By Robert Haugh
Sam Liccardo’s congressional campaign got hit with a Federal Elections Commission (FEC) complaint that claims Liccardo is behind the shady recount request in the race to succeed Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.
Liccardo finished first in the primary. Assemblymember Evan Low and County Supervisor Joe Simitian finished in a rare tie for second, meaning both will be in the November runoff against Liccardo.
Max Zarzana, president of the Santa Clara County Government Attorneys Association accused Liccardo’s campaign of illegally coordinating with a sketchy new super PAC to bankroll the recount efforts.
According to Zarzana, it reeks of Liccardo’s former MO as San Jose mayor – doing shady backroom deals while preaching transparency.
Here’s the alleged scheme:
- Just days after results showed Liccardo facing two challengers in November, his crew did some polling about a potential two-way race.
- Then, on the recount deadline, Liccardo’s ex-staffer and “close confidant” Jonathan Padilla conveniently requested the recount.
- That same day, a new “Count the Vote” super PAC was created to fund it all.
But it gets fishier. This PAC is being run by James Sutton and Matthew Alvarez of Rutan & Tucker, LLP, lawyers who have worked for Liccardo in the past and represent another PAC that dumped over $200K to help Liccardo’s campaign.
Zarzana didn’t mince words, blasting it as “a secret scheme” and “an affront to open elections.”
“No reasonable person would believe that Sam’s close personal friend and former staffer, Jonathan Padilla, went to all of this trouble because he loves democracy,” Zarzana said. “But now (Liccardo) wants to fit right in with the Washington Beltway and is doing this deal in plain sight. It’s an affront to our system of fair and open elections and must be investigated.”
He accused Liccardo of embracing the slimy culture of D.C. insiders, despite posturing as a government reformer back home.
Liccardo previously cost the City of San Jose $500K in a fine for unlawfully hiding emails from public records requests as mayor.
I don’t care who wins this election. But I don’t understand the lawsuit. Let’s say Padilla and the super PAC are biased in favor of Liccardo. That’s politics as usual, and it only matters if it leads to an inaccurate recount. If the recount accurately reflects the will of the people, who cares? Zarzana is an industrial strength hater who obviously thinks he is smarter than he actually is.
Padilla shudda been transparent and said he paid for the recount to benefit his Bud Sam. Why drag Evan Low into it? He has emphatically stated he didn’t want this. Who’s to say a recount is still accurate? Still needs to be done several times to get accurate results. One time ain’t gonna’ do it! Hope it costs a bundle!! PAC’s gonna’ pay for greediness!
Harry D
The Red Sox shoulda won the world series a few more times than they did. Still don’t see a lawsuit.
While calling for a recount must be motivated by self serving reasons if it is being paid for and the end result is to have an exact count or that the first count was exact then I see no problem with it and certainly do not consider it a scheme.
No matter what anybody feels about Liccardo there is nothing wrong with having assurances that a vote count is exact.
Having worked with Liccardo at City Hall, I can see how this plays out. Liccardo makes a sketchy decision. It goes bad. He blames staff. In this case, it’ll be Padilla when things blow up. And things will blow up.
Liccardo and Padilla defenders say they just want every voted counted.
That’s fresh. Know how many times they’ve asked for votes to be fully counted in close local elections. ZERO.
Max Zarzana is right on. They’re dishonesty is slimy and shady.
And that’s not the only example of his deceitful behavior in office. I have multiple examples of Liccardo basically ignoring the Public Records Act and deceiving the public (and fellow city council members). He does not belong in politics anymore. No need to propagate bad actors.
AnnaEschoo has held this seat with respect , integrity and honesty. To see what is happening in the process to fill her seat is a disgrace. Can Anna rescind her decision to step down?