By Robert Haugh

Santa Clara mayoral candidate Kathy Watanabe joined community activists outside Levi’s Stadium on Tuesday, October 13, to call for political reform and challenge the influence of San 49ers owner Jed York on Santa Clara elections.

Watanabe called on elected officials and candidates who have received direct campaign contributions from York or his affiliated entities to return the money or publicly explain why they will not.

She also challenged candidates benefiting from independent expenditure committees funded by the 49ers to publicly reject that support.

“I am calling on candidates who benefit from independent expenditures funded by these interests to publicly reject that support and ask that the spending stop,” Watanabe said.

The press conference brought together civic leaders, business owners, political candidates and residents concerned about the influence of special-interest money on local government.

Participants carried signs calling for political reform, election integrity and putting people ahead of profits.

The protest comes as the 49ers have contributed more than $2.6 million to independent expenditure committees involved in Santa Clara’s November elections.

According to campaign finance reports previously reviewed by Santa Clara News Online, the team contributed approximately $1.87 million to a committee supporting mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris and opposing Watanabe and fellow mayoral candidate David Kertes.

The 49ers also contributed approximately $753,000 to a committee supporting Kimberley Williams for City Council District 2 and opposing Yvonne Inciarte.

Watanabe said the financial support for Ferraris and the opposition spending directed against her raise concerns about whether Santa Clara voters can trust elected officials to make decisions independently of the 49ers.

“No candidate who stands up for Santa Clara – past or present – should be Jed York’s punching bag just because they stand up for the residents of Santa Clara,” Watanabe said.

She argued that the scale of the spending threatens public confidence in local elections.

“It’s not a one person – one vote election anymore but a PAC telling you how you should vote to support Jed’s agenda,” she said.

Watanabe emphasized that her criticism was directed at political influence, not professional football or the stadium itself.

“Let me be clear. This is not about being against the 49ers, professional football, or Levi’s Stadium,” she said.

“This is about accountability, transparency, and protecting the integrity of our local government.”