By Robert Haugh

Yesterday, three Santa Clarans filed a lawsuit against the City because they believe ballot language to take away the right of voters to elect a Police Chief and City Clerk is deceptive.

Attorney Bradley Hertz filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate on behalf of plaintiffs Satish Chandra and Joyce Davis – both were on the Charter Review Committee that came up with the recommendation for the measures. Carolyn McAllister, a community leader, is also a plaintiff.

Hertz argues in his filing that City Attorney Glen Googins admits that the City Manager’s staff (Cynthia Bojorquez) wrote the ballot language, not him.

Googins’ admission is potential evidence of bias since the ballot language would give City Manager Jovan Grogan the power to appoint the Police Chief and City Clerk.

That’s power that he currently does not have. But voters would not know that from reading the ballot language.

Attorney John Michael O’Connor served on the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury from 2013-14 and has been following the Santa Clara dispute about the ballot language.

 “The City of Santa Clara never fails to be controversial,”  said O’Connor in an email.

“The court is the only method to address the misleading wording in a timely manner.”

O’Connor also said Grand Jury reports, like the 2022 one entitled “If You Only Read the Ballot, You’re Being Duped,” have important research and findings that can be helpful to judges and voters.

“The public should pay attention to the Civil Grand Jury report,” said O’Connor. 

“But the fact is almost no one knows it exists or has any notion of what the Civil Grand Jury is or does.”