector, Mineta returned to public service as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for President Bill Clinton. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. He served in that post until 2006, when he retired.
The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is named after the politician, who remains popular in the area.
John Flaherty was Mineta’s chief of staff while Mineta was in congress and in the Bush administration. Michelle Flaherty works for the City of Palo Alto.
Mineta said Feb. 21 that his health has improved after it declined somewhat in recent years, and he is eager to get back into traveling more. In addition to the Flahertys, he was also visiting family in San Jose and Redwood City.
