The Santa Clara County Democratic Party has announced its 2022 endorsements for candidates in six city and county races—all of whom recently received support from local labor leaders. The party, which represents more than half a million Democratic voters in Silicon Valley, gave a sole endorsement to Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez in the San...
Santa Clara County sheriff will not seek reelection
After nearly a quarter-century of service, Santa Clara County’s sheriff is calling it quits at the end of the year. Sheriff Laurie Smith told San José Spotlight she does not plan to run for reelection in the June primary. The deadline for entering the race is Friday. There has been widespread speculation about whether Smith...
Silicon Valley residents say state ‘death tax’ should go
An anti-tax movement is working in Silicon Valley and elsewhere in California to gut a law that taxes transfers of inherited property. An estimated 8,000 volunteers for the nonprofit Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association have been collecting signatures across California to put a measure on the November ballot to repeal part of Prop. 19. Approved in...
Silicon Valley water leaders want longer term limits
Directors of a Santa Clara County water district want to extend their term limits, even as some members cast doubts about the cost and necessity. Valley Water’s board of directors voted 4-3 last month to put a measure on the June primary election ballot asking voters to approve an extension of how long directors can serve on...
Santa Clara County sheriff responds to corruption accusation
Months after being accused of corrupt misconduct by a civil grand jury, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith has finally issued a defiant response. According to court papers filed on Tuesday, Smith argues four of the seven counts in the accusation against her are legally insufficient and should be dismissed. “I am gratified that the...
Silicon Valley labor leaders endorse some, snub others
Silicon Valley’s powerful labor lobby has unveiled its 2022 endorsements—and there are a few surprises and notable snubs. The South Bay Labor Council, which comprises more than 100 unions across the valley, announced a sole endorsement Tuesday for Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez in the San Jose mayor’s race. The group didn’t back Councilmember...
Poll: Peralez slightly leads in San Jose mayor’s race
A new poll released Tuesday shows San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez and Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez are leading the mayoral race in the heart of Silicon Valley—with Peralez having a slight edge over Chavez. New polling data of likely June 2022 primary voters, conducted by polling firm Tulchin Research and paid for by Peralez’s campaign,...
Calls intensify for Silicon Valley’s Gary Kremen to resign
A growing number of elected officials and community leaders are calling for Gary Kremen to resign from public office. This comes after this news organization reported allegations about inappropriate behavior from a former staffer on his assessor campaign. Kremen, who chairs Valley Water’s board and founded Match.com, announced he was dropping out of the Santa...
Democratic club chooses Chavez for San Jose mayor
The Silicon Valley Democratic Club has overwhelmingly endorsed Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez in her campaign for San Jose mayor, with an 85% vote. On Monday, the club held a mayoral forum where candidates San Jose Councilmembers Matt Mahan and Raul Peralez along with former congressional candidate Jonathan Royce Esteban and Chavez answered six questions...
State contest bound to divide Asian voters in Silicon Valley
In a contested California Assembly race where more than half of voters are Asian Americans, four Asian Democrats are vying for the job. Assemblymember Alex Lee, who won the Assembly District 25 seat in 2020, is running for the same job in a new district. His district, which used to encompass Santa Clara, Alviso, Northern San Jose and parts...