By Robert Haugh
Santa Clara voters will start voting soon as absentee ballots are expected sometime next week.
For four Council seats, there are ten candidates.
Here’s a quick guide for voters who want to know who’s on who’s side.
The information was gathered from candidates’ websites and news reports. In District 1, Albert Gonzalez doesn’t have a campaign website. But one was created for him by the 49ers’ independent expenditure committee.
In District 6, George Guerra doesn’t have a website either. Some residents are calling Gonzalez and Guerra the “Ghost Candidates.”
Critics of Gonzalez and Guerra say that they are not really campaigning but instead are “front candidates” for the team.
Major supporters are listed if they have endorsed a “slate of candidates.”
In District 1, Harbir Bhatia has the support of the 49er Five, minus Anthony Becker who is under indictment for felony perjury. In 2020, the team supported her with a $1 million independent expenditure but she lost to Watanabe. They are not financially supporting her to date.
In District 6, Becker is on the ballot too but the team is supporting Becker’s friend and ally Guerra with over $400,000 so far. District residents say Becker is not campaigning and may throw his support to Guerra later.
[…] newest member of the 49er Five is Albert Gonzalez who was a “ghost candidate.” Gonzalez moved into District One, didn’t even set up his own website, and he did little […]
[…] is one of the two “ghost candidates” who is supported by the 49ers but has done almost no campaigning on his own […]
To some truth and reality have many sides.
It is true LG supprted Measure J, but the additional teality was the 49ers were suppoesd to support the nearby soccer park. Additionally, the reality har a side that waa a commitment by the 49ers to engage SC Sporting. It is true Jain funded the opposition, and parallel to tha reality was hib hatree of lg
As Ovid wrote, I, Morpheis, can take many forms
Kevin Park, Mental Health Advocate, has amassed 8100 dollars from outside his district.
Lotta money
Hey, did you get your county voter information guide? Check out Albert Gonzalez statement. Page 022. He lists a website. http://Www.Albert Gonzalez.org
Even his website is a ghost!!
@District 5 Voter: I find it hard to counter any allegations by anonymous people who accuse me of doing something with no specifics. How do I know this is not James Rowen assuming yet another alias? This posting is about as vague as Robert Haugh’s blogposts. Why don’t you call some of my current endorsements and do a spot check. Why don’t you provide your name? I won’t egg or TP your house. I promise. Perhaps our intrepid investigative “reporter/blogger” should do some of that leg work since he seems to spend lots of time calling councilmember’s workplaces.
San Jose PD is a non response department with officers who do not care about the citizens AT ALL. Try talking to one of them. Go ahead. See how dismissive they are. Rude. Zero connection to the community. Barely do the job. They are better at blowing off reports than taking them. The SCPD on the other hand is there FOR the citizens. They respond to calls for service. They care about the community. They always have. Customer service is huge with them.
DO NOT CONTAMINATE A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE SJPD LEADERSHIP. It is a huge huge mistake. They will change the SCPD into the SJPD. DONT DO IT!
As a proud SCPD member now retired, I have extensive experience dealing with the San Jose PD while representing Santa Clara and my experience trying to work with them was awful. They are uncaring, unprofessional to work with and have no interest in enforcing the law unless they are absolutely forced to do something. I watched this happen time and time again over the years. F The SJPD leadership (from Sergeant to Chief) in particular is just awful. Selfish. political and lazy as possible when the time comes to work.
I have zero skin in this game. I do not live in Santa Clara OR San Jose. But I have pride in the SCPD and Santa Clara and I would hate to see it ruined unnecessarily by a SJPD transplant.
I have to question if all of these people really support Suds. Several elections ago, Suds listed us as supporters. He did not check in with us ahead of time to make sure that was a true fact or if he had our permission to do so. He was wrong on both accounts.
Sudhanshu Jain,
Why did you include Deanna Santana’s name in your comments? Let dormant volcanoes sleep.
I’ve seen Waymo cars a couple of times recently. I’d like to know which candidates support a possible invasion of Santa Clara by this company. I want them out of here before they even get started. Let’s not be the center of what’s possible, let’s return to being the Mission City.
I welcome Waymo vehicles in town. They are cheaper than Ubers/Lyfts. Also probably better drivers that some of the Ubers/Lyfts that I have been in.
Latest.
Anthony Becker is opposibg Jain. He is refusing to endorse Jain. Openly opposed
SUDS FOR SALE
PARK FOR SALE
GUERRA FOR SALE
ALBERT FOR SALE
Last week, Suds inituated a screaming fit tiwards a young wiman who questioned him.
Jain has issues
Maybe Kevin Park can find him some resources
Suds Jain is locked in a fantasy world of his own creation
For decades he has a “stalking” attitude towards lg.
Jain had an emotional fit at an ONeill community meeting and decided to betray her long sponsorship for Kevin park.
We have all read Jain’s diatribe against the Public Records Act.
Now Jain, after iniating these multi million dollar efforts of thev49ers:, Jain is circulating the fantasy that lg is initiating a massive IE campaign. Why is Becker on trial?
due to 67 meetings started by Jain.
Jain= an unsuccessful little man
Grapevine. This elections 2024 so far 49ers invested in City of Santa Clara City Council…
Support Albert Gonzales & Oppose Satish Chandra – District #1
$401, 156
Support Guerra & Oppose Kelly Gene Cox – District #6
$376,077
Support Suds Jain & Oppose David Kertes – District #5
$378,156
Support Park oppose Teresa O’Neill – District #4
$385, 155
Total
$1,539,094 🤑
Please Vote Responsibly..
#votesatishchandra
#voteforsantaclara
#reclaimthecouncil
#thefutureissunny
#votesunny
#votedavid
#VoteKelly
#voteteresa
Hey Suds, you left off “the Debartolo Corporation and the San Francisco 49ers, LLC” as one of your endorsers. Please don’t waste time with “I have no control over the 49ers and who they support” as that’s complete BS.
It’s also not surprising that you list Park, Hardy and Chahal. They are all part of your group of five that we lovingly call “The 49er five”. I do find it interesting that you don’t list an endorsement by Becker. Does he not support you or do you just not want the stench of someone indicted for a felony on your page? I also checked your website and he’s not there either. You even attempted to donate to Kelly Cox (which she politely rejected).
You continue to post on this blog as clearly Mr Haugh is living rent free in your head.
Please keep responding as I always enjoy when you refer to his readers as dumb. The fact is, we get far more info from this site that we have ever received from your good friends at the Silicon Valley Voice.
Dear Community,
It is very sad that Where’s the middle- feels that San Jose Police Officers are a set of poor representatives for Police Services.
For one – the San Jose Police Department have solved 100% of their Homocides for what – at least the last two years.
Their Department numbers are increasing because they are a Crappy Department – I think not!!!!!!!!
They do not respond to Community needs?
They have shown-up and attended almost all of our Plata Arroyo Neighborhood Association meetings for the last 5 years.
We had 36 Officers attend a BBQ to Honor their service to the Community.
We had the –
Chief of Police
3 Captains
And the rest of the Officers that signed in.
No Police Department is without issues.
Chief Mata personally escorted 3 Officers out of the Building while he was in Office.
Interim Chief, Paul Joseph is in the Community continually.
It’s OK to speak for yourself, but do not speak as if your word is Gospel….
Here is something you need to know –
Our Community has gained the San Jose Police Department to Patrol and Defend the Community at our new BART STATIONS.
THINK ABOUT THAT… THE COMMUNITY WANTED VTA AND BARTVTO PUT SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICERS THEIR BECAUSE WE LIKE THEIR POSITION ON COMMUNITY SAFETY THROUGH GREATER COMMUNITY CONTACT.
VTA AND BART PUT OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO WORK THE WAY WE SAWOST FITTING.
You do not speak for the East Valley Neighborhoods who work HAND IN HAND WITH THE SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I am always open for discussion
Ironworkrdanny@yahoo.com
In Community Spirit,
Danny Garza
President
Plata Arroyo Neighborhood Association and Gateway East N.A.C.
Danny, I agree that the SJPD is pretty good in my opinion. I do have some issues with crime response but I also understand that there sometimes are simply not enough officers available.
I was equally concerned when someone commented yesterday about how Mario Brasil “reminds them of a nasty sheriff from low budget westerns and makes you wonder why he didn’t join the rank and file of SCPD”
Someday when this person needs a police officer they might feel differently.
Not that I support Brasil, but I felt their characterization was unfair and they also took a shot at SCPD and that was completely off base.
Yo, Dana, no offense was intended towards SCPD. They are awesome. If Brazil obviously lived in SC, why didn’t he join scpd rank n file. Or did he get turned down? The picture of him doesn’t help hence the comment about the low budget western.
Bonnie,
What does living in Santa Clara have to do with working for SCPD or another city’s department?
Less than 10 percent of SCPD officers live in Santa Clara.
If Brazil lives in SC, why hasn’t he applied to work in SCPD if he had aspirations to be chief? Or did someone coax him to? Like Suds? We know how much Suds loves Cory Morgan! Thanks for asking.
49er IE total. 1.5 million
400,000 gonzalez
300,000 jain
300,000 park
300,000 guerra
Wow, Robert Haugh has outdone himself now. He lists major supporters of David Kertes as Gillmor, Nikolai, Watanabe yet Kertes’ Form 460 shows no donations by them except for a non-monetary donation of $102 by Gillmor for the kickoff event. I find it hard to believe that they have created their own independent expenditure committees to “support” him and other Gillmor candidates.
He also seems to “conveniently” leave off “Committee to Elect Chandra, O’Neill, Kertes, and Cox to City Council 2024, Sponsored by Related Santa Clara, LLC”. He also fails to mention a donation to David Kertes campaign by Deanna Santana. Interesting!
Does Robert consider endorsements as “major support”.
We’ll if endorsements represent “major support” then perhaps I should mention my endorsements:
SC County Democratic Party, South Bay Labor, League of Conservation Voters, BAYMEC, Young Dems, DAWN, 350 Silicon Valley
AND
Ro Khanna (US Congressman District 17)
Matt Mahan (Mayor of San Jose)
Josh Becker (California State Senator SD13)
Alex Lee (California State Assembly AD24)
Ash Kalra (California State Assembly AD25)
Paul Fong (State Assemblyman 2008-2014)
Susan Ellenberg (Santa Clara County Supervisors D4 and board president)
Cindy Chavez (Santa Clara County Supervisor D2 and VTA board chair)
Otto Lee (Santa Clara County Supervisor D3)
Karen Hardy (City of Santa Clara Councilmember D3)
Raj Chahal (City of Santa Clara Councilmember D2)
Kevin Park (City of Santa Clara Councilmember D4)
John McLemore (Former City of Santa Clara Councilmember)
Pat Kolstad (Former City of Santa Clara Councilmember)
Mike Sellers (Former Santa Clara Chief of Police)
Rod Diridon Sr. (Former County Supervisor)
Michele Ryan (Santa Clara Unified School District Trustee)
Rev. Jethroe Moore (President of the San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP)
Larry Klein (Mayor of Sunnyvale)
Richard Mehlinger (Sunnyvale Councilmember D5)
For a complete list, visit https://www.votesuds.com/endorsements
Suds
Let’s count how many elections you won without the staggering monetary contributions of the 49ers?
Answer is 0.
So let me ask you another very simple question.
Do you know the difference between a Nerf Gun and a Nuclear Weapon?
One is a toy that both kids and adults can play with.
The other alters the course of history.
Looking at the amounts of money the 49ers are spending on you guys is similar.
Without blinking an eye, the 49ers are donating, $125,000 to $250,000…. at a shot.
Just two years ago, In the 2022 Election Cycle the 49ers spent over $4.5 Million on various candidates.
So please stop looking for the Nerf darts on the ground.
Yes I see them, in fact a few of them are mine. They are small token checks, maybe $100 to $250 that I’ve written to a variety of candidates.
Instead notice the huge holes in our landscape, and have now altered our skyline.
In all honesty, I do appreciate you posting your name and for that you do have my respect…. in that area.
When we see each other, we can agree to disagree. I really just want my City back, I hope you can appreciate that.
Burt Field
Suds – You’re conveniently missing the point. These individual or local association supporting you have been a normal part of political endorsements for decades. They’re find. But the 49ers are spending a massive amount on you is a totally different beast. They’re buying your vote – clear as day. Wake up to the reality that you’ve been bought off by the 49ers.
Suds- you out do yourself every time I see you comment here. Your derangement is unreal. Time for you to pack up your bags from the D5 council seat.
Mr. Haugh, you should be seeing a real genuine influx of interest in reading the Santa Clara News Online.
Your post are who I point people too to learn about our City, as well as the major newspapers in San Francisco.
Just last night I was watching a MLB Playoff game, and out of nowhere I got to see a really cute, kind of tug at your heart imaginary tale being told about Kevin Park being a “Champion” for Mental Health in Santa Clara.
This really happened. Trust me, no one in the UnHoused Community has ever seen or heard of him trying to help anyone besides maybe himself.
No one is the Mental Health Field has ever seen or heard of him trying to advocate for them in any way at any time….
What did this fairy tale cost to make and promote? Who wrote this imaginary tale?
At the very end we get to learn who was behind paying for this “Add”.
Thanks DeBartolo and 49ers LLC.
For the next 30+ days we are going to get hammered.
At this point they will dress anyone up as a “Sock Puppet”.
Your Leaders, both now and in your near future are not up for sale.
How do I know this, because I am right along side with them going Door To Door to meet people and engage in some type of conversation about our City.
Even the last few days, with over 100 degree temps, you would see our Mayor Gillmor out there walking and talking to people.
We all have a say in our future.
Do not let this opportunity pass without doing your very best to get our City back.
We can do this for the next 30+ Days.
Thanks for posting who we as residents should be supporting.
It’s confusing, and that benefits the 49ers every single time.
They picked the wrong City to mess with, we just have to show up and let them know by way of our Votes.
Any guess how I’m voting?
Thanks Burt Field
If you have ever attended a city council meeting, it is Parks who is in need of mental health services. Spectrum, much?!
Santa Clara doesn’t need ghost candidates haunting city hall or city. Get people in there who are real and will work!
Satish Chandra
Teresa O’Neill
David Kertes
Kellie cox
Cory Morgan for chief
Bob O’Keefe for city clerk