A text campaign attacking two labor-backed candidates for their prior association with embattled San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres is popping up on phones across Santa Clara County — a political play some are deeming dirty with the election just a week away. The advertisements show pictures of San Jose City Council District 2 candidate Pamela...
Former San Jose mayor pulls endorsement of education official
A dispute is deepening over Santa Clara County’s top education leaders — one of whom just lost her reelection endorsement from former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo amid the firing of county Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan. Liccardo — who’s vying for Congressional District 16 — on Thursday confirmed he withdrew his endorsement for...
49ers spend millions in Santa Clara council races
Special interest groups have sunk millions of dollars into November’s Santa Clara city elections to decide its future government. The San Francisco 49ers have spent the most money supporting who the team wants sitting on the City Council, burning $2.3 million so far. Other special interest groups include the Santa Clara Police Officers Association, Santa...
Will Cupertino City Council’s majority flip?
Two opposing candidate duos are trying to nab the two available Cupertino City Council seats to have power over one of the city’s most divisive issues — development. Councilmember Kitty Moore and former Planning Commissioner R “Ray” Wang, want to flip the existing development-friendly council majority, while Councilmember Hung Wei and former Mayor Rod Sinks...
Former San Jose mayor holds large funding lead ahead of Election Day
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has widened the gap between himself and his congressional opponent in their race to represent Silicon Valley. Both candidates for Congressional District 16 have filed their last scheduled campaign finance papers before Election Day, and Liccardo has raised $2.1 million more than state Assemblymember Evan Low throughout the race...
East San Jose voters to weigh school parcel tax
East Side Union High School District has placed a parcel tax on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot in an effort to generate a much-needed revenue stream. If approved by voters, Measure N will generate $6.4 million annually for five years to help fund the financially-strapped school district. The $49 per parcel tax needs a...
Silicon Valley campaigning turns nasty in final days of election
With just weeks before the November election, campaigns have become ugly with local races in the bull’s-eye of unfounded accusations. District 8 San Jose Councilmember Domingo Candelas is being compared to former President Donald Trump. Mailers are defining San Jose City Council District 2 candidates Joe Lopez and Pamela Campos as political radicals, and in...
Cupertino candidates talk housing, budget before election
The next iteration of the Cupertino City Council is slated to make significant decisions about housing and the budget. Candidates recently shared their perspectives. Cupertino voters attended a candidate forum last Wednesday hosted by San José Spotlight, where six of the seven city council candidates fielded questions about public safety and The Rise, the city’s largest...
San Jose school board candidate threatened ‘revenge’ on trustees
Threatening emails from an individual seeking a trustee seat in San Jose’s largest school district has the community on edge. Rami Gideoni, a parent of a child in the San Jose Unified School District, started sending menacing emails last year to the board of trustees after its decision to end the Middle College program. The...
Former Santa Clara official fined for violating campaign rules
A former Santa Clara official is being fined for multiple campaign violations years after losing a Santa Clara County supervisor race. Former Santa Clara Councilmember Dominic Caserta was slapped with a $22,500 fine from the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) over misuse of campaign funds in his 2018 bid for the District 4 Board of...