Candidates continue to raise significant sums as they seek several powerful elected seats in Santa Clara County for the upcoming primary election.
One of the most closely contested races is for Santa Clara County District Attorney, where two candidates are seeking to replace longtime incumbent Jeff Rosen. One is a former DA employee who is currently suing Rosen for allegedly retaliating against him for writing negative op-eds about the DA’s office culture.
The three candidates have raised a total of $138,918 since the end of January, according to recent campaign documents. Deputy Public Defender Sajid Khan leads the way with $82,827 compared to $46,896 raised by Rosen, who was first elected in 2010. That appears to be because Rosen reached the $500,000 voluntary cap for total contributions.
Rosen is endorsed by Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and the San Jose Police Officers Association.
Khan, who has positioned himself as the progressive candidate, told San José Spotlight that his campaign is approaching a total of $350,000. He has been endorsed by Assemblyman Alex Lee and State Senator Dave Cortese. None of the candidates borrowed money.
“Our grassroots, people-powered movement is building exciting momentum and puts us in a prime position to win this race in June,” said Khan.
Former Deputy District Attorney Daniel Chung has raised $9,195 in the last cycle and admits he is the financial loser, though he has the backing of Gilroy Councilmembers Dion Bracco and Carol Marques and the Los Gatos Police Officers Association. However, he doesn’t see the lack of financial support holding him back.
“My message seems to be resonating with people: People seem to know who I am and are starting to contribute more,” Chung told San José Spotlight. “I’m kind of a dark horse in the race right now, and I think my candidacy is on the rise.”
Both Rosen and Khan are spending heavily on their campaigns. Since the end of January, Rosen has spent $127,080, much of it on web-related and campaign consultant expenses. Khan has spent $104,410 on campaign and digital media consultants.
Santa Clara County Sheriff
Embattled Sheriff Laurie Smith is not seeking a seventh term, meaning the county has a new sheriff for the first time since 1998. Five candidates are vying to replace Smith, and several are making headway in fundraising.
Retired Santa Clara County Sheriff Cpt. Kevin Jensen leads the pack in the latest campaign contribution cycle, raising $118,025. Since the end of January, Jensen has received $6,150 in non-cash contributions and lent his campaign $4,102. He has garnered some of the largest endorsements to date, including the Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association.
Over the past few months, Jensen has spent $60,870, mostly on campaign literature and marketing materials. She told San José Spotlight that she has avoided contacting people directly for money, instead making indirect appeals through his campaign. Jensen said she has paid for about seven billboards, as well as door-hangers and social media. Compared to his unsuccessful 2014 campaign against Smith, Jensen said he has a better idea of how to use the money and is grateful for the support to date.
“I think people put their money where their trust is,” Jensen said.
Behind Jensen is the Palo Alto police chief. Roberto Jonsen, who has raised $41,009 in contributions since January and lent the campaign $25,000. Jonsen told San José Spotlight that he believes the many forums the candidates participate in are helping residents distinguish him from others in the race.
“I feel really good about it, I like the platform and the response we’re getting,” Jonsen said.
Jonsen said most of his donations to date have been from people he knows, but he is reluctant to pursue money aggressively while still in office because he fears it could create a conflict of interest. Jonsen said that after he retires in June, he will push harder to raise cash. He has spent $57,005 in the past few months, mostly on consulting, social media, and print materials. Jonsen said his campaign currently has no signs on the lawn. He has garnered support from former state senator Jim Beall and the Sunnyvale Democratic Club.
The latest financial reports have yet to be released for three other candidates running in the race: Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Sean Allen and businesswoman Anh Colton. Colton did not respond to a request for comment.
Allen told San José Spotlight that he submitted his campaign finance form and has raised about $6,000 since January in contributions, plus $18,000 in personal loans. Allen paid for two television commercials, social media ads, and signage. He has received the endorsement of the Rev. Jeff Moore, former president of the Silicon Valley NAACP. Allen hasn’t gotten any major sponsorships since then, but says things are going well.
“People have been very receptive to me and my platform,” Allen said. “I think people are looking for someone other than the status quo, and that’s what I stand for.”
According to Christine Nagaye’s sheriff’s sergeant in her last campaign filing, she has received $1,600 in contributions since January and lent her campaign $40,000. She has received endorsements from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, a progressive club founded by Howard Dean, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He has spent $5,643 on legal services and filing fees.
“Most of my contributions have been from average people rather than powerful groups,” Nagaye told San José Spotlight.
Santa Clara County Supervisory District 1
Mike Wasserman, president of the Board of Supervisors, ends this year. Four candidates are fighting to see who replaces him.
District boundaries were redrawn last year as part of the redistricting process that occurs every decade to ensure political districts have roughly even populations. the new district lost conservative-leaning regions in Almaden Valley and Los Gatos and picked up some San Jose neighborhoods, including Evergreen and Silver Lake.
Leading the pack in fundraising this quarter is San Jose Councilmember Sylvia Arenas, who has raised $118,170 since January. Arenas has spent $27,172 on her campaign over the past several months, with a significant portion used for voting services. Arenas has garnered the support of the South Bay Labor Council and San José councilmembers Magdalena Carrasco, Maya Esparza and Raúl Peralez.
“My campaign is laser-focused on having meaningful conversations with voters,” Arenas told San José Spotlight. “We have already been spending money on our grassroots effort, which includes making phone calls, texting voters and knocking on doors.”
Former San Jose Councilman Johnny Khamis has only raised $10,995 since January because he has already reached the voluntary limit, he said. Khamis has the backing of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association.
Khamis has spent $77,834 in recent months, mostly on campaign marketing material, and says the campaign plans to send mailers.
“My campaign is focused on solutions for the homeless that are not being discussed,” Khamis told San José Spotlight. “I think that message is resonating.”
Claudia Rossi, a nurse practitioner and trustee for the Santa Clara County Board of Education, has raised $27,365 since the end of January. Rossi has received endorsements from supervisors Susan Ellenberg and Otto Lee. She has spent $12,461 in recent months, including on campaign literature.
She told San José Spotlight that her initial investment in voter data has paid off because she is reaching thousands of likely voters. She also said that her campaign has gone out of its way to refuse donations from certain groups.
“I’m particularly proud of the fact that I’ve made a commitment not to accept corporate contributions,” Rossi said, noting that many of her contributions come from teachers and nurses. “You’re not going to find developer money or oil money (in my report).”
Morgan Hill Mayor Rico Constantino has raised $18,983 since the end of January and spent about $27,477. Constantine has paid campaign consultants and television commercials. He did not respond to a request for comment.
Santa Clara County Assessor
The field of candidates seeking to replace Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone was selected earlier this year after Valley Water Board President Gary Kremen dropped out of the race following allegations of a former campaign staffer that he shared partially nude photos on a Dropbox. Kremen invested heavily in the race, lending himself $170,000 on top of the $71,273 he raised in contributions.
Incumbent Larry Stone now faces only one opponent: Andres Crockett, an accountant and former Stone’s employee who wants to modernize the office.
As of the end of January, Stone has raised $11,050. This is in addition to the $275,000 that was lent last year. In recent months, Stone has spent $41,854 on campaign consultants, polling and campaign literature, among other services. He has been endorsed by the Mercury News and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Stone said the campaign has slowed with Kremen out of the running, but he has been aggressively promoting his candidacy on social media.
“I don’t have the level of competition that I had when Gary was in the race,” Stone said. “But I enjoy doing this. For many elected officials, it’s a burden. It’s never a burden for me to campaign, I just like it.”
Crockett, who did not respond to requests for comment, has raised $14,125 since the end of January. He lent his campaign $23,600 this year. According to his latest campaign filing, Crockett has spent $17,810 on office expenses, filing costs, travel, and consultants. Crockett has been endorsed by the Santa Clara County Management Employees Association and Peter Fiekowsky, the Climate Restoration Foundation.
Santa Clara County Supervisor District 4
Supervisor susan ellenberg is running unopposed for re-election to represent District 4, which covers West San Jose, Campbell, Santa Clara and unincorporated Burbank. According to his latest campaign filings, Ellenberg has raised $4,450 since January. During that same period, she spent $23,715 on campaign consultants, filing fees, and campaign staff salaries, among other services.
Contact Eli Wolfe at [correo electrónico protegido] or @ EliWolfe4 and Twitter.
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