By Robert Haugh
The filing deadline for local political races is August 9, just 10 days away. But the lineup of Santa Clara City Council races is coming into focus.
Three of the 49er Five are on the ballot in November: Councilmembers Anthony Becker, Suds Jain, and Kevin Park.
Two of them will have to win to keep a pro-49er City Council majority. Becker is currently under indictment and will start a felony perjury trial in August.
According to multiple sources, Jed York and company have decided to focus on helping Jain and Park. But they won’t be helping Becker.
That political decision was revealed last November. That’s when Santa Clara Now bought ads complimenting Jain and Park. But they completely ignored Becker. The page was created and funded by the 49ers.
Recently, Becker pulled candidate papers suggesting he will run for office. But it may be a ploy to help him with his legal defense. His trial is scheduled to start just 3 days after the filing deadline on August 12.
Santa Clara News Online (SCNO) has seen communication that the 49ers have recruited some new candidates for City Council. It was shared with SCNO on the condition of anonymity.
According to this information, Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) Trustee Albert Gonzalez was asked to run for an open seat in District 1. Councilmember Kathy Watanabe is being termed out of office.
In District 6, West Valley-Mission College (WVMC) Board Trustee Ann Kepner has also been recruited by the team. She would have to run against the pro-49er Becker. That is if he runs. It’s more likely that Becker doesn’t run and Kepner becomes Becker’s heir apparent.
If they both run and win. The 49er Five could become the 49er Six.
Gonzalez is serving his final term on the SCUSD Board. He is recently divorced and just moved into District 1. Gonzalez has never lived in District 1 before, according to sources. The 49er political team believes he can overcome the “carpet bagger” label. Some local residents tell SCNO it’s a big negative against him.
Kepner ran unsuccessfully for State Assembly in 2020. She got fundraising help from the team in that race. She also received game tickets from the team for herself and her family. Kepner’s name identification in the district is not great even though she spent over $160,000. She also got help from independent expenditures when she lost in the 2020 primary. But Kepner would be a much stronger candidate than Becker who may be on trial during the campaign.
SCNO will do more candidate profiles as we get closer to the deadline.
[…] Gonzalez was recruited by the team to move into District 1 and run. Councilmember Kathy Watanabe is termed out and the seat is […]
Kelly Cox filed against becker
Gonzelez backed a big charter schools advocate in 2012. Jain has made inquiries about raisibg for Park
Looking forward to Kertes replacing Suds and Cox replacing Becker!
Albert G was a former client of Chris Stampolis!!
Better Days are ahead.
Think positive, good thoughts…
Think Yard Signs to promote your favorite Santa Clara Resident running against the 49ers.
Think saying Hi to your neighbors. No need to talk politics, but if they should ask, explain what you know, and maybe how the last few years have been.
Then understand just how desperate the 49ers will get, when they realize they are going to loose control of our City.
Yes, It’s going to get UGLY, really UGLY really early.
Record amount of money is going to be spent to promote their candidate.
Record amount of money is going to be spent to undermine this election.
In case you have not noticed, these last few years have been horrific.
Having to witness the constant abuse of our true SC City Leaders, combined with the incoherent ramblings of Self Proclaimed Geniuses…..for hours, is more than any human should ever have to bear.
Yes, I was even removed as a volunteer Parks and Recreation Commissioner for…..
NO REASON
Can’t make this stuff up. It really happened. As they say, you can look it up.
Becker will be the first to go.
Next we need to stop blaming our Mayor and lone SC City Councilperson for anything that has gone wrong these last few years. It’s just not their fault.
Mayor Gillmor and Santa Clara Council member Watanabe have been outvoted at every vote for the last 4 years.
It’s painful to admit, but 5 (49er) votes will always beat 2 (Santa Clara) votes.
We just need 4 (Santa Clara) votes to get our City back.
Once we get the Council back, we will get our City back.
So how do we vote? Fair question.
First register by Oct 21.
Then…..
Whatever the 49ers want, just vote the other way.
(Lots of $$ is going to flood this election)
(49ers will dress up other Sock Puppets (Candidates) with example Trump Hats on just to try and confuse you and hopefully steal your vote, or just basically confuse some people)
We have 30 more years of this 40 year sentence.
Let’s make the last 30 a Win for Santa Clara. We really deserve a win here.
Heck if I’m going to be known as a Company Town let’s at least make it a good one like NVIDIA!!
Better Days are ahead
Burt Field
Burt.field@gmail.com
Choked on my coffee reading this. Stupid stupidly stupid.
Once a bang bang loyalist always a bang bang loyalist and Jed boy has you by the balls.
You belong to him. What’s being promised to these recruits? Season’s passes? Ha Ha!
Bang bang clowns!
Ann Kepner worked with Jay Reed, Cortese
Ann Kepner consultants, LG CAMPAIGNS
2022 49er consultants. Look at teports.