Update: A change has been made to the initial story said that Bob O’Keefe and Steve Kelly donated money to their campaigns. In fact, they loaned money to their campaigns, which means the money does not count toward the donation limit.
The money race is on for the 2024 election in Santa Clara and it promises to be another bacchanal spending spree.
PACs And Independent Expenditure Committees
As has been the case since the Santa Clara police union POA PAC touched off a spending orgy in city elections in 2016, independent expenditure committee spending looks like it will dwarf candidates’ direct spending again this year.
The 49ers kicked off the party with an eye-popping $931,000 in donations to four independent expenditure committees:
- D1: $249,000 opposing Satish Chandra and supporting Albert Gonzalez
- D4: $232,000 opposing Teresa O’Neill and supporting incumbent Kevin Park
- D5: $225,000 opposing David Kertes and supporting incumbent Suds Jain
- D6: $225,000 opposing Kelly Cox
The 49ers have reported $206,250 in spending.
Related Santa Clara has formed an independent expenditure committee to support Chandra, Cox and O’Neill.
The Santa Clara Police Officers Association (POA) PAC reports $20,000 in union donations. So far it has not reported any donations from developers, which has made up most of the money that the POA PAC has spent on campaigns since 2016.
Candidate Committees
D1 candidate Satish Chandra has received $6,750 in donations. What is notable about Chandra’s war chest is that 86% (18) of his donations come from out of town, and some from out of state. Several of his donors are very prominent in the Hindu political advocacy group Americans for Hindus. Chandra has spent $1,780 on lawn signs.
D5 incumbent Suds Jain has loaned $10,000 to his campaign and donated $225, which was spent on campaign materials.
D4 candidate Kevin Park has received $960 in donations.
City Clerk candidate Bob O’Keefe loaned $4,000 to his campaign. Steve Kelly, also contending for the job, loaned $5,000 to his own campaign.
Candidate for police chief, Cory Morgan, has donated $660 to his campaign. Morgan’s opponent, Mario Brasil, hasn’t filed any reports.
The remaining candidates reported no donations as of Sept. 13.
The city’s Netfile campaign finance page is inconsistent with respect to independent expenditure filings. None of the Related committee’s filings are shown, and six of the eight 49ers’ financial
filings were missing as of 9/13. The information is available on cal-access.sos.ca.gov. Not all local campaign finance information is reported at the state level.
How to Follow the Campaign Money
Campaign donations and spending are filed on several forms required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC): Forms 460, 496 and 497. The 460 form is periodic (at a minimum, bi-annually), while Forms 496 and 497 are filed when money is spent or donated.
Read more about tracking campaign money: https://www.svvoice.com/how-to-follow-the-money-peeling-the-campaign-spending-onion/.
View Comments (5)
"Related Santa Clara has formed an independent expenditure committee to support Chandra, Cox and O’Neill."
You fail to mention that Related has only formed an independent expenditure committee and not committed any funds to that committee at this time.
What's also interesting is that adds for those supported by the 49ers appear in the middle of the article. Coincidence??
Mr. Chandra is very respected by many people not only inside, but outside of Santa Clara.
The owner of Miami Dolphins comes to town to play politics with the owner of S.F. 49ers in November, then the 49ers travel to Miami in December to compete on the grid iron.
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Real Estate Billionaire Stephen Ross owns both the Related Companies and the Miami Dolphins. Related has entitlement of the former Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club property right outside of Levi's Stadium that was supposed to be developed into mixed retail, entertainment, and housing eight years ago. Think of the millions of dollars in employment, tax revenue, and other income opportunities that has been lost because of infighting, lawsuits, and lack of follow through. https://www.relatedsantaclara.com/
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Stephen Ross resides in both NYC and Palm Beach, Florida where he is a major fundraiser for Donald Trump. Satish Chandra must be overjoyed! https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/13/trump-fundraiser-stephen-ross-super-pac-helps-defeat-progressives-in-nyc-elections.html
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You can bet Related Santa Clara PAC will be filling local coffers soon to further delay development the massive property on Tasman Drive. Don't vote for Chandra; my suggestion is to support and vote for Harbir Bhatia in District 1.
Grab a seat, this is about to get really messy.
Remember Confusion / Chaos creates opportunity.
The good news is, it's been so bad for so many years now, even people outside of our City are now getting fully informed.
It's time for us to take our City back.
So please take note here.
If the 49ers say to go left, go right.
If the 49ers say to go up, go down.
If the 49ers say Stop, then Go.
If the 49ers say it's night, it must be Day.
Here is who I think will best represent the residents..
Bob O’Keefe City Clerk
Cory Morgan Chief of Police
Satish Chandra Council D1
Teresa O’Neil Council D4
David Kertes Council D5
Kelly Cox. Council D6
Burt Field
Got my popcorn ready. However, I have to disagree.
If Lady Gillmor say to go left, go right.
If Lady Gillmor say to go up, go down.
If Lady Gillmor say Stop, the Go.
If Lady Gillmor say it’s night, it must be Day.
If Burt Field think who best represent the residents, vote the opposite.
No to Bob O’Keefe.
No to Cory Morgan.
No to Satish Chandra.
No to Teresa O’Neill.
No to David Kertes.
No to Kelly Cox.
Satish Chandra felt it necessary to reply to my LinkedIn article where I called the city on having a paid political booth inside the Art and wine Festival unethical and a slap in the face of free speech. “ Please be mindful and do not spread lies. Mary, I had immense respect for you BEFORE you posted these pics and doing fake propaganda. Now you are exposing yourselves.
Needless to say, I will not be voting for Mr. Chandra as he seems to angry and not willing to hear the other side. We have enough of that on council as it is.
Further even though I like Kelly, I will not be voting for Kelly Cox as she would have to recuse herself not only on the Downtown Project but the Station Area Plan as well.
In District 5 David Kertes has taken offence at everything I say including that he can’t vote for the Downtown and like the Mayor, would have to recuse himself. That makes three, if Kertes and Cox wins that can’t participate or even voice an opinion on the Downtown. Lately,