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Top lobbyists give the max to most San Jose mayoral candidates

The San Jose mayoral race is just getting started, but lobbyist donations are already flowing in. Of the nearly $1.5 million raised last December for the San Jose mayoral race, about $44,000 came from lobbyists or their firms. Donors distributed funds almost evenly between the four leading candidates: San Jose Councilmembers Matt Mahan, Dev Davis and Raul Peralez...

Santa Clara County candidates report 2021 money haul

The race is on to replace Santa Clara County’s long-term assessor, sheriff and district attorney. The top two DA candidates have raised a cumulative $725,000, while the two leading contestants for assessor have raked in more than $571,000. Below is a glimpse of what candidates in county races raised from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31,...

Santa Clara County sheriff candidate secures key endorsement

A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. The Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September. The association’s members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him. “We know Kevin Jensen...

Santa Clara County wants to empower minority-owned businesses

Santa Clara County is launching a disparity study to level the playing field for minority-owned businesses. The county wants to be more inclusive by identifying underrepresented businesses facing language and cultural barriers that have been left out in the past. Dennis King, executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley, said organizations that get...

San José Spotlight is suing San Jose, Mayor Liccardo over private email use

San José Spotlight has partnered with the First Amendment Coalition to sue San Jose and Mayor Sam Liccardo for improperly withholding public records in violation of the state’s transparency laws. The organizations are seeking reforms to ensure more government transparency in San Jose and compliance with the California Public Records Act. San José Spotlight, represented by...

San Jose mayor’s ally wrote gas exemption to his benefit

A Silicon Valley energy company that lobbied for a last-minute gas ban exemption crafted the policy language it benefited from—with help from Mayor Sam Liccardo’s close friend. San Jose-based Bloom Energy, whose Vice President Carl Guardino is a personal friend to Mayor Sam Liccardo, worked directly with the mayor’s office to shape and write a controversial...