By Swanee Edwards
Swanee Edwards
What I love most about Morgan Hill is the sense of belonging and the activities its citizens engage in. I was involved in Dennis Kennedy’s last campaign for mayor of Morgan Hill and what wonderful lessons I learned from the man who I think loves Morgan Hill the most. His vision of Morgan Hill in 2025 included a community engaged in making Morgan Hill the best city not only in Santa Clara County but in California.
Part of his vision included seeing Morgan Hill become the tourist destination for the region in fine dining, local wineries, and agriculture.After years and years had passed and nothing was done to make Morgan Hill’s identity recognizable to anyone but its residents, along came an unstoppable force in the name of John McKay. A local resident, McKay epitomizes what I love about Morgan Hill. He asked the questions: “What can we do to make our city as familiar as Napa and Monterey to visitors? What can we do to make Morgan Hill recognizable as a destination for those who wish to find a unique experience that fits a number of recreational and business requirements?”
The city hired Edith Ramirez, an economic development guru, who worked with Kennedy, McKay and other people who love our community to form the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. The group’s first meeting at Mama Mia’s Restaurant brought out more than 75 community activists with ideas galore. I really love that Morgan Hill is a community that cares.
I love that all our community members who want only the best for our town, come together to plan, to create, to help in any way they can to make Morgan Hill the best it can be. Nowhere else can we find a community with this kind of enthusiasm, commitment, and vision for the future from the people that live here. I am proud to live here!
Swanee Edwards is a community activist who retired from the construction industry in 2001. She’s married to Ned Pender and has four children and seven grandchildren. She is an avid San Francisco 49er fan.
