• Sheila Sanchez, Patch Staff Verified Patch Staff Badge

  • Los Gatos, CA

Former Patch Staff

Hometown: Van Nuys, California

Birthday: July 1, 1963

Sheila Sanchez was born in Van Nuys and moved to Guayaquil, Ecuador, as a child. When she was 18, she returned to the U.S. to finish high school and enroll at Brigham Young University. That's where she earned her bachelor's degree in journalism in 1990.

Sanchez has worked for more than 25 years as a reporter and editor at mid-size daily and weekly newspapers. She's won several awards from the Associated Press for her spot news and investigative reporting, and in 2007, the Morgan Hill Times won the coveted General Excellence Award from the California Newspaper Publishers Association, while Sanchez was editor. She also won numerous awards while working as editor for Patch, including "Best of the West" for her coverage of slain the slain Santa Cruz police officers. She's married to Mario, a software engineer in Santa Clara, and has three children—two daughters, ages 21 and 19, and a son, who is 12. She's completed eight marathons. My Beliefs: At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.

Politics: I'm not affiliated to any political party, but tend to vote Republican. I'm conservative on issues related to family, but I'm liberal on social issues. 

Religion: I'm a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a.k.a. Mormons. I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools in Alausi, Ecuador, living in a boarding school run by Sisters of the Oblate Order. It was there that my love for spirituality and faith was born. I converted to Mormonism in Guayaquil, Ecuador, after searching and studying religion for many years.

I respect all denominations and faiths and believe all of them can help us draw closer to a higher power to live happy lives full of purpose and hope.

Local hot-button issues: Everyone in town is talking about the need for more recreational opportunities for youth. The planning of the proposed youth sports park is being closely followed by youth advocates, parents and young people. Capital improvement projects are also a big concern. The town is building a new library and last year built a police operations center to give more room to the police department. Other government buildings, however, are old and too small for a growing community. And due to dwindling funds from Sacramento, the town's general fund next fiscal year could be $2.5 million less, which could impact services.  

Posting Activity

Los Gatos|News|

Dirty Los Gatos Creek Cleaned

Friends of Los Gatos Creek collected enough trash from the waterway on Saturday, Jan. 11 to fill three trailers.

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Dirty Los Gatos Creek Cleaned
Campbell, CA|News|

Rape-Kit Backlog Bill Introduced

Measure would require rape kits be sent for processing to crime labs within five days of being booked into evidence by law enforcement.

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Rape-Kit Backlog Bill Introduced
Campbell, CA|News|

Man Barricades Himself, Starts Fire

Michael Ochoa, 39, is taken into custody Sunday evening after threatening to blow up his house, barricading himself in burning backyard shed with woman inside.

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Man Barricades Himself, Starts Fire
Los Gatos|News|

Century-Old Quito Road Bridges Coming Down Despite Concerns

The Los Gatos Town Council is set to approve part of the project's cost, being covered jointly with the City of Saratoga and the Santa Clara Valley Water District, to the tune of $300,000.

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Century-Old Quito Road Bridges Coming Down Despite Concerns
Los Gatos|News|

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observed

Video of famous 'I Have a Dream' speech reminds millions why Monday, Jan. 20, 2014 is a federal holiday.

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observed
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