Independent political committees formed to promote candidates in the mayor’s race and political action committees representing special interests like unions and businesses have put more money…
One piece of campaign mail sent to San Jose voters says mayoral candidate Cindy Chavez “has a history of scandals, corruption, and dishonest backroom deals.” Another declares her opponent Matt Mahan said he believed in “empowering” the National Rifle Association, just months after a gun massacre.
Two San Jose mayoral candidates, Matt Mahan, left, and Cindy Chavez appear to be breaking away from the pack, racking up endorsements and financial contributions from some of the region’s most powerful players. Common Good Silicon Valley, the group initially formed by outgoing Mayor Liccardo and now run by his chief of staff, Jim Reed, has pumped in another $165,000. Its major funders include real estate firm Legacy Partners, where Mahan’s uncle Ed Thrift was an executive.Outside groups backing Chavez have kicked $3 million into the race on her behalf. They include:Better Way San Jose Supporting Chavez for Mayor 2022, formed by the city’s police officer union, has collected $640,157.
In addition, the political committee of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, which Chavez once led, has spent $732,569 on her mayoral bid, and the city’s firefighters union political committee kicked in another $61,431 on her behalf. The groups behind these campaigns aren’t required to explain their interest in the race. Rahul Chandhok, the 49ers communications chief who heads the Citizens for Cindy Chavez committee,that the team was impressed by the supervisor’s “exemplary leadership during the pandemic,” calling her “instrumental in launching California’s largest vaccination site at Levi’s Stadium last year.