There’s a lot at stake in Los Gatos this election season. The West Valley town is facing contentious plans for growth, meeting its housing production goals and scrambling to become more affordable. It’s become ground zero for political fights over growth, with one group taking to the ballot to suspend aspects of the town’s general...
49ers spend millions to sack Santa Clara mayor
The San Francisco 49ers ownership group is spending millions to sway voters in Santa Clara this upcoming election, surpassing the staggering amount of money it poured into the city’s 2020 election. CEO Jed York and the 49ers’ boundless war chest scored a big victory by breaking up Mayor Lisa Gillmor’s city council voting majority when they...
Election 2022: Voting in Santa Clara County
With Election Day a week away, it’s time to make sure you’re registered to vote, know what’s on the Nov. 8 ballot and how to cast your ballot. The deadline to register in California was Oct. 24—but it’s not too late. If you forgot to register before that deadline, you’ll be able to register at...
Money in San Jose mayor’s race tops $8M
The costs of this year’s high-profile San Jose mayoral race is one for the record books, at $8.5 million—with special interest groups making up 51% of spending in an effort to sway voters. With roughly two weeks until the Nov. 8 election, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and San Jose Councilmember Matt Mahan are...
Follow the money: Silicon Valley’s 2022 general election
Silicon Valley voters this year will have their say on several key county positions, four San Jose City Council seats and three Santa Clara City Council posts as the November election draws close. The race to replace Mayor Sam Liccardo, who terms out at the end of the year, continues to be the most heated...
Union leaders call for ousting of Santa Clara mayor
A major union workers group is throwing its support behind a Santa Clara official running to replace current Mayor Lisa Gillmor—who advocated for prevailing wages not to be paid on a major development in the city. The Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, a group that represents more than 35,000...
Silicon Valley school board races focus on mental health, drugs
Santa Clara County school board candidates zeroed in on student mental health and substance use at a recent community-hosted forum. Dozens of attendees turned out for a virtual forum last week organized by the African American Community Services Agency, SOMOS Mayfair, Vietnamese American Roundtable, Jewish Community Relations Council of Silicon Valley and Latinos United for...
Silicon Valley officials lead investigation of political ally
Two elected officials in Silicon Valley are investigating one of their colleagues for alleged misconduct after endorsing and donating to his campaign. It’s a move other officials say is a clear conflict of interest. Santa Clara Valley Water Board directors Barbara Keegan and Linda LeZotte told San José Spotlight that directors Tony Estremera and John Varela...
Election 2022: Candidates vie for Santa Clara, Oak Grove school board seats
Voters have their work cut out for them this November as dozens of candidates are running for school board seats throughout Santa Clara County. In some districts, school board candidates are prioritizing the digital divide, staff retention, COVID-19 recovery and school safety. Potential board members are also highlighting fiscal responsibility as millions in funding flow into districts....
‘A boogeyman’: Why a former candidate is appearing on San Jose attack ads
It’s been four months since Sajid Khan’s name appeared on a ballot. Yet his face is popping up in campaign mailers across Silicon Valley. In many ways, he’s become the “boogeyman” this campaign season—his own words to describe the bizarre and hateful ads inundating voters weeks before Election Day. Khan, a deputy public defender who mounted an...