Editorial: Constant irks cops but represents the public Tuesday, March 17, 2009 By San Jose Mercury News Editorial On Councilman Pete Constant, we've got something in common with the San Jose Police Officers' Association. We don't always agree with him. But then we didn't expect to — unlike some of the officers, who apparently thought a retired cop like Constant would be a reliable vote for everything they wanted. Now they're dissing him in their newsletter and apparently looking for a candidate to run against him. But for residents and taxpayers, Constant has been spot-on when it comes to public safety. He understands its importance, but he also understands the city's limited resources and the need for responsible oversight on pension boards. The officers' reaction is disappointing because they've generally been more public-spirited than the firefighters in acknowledging the city's financial plight. It's also likely to be self-defeating. Voters will see that the union's interests are not always theirs. It's healthy for every incumbent to face a challenger, and Constant's calls on some issues are definitely worth debating. But this public safety snit says more about the police union than it does about him.