Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran has handpicked his replacement, but now a new challenger—and an outspoken adversary—are shaking up the contentious mayor’s race. Councilmember Anthony Phan jumped into the mayor’s race Friday, joining fellow Councilmembers Carmen Montano and Karina Dominguez. Tran is terming out after three, two-year terms as mayor, but he is running for a...
East vs. West: San Jose mayoral candidate breaks barriers
Eight years ago, progressive San Jose mayoral candidate Dave Cortese lost his bid to the business-backed Sam Liccardo, despite an overwhelming win in the primary election with support from East San Jose. Liccardo pulled ahead of Cortese, now a state senator, in November 2014 to become the city’s 65th mayor. His narrow win was secured by...
Santa Clara official accused of living out of state
Questions are swirling about whether a Santa Clara elected official, who holds a critical role handling everything from city records to council meeting details, lives in the city he serves. Emails to councilmembers this week claim the city clerk, Hosam Haggag, now lives in Washington, and asked if elected officials are no longer required to live in...
‘It’s not me’: San Jose candidate denies allegations of criminal history
There are thousands of people in the country with the last name Cantrell. Now one San Jose planning commissioner, running for a water district seat with that surname, is caught in a mudslinging campaign to defend against criminal allegations. Charles “Chuck” Cantrell is fighting against an anonymous email sent to his colleagues on the Planning...
How a ‘deceitful’ measure might shake up Silicon Valley water board
More than half of Valley Water’s board of directors is up for reelection this November, with one facing competition due to a recent extension of term limits. Four of the seven directors’ terms end this year. Three are seeking reelection, with two running unopposed. Incumbents Tony Estremera from District 6, John Varela from District 1...
Santa Clara official looks to oust Mayor Lisa Gillmor
A Santa Clara councilmember is looking to shake up the status quo by running for mayor. Anthony Becker, who represents District 6, plans to face off against six-year incumbent Mayor Lisa Gillmor in November if she seeks reelection. Becker, who says Gillmor has been in power for far too long, announced his candidacy in front of City Hall...
San Jose mayor candidate attacks opponent over abortion
One month after the June primary election, the San Jose mayoral race is already heating up, with candidates taking jabs at each other. This week, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez sent a campaign email to supporters with a video accusing her opponent, San Jose Councilmember Matt Mahan, of being inconsistent in his support for women’s rights....
Silicon Valley school district exhales as bond measure passes
Santa Clara County voters approved funding more than $24 million in education in June, but one school district held its breath for days hoping the bond measure would pass. Fremont Union High School District’s Measure G required 55% voter approval and just squeaked by with 55.71% in the June 7 primary. The district asked...
Who run the world? San Jose could have female majority council
San Jose, the 10th largest city in America, was once dubbed as “the Feminist Capital of the World.” But as the years wore on, the title faded as fewer women graced Silicon Valley’s elected offices. San Jose scraped the bottom of a Pew research study six years ago comparing men to women ratios on city...
Silicon Valley candidate allegedly lied about law enforcement experience
A local business owner has been accused of lying about her credentials to run for Santa Clara County sheriff, and the findings are troubling. Last week, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced a perjury charge against Anh Colton, who came in last out of four other candidates in the primary election for sheriff...