By Robert Haugh
Indicted Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker isn’t doing much campaigning these days. But he recently attacked Kelly Cox, a candidate running against him.
Local political observers believe that Becker is trying to help his ally and confidant George Guerra, the third candidate in the District Six Council election.
Most local community leaders have written off Becker’s career since he was indicted for felony perjury in April 2023. His trial starts on November 6, the day after Election Day.
Becker posted a rambling Facebook post that accused Cox of not campaigning hard and missing debates.
Becker has not campaigned much since he’s been spending a lot of time in a courtroom.
Guerra is one of the two “ghost candidates” who is supported by the 49ers but has done almost no campaigning on his own behalf.
The latest filings show that the team has backed Guerra with an enormous $600,000.
Becker also attacked Cox for not denouncing a “negative campaign” against him conducted by the Santa Clara Police Officers Association (POA).
Becker believes that Cox is obligated to repudiate the POA because she took the Santa Clara Ethics Pledge created by ethicist Dr. Tom Shanks.
Santa Clara News Online contacted Shanks to ask about Becker’s assertion.
“No. Cox is obligated to refute the POA ads only if they unfairly harm Becker by distorting facts, lacking evidence, or resorting to fear-mongering, whisper campaigns, push polling, or similar tactics, wrote Shanks in an email.
“The pledge calls for truthful information to guide voter decision-making. As the POA’s ads appear to meet these standards, Cox is not required to condemn them.”
Shanks has reviewed some campaign mailers on his site, PublicEthicsNow.com.
“The content is evidence-based, and voters can review this themselves. Mr. Becker’s indictment, possible legal consequences, and facts about recent Council actions are relevant as voters consider candidates for Council who best represent them,” said Shanks.
Shanks has also graded candidates for their commitment to the ethics pledges that they’ve signed. Becker and Guerra refused to sign Shank’s pledge but they signed a state code that requires them to denounce negative campaigns against their opponents.
Neither Becker nor Guerra have repudiated the negative 49ers campaign against Cox. Shanks believes they should have.
“The 49ers’ campaign against Cox contrasts sharply with the POA’s in both tone and strategy,” said Shanks.
“The 49ers’ ads rely on association tactics, indirectly casting doubt on Cox by linking her to the mayor without specific, fact-based criticisms. This approach can mislead voters, as it lacks the direct evidence that the pledge calls for.”
Shanks gave Becker a failing grade for campaign ethics on his site. Cox got a passing grade.
Suds,
Are we correct to assume the District Attorney is giving you an immunity deal in exchange for testifying against Anthony Becker at his felony trial next week? Please answer.
Human rights newsflash
Arab American civil rights attorneys are suing Santa Clara Unified on behalf of Palestenian American students
Michele Ryan, Suds Jain campaign co chair
Noted hater
Reported a Palestenian student to Jewish Defense League in 2012 and 2013
Mercury News called the action silly.
Albert Gonzalez has atood by for a decade and watched.
Jain and Becker attacked Hossam Haggag. Noted Islamic activist.
Lisa Gillmot helprd Granada school establish.
Will Ryan, Fairchild, and Gonzalez settle for less they gave Jain ally Caserta.
Tom Shanks…
° Resident in the City of Santa Clara: Fail
° Sanctioned by the City of Santa Clara to rate candidates: Fail
° Speak out against Stand Up for Santa Clara’s false claim as a 501(c)(3) while promoting and opposing political candidates: Fail
If Shanks is still hanging around this post, he should visit the IRS website below and do his best to search for Stand Up for Santa Clara’s determination letter. Then come back and have a nice online chat with Burt Field and Dana Caldwell. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/restriction-of-political-campaign-intervention-by-section-501c3-tax-exempt-organizations#:~:text=Under%20the%20Internal%20Revenue%20Code,candidate%20for%20elective%20public%20office.
Hey CSC, a simple search on the Ca Secretary of State shows Stand Up as an approved 501c3 non profit. As long as they have an EIN and file tax returns they don’t need IRS approval.
Maybe someone where you work at Singer Associates an help you out.
Is “CSC” and acronym for “completely stupid comments”?
Asking for a friend…
Joe Friday is right. SANTA CLARA NOW, a phony non profit is being reviewed by FPPC.
Stand up was cleared. I wrote a letter in their defense.
Suds,
It’s time to stop the whining. Your constant complaints and criticism are only dragging you down further. You’ve managed to alienate everyone—from Lisa and Kirk to Robert, Kathy, Doyle, and now Kelly, David, and Teresa. Your antics surrounding Measure B have cost taxpayers half a million dollars. And let’s not forget how you’ve rewarded your friend Harbir with $10,000 for what appears to be nothing more than political theater disguised as cultural promotion.
Tomorrow, don’t be surprised if you find yourself lamenting your long list of endorsements when the elections don’t go your way. For now, maybe take a step back and enjoy your final four days as Councilmember without drama.
The fascination Jain has for Lisa and Kirk. Are they working with Venezuelans?
Perhaps Iranians are coordinating with Shanks who has the Holy Spear tucked away.
No doubt Kelly Cox is connected to Jill Stein.
Poor Jain
I hope Becker gets jail time.
Mr. Haugh
As I was reading this post, it became obvious to me that I was wasting my time. There is nothing that Tony Becker has to say about anything that matter’s to me any longer.
So the next question is there any greater waste of my time right now?
I quickly came up with just one answer.
Having to listen to Kevin Park.
Update….
Finally got the $200 from the “Go Fund Me” account. My goal was much higher, but no one wanted to help Kevin Park pay for any of his bills.
Understandable for sure.
I’m going to donate it to our local City Library, that might help cover at least his meals, along with any family members who showed up to the “Fundraiser”.
$200 is not a lot to spread around!!
Today is November 1st. Just a few more days until Santa Clara can turn the page so to speak.
Please don’t miss the chance to vote!
Better Days are ahead.
Burt Field
Tom Shanks reputation is still WAY above yours Suds.
Kelly has been out walking district 6, meeting residents and answering questions, which is far more effective than sitting in front of 30 people for 2 hours at a debate. She has also had meet and greets hosted by residents in D6 where she has answered all questions posed to her.
There are those that will criticize her but she has been the most visible and accessible candidate in D6. She is a fresh voice for those of us who live in D6 who are tired of being sold out by our current representation. We want an accessible candidate, not a ghost or someone who has been indicted for leaking documents and then lying about it.
It’s amazing to see how Tom Shanks reputation as declined since he decided to associate himself so closely with Robert Haugh and Kirk Vartan. Robert Haugh is clearly biased never saying anything negative about his benefactor, Lisa Gillmor and spewing lies.
I wonder whether Shanks has ever even thought about why Police and Fire PACs spend so heavily on elections in Santa Clara supporting only Gillmor loyalists. Has he ever considered why Santa Clara spends $65.5 million more on public safety annually than Sunnyvale which has more people? That is essentially a new International Swim Center every year. Santa Clara spends 51.4% of its general fund on police ($88 million) and fire ($73M) while Sunnyvale spends only 29% of its general fund on police and fire. Note: Stadium public safety expenses do NOT come from the general fund. I have documented this here: https://sudsjain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Why-does-Santa-Clara-pay-so-much-for-Public-Safety-than-Sunnyvale.docx
Interesting that Tom Shanks thinks that signing his biased pledge is a deciding factor as to whether someone will act ethically. Why do the POA and Firefighters print campaign flyers putting photos of me in black and white? Also flyers quote this biased website as “news” sources. I have met with Shanks several time but now have received this “final letter” after I asked to meet with him and so far has not responded to these questions for his letter:
———————-
MY QUESTIONS:
Where did you publish it on July 31?
Did you work with anyone to compose the pledge?
Whom did you notify that the pledge was published on July 31?
Did you really expect that I could reasonably know about the existence of the pledge before Aug 9th?
——————
SHANKS’ “FINAL” LETTER TO ME:
MEMO TO: SUDS JAIN
FROM: Dr. Tom Shanks
DATE: 10/28/2024
Subject: Your Meeting Request
Dear Suds:
Thank you for reaching out. This is a busy period for all of us, and I’d need a clearer purpose
for the meeting to consider it. If you can provide that, I’m open to reconsidering.
As for your continuing questions about pledge timing and ballot statements, I’ve already
addressed this publicly on SCNO following your recent public letter, If there are other specific
questions, please let me know.
To clarify the timeline: I shared the pledge idea informally earlier this summer. On July 31, I
published the full pledge on SCNO, making it accessible well before August 9. I then formally
distributed it to you and other candidates on August 9 using public emails. I did not engage
with any individual campaigns prior to that.
Once the pledge went public on July 31, how others chose to respond or use it was beyond
my control. I’ve consistently approached this work fairly and in good faith, hoping that my
efforts to promote public ethics and trust in Santa Clara would make a positive difference.
While I recognize that disagreement, criticism, and disappointment are part of public life, I
remain committed to this cause, even in the face of criticism from you, members of your
majority, and partisan voices in local media.
Regarding any coordination, I have not communicated with the Mayor since leaving the City in
2014 and have no insight into any discussions involving her or her advisers. When Kirk and I
collaborated in 2022, we were transparent about his support for the Mayor, while I remain
nonpartisan.
If there are other questions, I’m happy to clarify in writing. My goal is to ensure my actions and intentions are fully understood.
Best regards,
Tom
Dr. Tom Shanks
Suds, you are so disappointing to so many, myself included. Why don’t you answer the fair and straightforward question:
WHY DIDN’T YOU COME FORWARD IMMEDIATELY WHEN COUNCILMEMBER BECKER SAID HE COMMITTED A FELONY WHEN HE LIED TO THE GRAND JURY ABOUT LEAKING THE GRAND JURY REPORT?
You love distract from issues that matter but do not fit your narrative. Take some accountability for your actions. Show some integrity before you leave council.
Suds is a whack job and Kevin Park’s “mental health expertise” may help him.
Suds says: “I wonder whether Shanks has ever even thought about why Police and Fire PACs spend so heavily on elections in Santa Clara supporting only Gillmor loyalists. Has he ever considered why Santa Clara spends $65.5 million more on public safety annually than Sunnyvale which has more people?”
Suds is CLEARLY advocating “DEFUNDING” our FIRST RESPONDERS.
Why does Suds desire to turn Santa Clara into Sunnyvale? Suds is an apostle to National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) format of reporting crime—driven by the CORRUPT FBI. Federal authorities ought NOT have control over transparency of crime in our community. The NIBRS statistics are vulnerable to “political” ideologies, which does not keep our daughters and sons safe.
Suds is an Anathema to our beloved city and continues to rail against us citizens who totally REJECTED an appointed police chief.
Vote out Suds and KEEP Santa Clara Safe!
Suds’ favorite city of “Sunnyvale” does not provide transparency as this:
https://www.santaclaraca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/79345/638657051920230000
Duds continually compares our beloved Santa Clara to other cities.
Santa Clara isn’t good enough for him. It’s clear. He should move.