Did Santa Clara City Councilmember Suds Jain Create a “Sock Puppet” to Post Negative Social Media Comments?

By Robert Haugh

A mysterious social media user named “Roger V. Kint” has suddenly emerged, posting frequently on Santa Clara news stories.   

The comments are sharply critical of Mayor Lisa Gillmor and unusually complimentary toward Councilmember Suds Jain.  

This seems odd as Jain doesn’t seem to have many friends these days. And “Kint” seems to know a lot of City Hall details.  Hmm.

Some readers and residents believe “Roger” isn’t who he claims to be. They suspect Jain has created a “sock puppet” — a fake online persona used to influence public opinion or attack opponents anonymously.

Santa Clara News Online has received multiple tips and is reviewing evidence sent by Mission City residents. More details will be published soon. But one recent event stands out.

On October 7, a caller identifying as “Roger Kint” phoned into the City Council meeting to criticize Gillmor who wasn’t even present. 

The voice caught the attention of several people, including a retired law enforcement officer who told SCNO the speaker appeared to be using a voice modulator. Hmm.

That same meeting, Jain was in attendance — so the caller clearly wasn’t him. However, residents speculate that it was someone close to Jain. 

According to one knowledgeable source, the caller’s “cadence and tone” were “nearly identical” to Jeff Houston, Jain’s former campaign treasurer and close political ally. (Note: Houston does have an unusual cadence and tone.)

Houston previously drew negative attention during the 2023 Charter Review Committee meetings, where Jain was caught communicating with him during the Committee’s deliberations, a violation of public trust according to ethicist Dr. Tom Shanks

In 2023, Jain pushed his controversial proposal to eliminate Santa Clara’s elected police chief and take voting rights away from Mission City residents.  Houston was appointed by Jain to the Committee and pushed the same agenda. The effort was soundly defeated at the ballot box. 

SCNO asked Jain by email yesterday about the October 6 call.  He denies being “Roger Kint.”  But his other answer was interesting.

SCNO: Was it Jeff Houston?  Or your son, Anand?  

JAIN: Not my son. I don’t know who Roger is.

Hmm.

SCNO will continue to report more on the mysterious Roger Kint. Maybe he’ll call into the Council meeting again tonight.  

This is a developing story. 

17 comments

  1. Roger V. Kint was the full name of “Verbal Kint” in the movie Usual Suspects.

    Verbal Kint was in fact the cover name for Keyser Soze

    There is no listing for a Roger V. Kint anywhere in Santa Clara.

    His Linked In profile is a fake

    The Company he supposedly works for JDF Consultants does not exist

    Suds still thinks he is the smartest man in the room.

    • Yes, I talked about that at the council meeting. Good movie watching. Soacey won the Oscar as Kint.

      One suspect, David Tonkin. A former enemy of Lisa Gillmor.

      JIM ROCKFORD was always Jimmy Joe Meeker, Jim Taggart.

      San José State student government junkies remember me for creating Sean Ferguson who pity defense letters to people like me.

  2. Marvel Comics fans

    What do Suds Jain
    Doctor Doom
    Ulton 5
    Mad thinker
    Henry Pam
    Reed Richards
    Have in common?
    Androids

    Is Roger V Kint an Android?
    Or.

    Kiht
    Is Suds Jain?
    Jeff Houston
    Kevin Spacey
    Byron Fleck
    Ed McGovern

    • Time to speak of many things
      Of cabbages and kings
      I have witnessed the career in office of Suds Jain now for five years

      A fundraiser for Santa Clara Plays Fair who now claims to have corrected measure j
      Yeah, like the saloon tramps who heads up the Temperance League

      The truth about Lisa Gillmor

      2016 Gilllmor was urged, begged, cajoled to be Mayor
      By the same people who now seek to attack her

      Kathy Watanabe

      No one worked harder for a Northside Library

      2016
      Watanabe was accused by Rich Robinson ( a minor player in measure j who never spoke, nor attended any study session, who ran ads attacking LG character, who ran a candidate against Mahan who was sued by his employees, and took a yearly retainer from Laurie Smith); Ed McGovern ( you owe me 24 grand), and Doug Chan (/who according to Sf Examinervtook women’s lingerie out of laundromat dryers, of using her husbands name. Spouses get to do that. Karl is actually a decent guy.

      Jain initiated 67 secret meetings 49ers

      Anyway.
      No one advocates the character, the soul, the interest of Santa Clara better than Lisa Gilllmor

      One bigwig in California whom I chat with tells me Yreka to Calexico, people think of Lisa as Santa Clara’s voice.

      The likely suspect for Kint
      Dave Tobkin

  3. Thank you Suds for giving us all of the links to the San Jose Spotlight articles. Very enlightening. Such long, long responses in defense of all actions that you have taken. So much information from many, many years. It seems like you are holding a grudge, and these defensive responses are showing me that you are threatened by the recall. BTW I didn’t know Domenic Caserta was getting a divorce, as Anthony Becker is. I’m not sure how that information is relevant and why it was added. You might want to ask Roger to stop writing such long responses. I know you are not going to listen to me, only to Jeff Houston.

  4. Interesting that Suds had so many items pulled for discussion tonight. In all of his discussions it was all about everything that he has claimed that he has done for the city. Clearly this is a response to the recall. He is running scared.

  5. Jeff Houston seems to be on every community call that Suds has. It seems like Jeff Houston is holding his hand during the calls. But that is not the reason that I am writing tonight. It’s because I am watching the city council meeting. Suds spoke up about the need for food since the SNAP program is on hold. He said—and this is not verbatim—-there are a lot of calls for canned goods, but don’t give canned goods, give money! How about Suds saying: there are a lot of people with a great need right now—how about donating whatever you can…. canned goods and or money? I cleaned out my cupboard, but now hearing Suds saying, don’t give canned goods, gives me pause. Is that what he really wanted to convey? Jeff Houston wasn’t whispering in his ear what to say……so he blew it.

  6. I know nothing about any of this. But I’m flattered that you all let me live in your heads rent free.

  7. Why did all of Roger’s post change in late September from just “Roger” to Roger V Kint? This was about the time a LinkedIn bio appeared. Trying to establish a digital footprint?
    While it may not be Suds as he states, it’s someone writing for him with info he’s supplied.
    And he’s right that people will post under an alias for exactly the reasons Robert stated in a response to him posted by Suds.
    He will be outed all in due time.

  8. For those readers who are interested in understanding the source of this controversy you might want to look at the comment section of a number of San Jose Spotlight and SVVoice articles where “Roger Kint” and others including me have posted:
    https://sanjosespotlight.com/recall-against-santa-clara-official-is-back/
    https://sanjosespotlight.com/ex-santa-clara-official-anthony-becker-guilty-of-perjury-still-cant-access-devices/
    https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-engineering-union-alleges-city-retaliation/
    https://www.svvoice.com/judge-denies-beckers-request-for-return-of-devices/
    https://www.svvoice.com/relateds-hudson-yards-sounds-like-deja-vu/

    For the sake of transparency, here’s the full email exchange between me and Robert Haugh. I have removed email addresses and some silly disclaimers but have not edited the exchange:

    ——– Forwarded Message ——–
    Subject: Re: Posts by aliases?
    Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2025 19:41:07 -0800
    From: Robert Haugh
    To: Sudhanshu Jain
    CC: Sudhanshu Jain

    Suds,
    I have 1,000s of daily readers, and believe Santa Clara News Online is the most-read publication in Santa Clara.
    SCNO has published continuously for over nine years with zero advertisements, donations (aside from a few small monthly donors in amounts less than $10 per month) or sponsored articles. SCNO is a truly an independent publication.
    Regarding James Rowen, he doesn’t post as often as you think. Several community members publish comments under aliases over fear of being attacked by people like yourself or Kevin Park – as evidenced by the bullying, harassing, intimidating, and stalking behavior that’s well-documented by many in the community — and within City Hall
    They also don’t want to be bullied or pressured by outside entities (see 49ers for one) as well. So I allow aliases to be utilized; just like other local media outlets.
    I never said you commented on my share anonymously – though as stated, many in the community feel that you’re making comments under aliases on other websites.
    Robert Haugh
    On Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 2:07 PM Sudhanshu Jain wrote:
    Robert,

    As you well know, I will never abide by your disclaimer of privileged and confidential information or else you will never get a response from me.
    I have told you this before.

    — Suds
    On 11/3/2025 12:01 PM, Sudhanshu Jain wrote:
    Read carefully. I did answer.
    Will you answer my questions?

    — Suds
    On 11/3/2025 11:58 AM, Robert Haugh wrote:
    Suds:
    Can you answer questions 3 and 4:
    3. Did you ask someone to call in to the Oct 6 Council meeting as Roger Klint using a voice modulator?
    4. If so, was it Jeff Houston? Or your son, Anand? Some people are speculating about them, so I want to give you the chance to respond.
    Thanks,
    Robert Haugh
    On Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 11:28 AM Sudhanshu Jain > wrote:
    Robert,
    See my answers below.
    Roger makes some very good points. I am not Roger.
    Interesting that you let so many people who hate me set up fake accounts and post anonymously.
    How many actual unique individuals subscribe to your blog? James Rowen posting under many many names makes it seem like there are many more people writing against me.
    You know that I have never posted anonymously on your site.
    — Suds

    From: Sudhanshu Jain
    Sent: Monday, November 3, 2025 11:29 AM
    To: ‘Robert Haugh’ ; Sudhanshu Jain
    Subject: RE: Posts by aliases?
    Robert,
    See my answers below.
    Roger makes some very good points. I am not Roger.
    Interesting that you let so many people who hate me set up fake accounts and post anonymously.
    How many actual unique individuals subscribe to your blog? James Rowen posting under many many names makes it seem like there are many more people writing against me.
    You know that I have never posted anonymously on your site.
    — Suds
    From: Robert Haugh
    Sent: Monday, November 3, 2025 10:29 AM
    To: Sudhanshu Jain <
    Subject: Posts by aliases?
    Suds:
    I'm writing a story tomorrow about Roger Klint (aka Roger V. Klint).
    Five residents have complained that it's you using a fake account/alias. Some others are commenting online and saying the same thing.
    Could you respond to set the record straight:
    1. Are you Roger Klint? No, not me. I already posted to that effect.
    2. Did you set up a fake account? No
    3. Did you ask someone to call in to the Oct 6. Council meeting as Roger Klint using a voice modulator? No
    4. If so, was it Jeff Houston? Or your son, Anand? Not my son. I don’t know who Roger is.
    Some people are speculating about them, so I want to give you the chance to respond.
    Please reply by today, Nov 3, at 6 pm. Thank you.
    Robert Haugh

    Subject: Posts by aliases?
    Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2025 10:28:33 -0800
    From: Robert Haugh
    To: Sudhanshu Jain <

    Suds:
    I'm writing a story tomorrow about Roger Klint (aka Roger V. Klint).
    Five residents have complained that it's you using a fake account/alias. Some others are commenting online and saying the same thing.
    Could you respond to set the record straight:
    1. Are you Roger Klint?
    2. Did you set up a fake account?
    3. Did you ask someone to call in to the Oct 6. Council meeting as Roger Klint using a voice modulator?
    4. If so, was it Jeff Houston? Or your son, Anand?
    Some people are speculating about them, so I want to give you the chance to respond.
    Please reply by today, Nov 3, at 6 pm. Thank you.
    Robert Haugh

    • Suds Jain responded to a cpra claiming never to have emailed Roger V Kint, though Kint has claimed a has occurred. Kint also claimed favored an eyhics commission in the 1999s to use against Mayor Nader.

      Nadler had support from Mclemore and Parle and occasionally Mahan.

    • How come Roger never shows their face on SCNO? Only Enquirer type media outlets backed by the 49ers? Hmmm…

  9. “Roger” is all over SJ Spotlight (not surprising). His LinkedIn profile was created in September 2025, a search of his picture shows it as someone else. This makes him very suspicious as actually being a real person. His lengthy diatribes only comment on complaints filed, not their outcomes which almost always find in favor of those he accuses. He continually paints a favorable narrative to Suds and trashes anyone who Suds doesn’t like.
    He stalked the the mayor and others at the Parade of Champions dinner/auction and trashed everyone at the table.
    He goes after groups, individuals and always the Mayor to paint his narrative.
    He declined David Kertes genuine offer to meet for coffee and discuss city issues. (Again not surprising) He has zero footprint in Santa Clara.
    As Elaine commented to Jerry on “Seinfeld”-
    “FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE.

    • Is Mr Haugh a registered voter in Santa Clara? I assume he is. I do believe he is. IS Roger c Kint a registered voter in Santa Clara? It is easy to check. Go to. Ivgetc Berger. Drive and check.

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