A former Santa Clara City Council candidate has threatened to slap a well-regarded community advocate with libel in order to silence her, claiming she is smearing him online.
In a Sept. 17 letter, San Francisco-based attorney Peter Bagatelos alleges that Mary Grizzle, a member of the civic group Reclaiming Our Downtown, made “false statements” about David Kertes that are “defamatory.”
Kertes challenged Council Member Suds Jain for the District 5 seat last year and is in the process of trying to get Jain recalled.
The source of tension arose from online exchanges between Grizzle and Kertes on Nextdoor and Facebook.
In the posts, Grizzle defended Jain, saying his track record on the return of Santa Clara’s downtown is “unblemished.” Conversely, she claimed Kertes has “no comparable history of civic or community engagement,” adding that Kertes’ record, when compared to Jain’s, is “laughable at best.”
On social media, Grizzle wrote that Kertes has displayed a “temper,” especially during public meetings where he has presented, adding that Santa Clara “deserves better than attacks and harassment.” Further, she has attacked Kertes for attempting to recall Jain.
“Your statement about Mr. Kertes displaying a temper at Council meetings is false and intended to depict him in a false light, discredit him publicly, and cause persons reading your comments to hold Mr. Kertes in lower esteem,” Bagatelos wrote.
Also at issue was Grizzle’s reference to a lawsuit involving Kertes’s former employer that named him. That suit implied that Kertes colluded with a former colleague to defraud the company.
However, Kertes’s lawyer notes in his letter that the case was settled and Kertes didn’t face charges. Simply drawing attention to Kertes’ involvement, his lawyer wrote, “creates a false impression by innuendo.”
Despite Bagatelos characterizing Kertes as a victim, his online posts are hardly passive. He regularly accuses Grizzle of having someone write her posts and exercises his free speech rights to criticise her and her supporters. But, when Grizzle punches back, expressing opinions of her own, he claims she is “spreading lies.”
Particularly galling is Kertes’ propensity to use the sort of language his lawyer claims is libelous. In his exchanges with Grizzle, Kertes wrote that he is “so tired of [Grizzle’s] lies and defending criminals,” adding that she “defends Suds and his felons.” He adds that Grizzle “flies with four criminals. I guess you are a criminal as well.”
Included in Kertes’ rogue’s gallery is former Santa Clara Vice Mayor — someone who has been convicted of a felony. However, he also lumps in Jain and Council Member Kevin Park, both of whom do not have a criminal record.
In his five-page letter, Bagatelos demanded Grizzle “immediately cease and desist from disseminating any further information that contains such false statements” and “take steps to immediately notify the public about the falsity of the information you have already disseminated.”
While Bagatelos acknowledges other statements Grizzle made online are opinions, he claims they are “taken out of context.” In addition to demanding that Grizzle apologize and remove the social media posts, Bagatelos also demands that she avoid posting “further information that contains such false information.”
In his Sept. 22 response letter to Bagatelos, San Jose-based lawyer J. Byron Fleck writes that Grizzle is an “esteemed member of the Santa Clara community,” calling her the “Grand Dame of the City.”
“After careful review, it is clear that not one of the statements you attribute to my client are defamatory under law. There is no dispute,” he wrote. “The legal bar of the first amendment protecting my client does not get any higher, as you know.”
Fleck goes on to rebut the cases Bagatelos cites in his letter, writing that they are “problematic and inapposite.”
He asserts that Bagatelos is using outdated and irrelevant cases, ones that pertain to newspaper publication, not social media. Further, Fleck argues, Kertes is a “political public figure engaged in a political public campaign for political public office, and now, a purported leader of a political public recall.”
“As a general rule, anyone who actively participates in the publication and republication of false and libelous statements may be liable for special, general, and/or even punitive damages,” Bagatelos wrote, citing DiGiorgio Corp. vs. Valley Labor Citizen. “This could apply to public platforms such as Facebook and Nextdoor.”
But Fleck notes that the case cited involves demand for a newspaper to print a retraction for alleged libel, adding that he is “unaware of any such demand being made upon Facebook, Nextdoor, or any blog.”
Another case Bagatelos cited, Washburn vs. Wright, involved statements labeling the plaintiff non-profit trust as an “extremist organization” in a newspaper advertisement during a recall campaign. The court determined that label was not libelous, dismissing the case with prejudice.
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
In my opinion, what we are witnessing is nothing short of a power grab. The attacks on Suds Jain and Kevin Park are unprecedented and harmful to the very fabric of our community. These tactics should concern every resident, because they are not about good governance—they are about silencing voices that have worked tirelessly for a better Santa Clara.
The only issue that truly unites our city right now is the rebuilding of our downtown. Yet, instead of moving forward together, the discontent on the council is spilling over and delaying the progress the public deserves. That is not leadership—it is obstruction.
I am being singled out for one simple reason: I have been a strong, powerful voice for fairness and transparency in our community. But this is not about me. This is about the future of our city.
Suds Jain has a long and proven record of accomplishments to make downtown happen. From policy groundwork to pushing shovel-ready projects, his list of contributions is substantial. For someone like David Kertes to file for a recall against Suds is, frankly, insane. It is a reckless move that does nothing to serve the people of Santa Clara and everything to destabilize the council for personal or political gain.
These attacks must be stopped. Our city needs to move forward—together—not backward through petty politics and power grabs.
Thanks Mary Grizzle
Well, honey, if this ain’t a sight: a fellow who can sure sling the mud but can’t stand the smell when it splashes back on his own boots. David Kertes has been hollerin’ on social media like a carnival barker at the dunk tank—accusing folks of lying, calling them criminals, dragging their names through the mud. Then the moment Mary Grizzle, who’s been a steady, well-regarded presence in this town for years, calls him on his bluster, suddenly he’s clutching his pearls and dispatching lawyers. Lord, spare us the thin-skinned tough-guy routine.
Here’s the thing Kertes doesn’t seem to grasp: when you make yourself a public figure—run for office, lead a recall, parade your grievances on public platforms—the legal bar for proving libel climbs up mighty high. Courts expect public figures to take harder knocks in public debate. If you’re going to hurl accusations like confetti, you don’t get to turn tail and wag a letter of complaint the minute someone throws a single confetti piece back at you.
What’s plain from his own public communications is that Kertes doesn’t have the temperament for public life. He seems to get especially riled up when strong women stand their ground. That’s not leadership; it’s bullying with a law firm on speed dial. Maybe that sort of chest-thumping has paid off in Trump’s tent revival circuit, but Santa Clara isn’t an audience for cheap intimidation.
And Mary Grizzle? Don’t just defend yourself, my dear—*go on offense*. California’s got a nifty little tool called an anti-SLAPP lawsuit that was built for exactly this sort of stunt. If a fella tries to use the courts to muzzle free speech on public issues, anti-SLAPP lets you swat him right back, and he ends up paying *your* attorney’s fees. If Kertes wants to play legal hardball, Mary ought to show him she can swing the bat, too.
Bottom line: if David Kertes wants a place at the town’s table, he needs to learn how to take the heat he’s been dishing out. Public service requires thicker skin than tantrums and threats. Santa Clara deserves debate—not dramatics.
The chat GPT comments are sending me! LMAO.
Wow, Just Wow I’m missing out on the Chatgpt responses – must be my lucky day – Mellisa is showing us exactly the type of stuff Mary and others put up with in Santa Clara
Political speech receives robust protection under the First Amendment.
A competent, well-regarded attorney would first have asked Kertes to explain how a 55-year-old man entangled himself in an online joust with an 82-year-old woman.
In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court determined in United States v. Alvarez that intentional lies are protected under the First Amendment. The decision renders existing laws regulating intentionally false campaign and election speech vulnerable. https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/post/lies-and-the-first-amendment-why-lying-politicians-like-george-santos-cant-easily-be-punished/
While Grizzle’s and Kertes’ online spat isn’t occurring during a current political campaign, the Supreme Court’s opinion sets a precedent that it is unconstitutional for the government, at any level, to punish falsehoods merely because they are false. There was a local case in 2013 where falsehoods went beyond mere opinion. During a 2010 San Jose City Council race, George Shirakawa, Jr. knowingly impersonated an opposing candidate’s campaign and falsely aligned her with the Vietnamese Communist Party. Shirakawa pleaded guilty to the impersonation crimes. https://www.sanjoseinside.com/politics/6_5_13_george_shirakawa_felony_dna_mailer_xavier_campos_magdalena_carrasco/
There is no allegation that Mary Grizzle’s public comments constitute a crime; therefore, there is no reason for her to concede to Kertes’ demands for public retraction. So, unless Kertes can convince the Superior Court that (i) he is the only “fool and fanatic” in the whole of Santa Clara and (ii) the only person who “does not have the ability to understand”, and that all who read Grizzle’s comments now believe Kertes is a stupid fool, this claim of a future civil lawsuit doesn’t have foundation. As commenter Santa Clara Resident pointed out, an anti-SLAPP motion would likely extinguish Kertes and his attorney rather quickly if it reached that point.
People are free to speak in any non-violent manner they choose and at liberty to believe whatever they want, regardless of whether others do not agree with someone else’s underlying beliefs. If it is Mary’s observation and opinion that during City Council meetings, Kertes sounds angry, in America, it’s her right to interpret his words, tone, and actions that way.
For those keeping score: Grizzle 1; Kertes 0
You go where you look: if we and Santa Clara’s leadership focus on what divides us, we will continue to fail. These last ten years have revealed division’s unproductive result: constant bickering in council chambers; the closing of Santa Clara’s former pride: the George F. Haines International Swim Center; and still has NO destination point where Super Bowl 60 tourists and their $1.7B in anticipated spending can go. 85% of Santa Clara citizens AGREE that the rebuilding of Downtown Santa Clara is a top priority. THERE is an inflection point that could finally unify this city. Until we stop with this self-cannibalism, we will continue to see other city’s (with MUCH smaller budgets) exceed our revenues.
SJ Mayor Mahan has already put out the welcome mat for SJ to be the Super Bowl’s fans’ destination spot. SC once again misses out on capturing fan $. 9er fans still consider SF home and gladly spend $ there not here. we merely provide the sod the games are played on.
At the State of the City, with one hand Mayor Gillmor threw a bone to the Reclaiming Our Downtown group and Mary Grizzle, while behind the scenes her other hand has David Kertes going after Mary Grizzle because she is against the Suds Jain recall efforts. Welcome to the club, Mary Grizzle. This is what happens when you step up to the Gillmor mafia. David Kertes is part of the Gillmor Axis of Evil.
It is amazing that Kertes went from having an Anthony Becker for Mayor yard sign affixed to the front yard fence of his conveniently located Lafayette home to, in 2024, where if you drove by his home you would see a big David Kertes campaign banner in the front yard—endorsed by the one and only Mayor Gillmor, something he would gloat about. Kertes went from one end of the spectrum to the opposite—what caused the change? What made him flip? Probably an offer from the Gillmor mafia he couldn’t refuse.
History has proven that when anyone gets too close to ridding Santa Clara of the Gillmor regime, she tries to take them down and out. In past elections like the 1994 Mayor’s race against Judy Nadler, Gillmor got her city council ally Jim Ash to run for mayor with her and added Tom Pereira with the intention of splitting the votes so Judy Nadler would lose. The plan backfired, and Nadler won by 1,015 votes. Yet days before the election, Lisa Gillmor did an eleventh-hour hit piece sent to Santa Clara residents, including one directly to Judy Nadler’s husband, attacking Judy as a hypocrite and campaign law violator.
Then in August 1995, FPPC complaints were filed against Mayor Judy Nadler, leading to a state probe by the FPPC. The complaint accused Nadler of failing to disclose the full amount spent for postage during the 1994 mayoral campaign. The allegations became the major subject of two city council meetings where then-Councilmember Gillmor demanded answers and accused Mayor Nadler of concealing campaign spending. The FPPC eventually dismissed the complaints and found no wrongdoing—just another Gillmor, the girl who cried wolf. Kind of like Gillmor minion James Rowen’s FPPC complaints that lead nowhere.
Then in 1996, Gillmor faced tough re-election competition for council against former Councilmember Sue Lasher and barely won with 912 votes. In that election, Gillmor bashed Lasher over and over, eventually affecting Lasher after the election. Lasher did get some good hits in by calling out then-Councilmember Lisa Gillmor’s behavior for bullying city staff and wasting all that money and time investigating the city’s convention center. Many at the time believed the convention center witch hunt was Gillmor projecting guilt because of her dealings with the Mission Trails Waste Systems debacle—controversy involving former Councilmember Jim Arno—that later cost Arno his job.
Then there is the 2022 mayoral election: Gillmor beat then-Councilmember Anthony Becker by 776 votes. In that election, Gillmor got her “kraken” grand jury report released right when ballots arrived, accusing Becker and other councilmembers of being unethical and in the 49ers’ pocket—something similar to the eleventh-hour mailer from the 1994 race against Nadler. However, this time Gillmor upped her game with the legal system.
Doesn’t all of this sound like déjà vu over and over again? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Clearly, the people of Santa Clara are insane to keep voting for the Gillmor regime—or Gillmor is clearly insane. You choose.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor thinks she is a big city “strong” Mayor with authority and powers like San Francisco or Los Angeles mayors. In reality, she is just one vote, but she does whatever it takes to get the four votes to tango and get something passed. That includes destroying people’s lives for the sake of keeping her family empire controlling the city.
Seeing that Kertes had a lawyer send a cease-and-desist letter just proves more and more that Gillmor uses lawyers and legal processes to go after opponents and non-supporters. It’s all intimidation. For example, it is pretty well known that Gillmor and Kathy Watanabe got Satish Chandra and Joyce Davis to challenge the city in court over the ballot language of Measure B (change elected chief to appointed), but not Measure A (change elected clerk to appointed). Gillmor also hijacked the legal system and had friends in high places like District Attorney Jeff Rosen and the Civil Grand Jury.
The District Attorney and Civil Grand Jury were used not only to prosecute and persecute Gillmor’s enemies, but as a “dirt-digging” expedition by law enforcement and the powers of search warrants. The 2023 indictment of a former Vice Mayor who shall not be named in this article had testimonies from individuals like John McLemore, a former Councilmember who served during the 1990s with Lisa Gillmor and ran against Gillmor loyalist Debi Davis in 2016. John’s wife, Clysta Seeney, took on the Mission Trails Waste Systems controversy involving former Councilmember Jim Arno, stood up to the behavior of former Mayor Eddie Souza, and took on Gillmor herself by protecting the Ulistac from development of soccer parks.
Additionally, Clysta and others were called in to testify in front of the 2024 Civil Grand Jury about their experience on the charter review committee that recommended the change from elected chief and clerk to appointed. Another strange coincidence, right? Others brought in to testify were David Andre, a former Convention Center Visitors Bureau employee who was fired by Gillmor and was a harsh critic of hers. Funny how everyone who is a Gillmor critic ends up in a courtroom in front of a jury.
During the trial of the former Vice Mayor who shall not be named, there was a common discussion about how much dirt the District Attorney got on Gillmor’s enemies—like, for one, her opponent in the 2022 mayoral election (you can say his name). Additionally, the DA’s office got more dirt on Kevin Park via search warrants, as well as on those from the 49ers organization. Yet no search warrants for Related Company, Jude Barry, the Santa Clara Police Officers Association, or even POA President Jeremy Schmidt. If you were one of the very few attending the trial, your jaw would drop to the floor at how selective this all was. Connect the dots.
That trial was purposely delayed to affect the 2024 elections—in which it did—getting Becker to lose re-election and Suds Jain barely winning re-election with just over 500 votes. The trial started the day before Election Day in 2024. How convenient was it for Gillmor and her mafia to have this last all that time? Gillmor got everything through the District Attorney’s office they needed from the search warrants of Kevin Park, Becker, and the 49ers. Suds Jain was used as a weapon of convenience and fell into the trap of Gillmor and the District Attorney’s office. They had something to attack Suds Jain on and accused him of covering up crimes, which became a major narrative since he was a “star witness” in the trial. All this was used during the 2024 election. This was all by design—the same with the 2024 grand jury reports released before the elections. Now in 2025, the recall efforts led by David Kertes are no surprise. Timing is everything for the Gillmor mafia.
Gillmor always uses the legal system to get what she wants. Remember, Gillmor was the one—with Councilmember Watanabe—demanding documents from FIFA World Cup and refusing to sign the non-disclosure agreements (wonder why she didn’t sign—maybe because she would leak them to the San Francisco Chronicle and be held accountable?). Following that, Gillmor threatened subpoena powers to get the documents.
Additionally, Gillmor and Kathy Watanabe wrote a dissenting response to the 2022 grand jury report in which they claimed all Councilmembers were lying on council and should be put under oath with the threat of perjury. Projection much, Lisa and Kathy? At the time they wrote this response, the DA’s office was investigating their council colleagues Kevin Park and Anthony Becker—what a coincidence. Gillmor and Watanabe must have known and figured this would cover their own tracks of perjury.
Watanabe admitted to leaking the report to her husband Karl, while he lied to authorities about it. Gillmor herself told authorities she damaged her phone and got a new one during the election, saying she is “old school” and prints reports. Gillmor also texted her Related Company handler Jude Barry to check his email right after she got the “confidential” report. Teresa O’Neill was coming to the court hearings, sitting and talking to college students learning the legal process, and told them she knew judges and could help connect them. Clearly, they all knew.
What else do you call this weaponization of the justice system?
Gillmor has a vendetta against everyone, anyone, or any entity that she feels wronged her. She is a tyrant who continues to purge the city of good things and good Councilmembers. The track record is undeniable. Gillmor never forgets and always comes back.
Gillmor went after the Chamber of Commerce and Convention Center in 1993, pushing for audits and probes, demanding answers, and having grand jury complaints filed. That grand jury found there was no wrongdoing. Yet that didn’t stop Gillmor, because 25 years later, she destroyed the Chamber and fired the entire Chamber Visitors Bureau. This was revenge for 1993 and because the Chamber PAC did not endorse her candidate Debi Davis in the 2012 Council election. Debi Davis also worked for the Chamber at the time along with being a receptionist at Curves.
Seeing what David Kertes is doing to Mary Grizzle is just another arm of this axis of evil in Santa Clara that is determined to silence and intimidate everyone who goes against Gillmor. The point is, Mary Grizzle needs to stop trusting Mayor Gillmor and know that Gillmor is the one stalling the downtown plans—because Gillmor owns land downtown.
This threat from Kertes is a warning to Mary Grizzle, just like how they are sending a warning to Kevin Park with hyped-up domestic incidents at his home, and like how a former judge sent a letter to the former Vice Mayor/Councilmember stating they were coming for him with charges—before any reports came out. The threats and intimidation will keep on coming, and the only way to stop it is to stand up against this Gillmor mafia of hate.
There are so many more examples of this legal abuse by the Gillmor mafia that one could teach an entire college course on Gillmor’s corruption. Maybe “ethics expert” Tom Shanks can teach it. Hey Shanks, “Where’s the beef? Where’s the ethics?” The Gillmor mafia likes to pull out Tom Shanks when the going gets tough to talk about ethics. Wonder what “dirt” they have on Shanks.
Roger, aka Suds
“axis of evil”?? really? You make me laugh. You were the one stalking their table at the Parade of Champions dinner / auction and you continue to lurk around trying to get dirt on anyone you can.
Get a life.
Regor, you are wrong about it being Suds. He only came to Santa Clara in 1999 and has no knowledge of Nadler, Pereira, or Ash. Kertes, Cox, O’neil, Chandra, take note. If you think Lisa is your ally now, that will end the moment she no longer needs you to do her dirty work. If you do not believe me, look at what happened to Matthews, Moore, Davis, Mahan, Kennedy, Caserta, and Kolstad.
Roger, maybe you can do an expose on that. Do not forget how they used to drag Marsalli half dead into council meetings just to secure his vote.
Dear Editor of the Weekly, please publish Roger’s chronological account of Lisa Gillmor’s tyrant and mafia style rule as an Op Ed. (we don’t want this to disappear in comments) It clearly exposes the repeated pattern of her behavior over the years. The Gillmor family has controlled Santa Clara politics for over thirty years, most of that time under Lisa’s grip.
Mary Grizzle is truly an institution in our city. Many of us are lucky to have her step up and take on the challenge of revitalizing the downtown, something that has been needed for a long time.
Mr. Kertes’ main claim to fame seems to be that he lost an election. He lives in the Old Quad near the project, and even if he were ever to represent the district, he could technically not vote on any proposals due to proximity. That makes him a questionable choice for someone trying to influence this process. It sounds like we have a non-contender trying to stay relevant in a district he cannot effectively represent.
Am I the only one who is sick of the constant attacks on our council members? It is always the same small group of people who stir up issues and then pull others into their parade of complaints. Meanwhile, we have an actual Parade of Champions coming up in our city, yet some would rather focus on tearing down our elected officials than celebrating progress.
Thank you to Mary, Dan, and everyone who has worked so tirelessly to bring our city a vibrant downtown. And thank you to Councilmember Suds Jain, who continues to deal with the endless noise from those who seem more interested in whining than building.
Maybe when the downtown is built, we can include a “whine bar” – it sounds like Mr. Kertes and his crew would be right at home there.
My opinion is that there are a lot of unproven accusations going back and forth from both sides. There is no reason to have this going on. Mary Grizzle complained that Santa Clara Online was writing accusing posts about Kevin Park that have not been proven. But yet she accused David Kertes of doing something at his place of employment that has not been proven. But then David Kertes lashed out at Mary. OK, let’s stop this. We will never get anywhere with things going on this way.
Kertes definitely went to court its out there MicroTechnologies vs David Kertes.
I feel bad for senior citizen Mary Grizzle… seems like she is being used by the pro-49er council members and developers that want to profit from redevelopment of the former downtown for their political games.
To SC resident
I appreciate your concern, but let me be very clear — I am not being “used” by anyone. I’ve always spoken my own mind and stood up for what I believe is right for Santa Clara. My advocacy for rebuilding our downtown comes from decades of living here, watching what was lost, and wanting to restore a vibrant heart to our city.
I remember walking our old downtown, shopping at Wade’s Pharmacy, going to the theater, and picking up treats at Wilson’s Bakery. I want that same sense of community and joy for my grandkids & great grandkids — a place where families can gather, shop, and take pride in the city we call home.
At 83, I don’t have any political agenda or personal gain in this. I simply care deeply about Santa Clara and will continue to speak out — respectfully, truthfully, and independently — for what I believe serves our community best.
Is it possible for a sleazeball to be held in lower esteem?
Asking for a friend.
What’s wrong with showing a temper at city council meetings? I don’t waste my time unless I have something strong to say and can try to push these people around. Our city leaders are afraid to go after our biggest assets and have little interest in rebuilding the downtown. I’m not sure why anyone would listen to Mary Grizzle. Everyone thinks she is so remarkable, but I’m not sure why.
Everyone is entitled to passion about our city’s future, but there’s a difference between passion and hostility. Leadership requires composure, respect, and the ability to listen — especially in public meetings where the goal is collaboration, not intimidation.
I have always believed that rebuilding our Downtown takes teamwork, patience, and persistence — not temper. My commitment remains the same: to focus on results, not rhetoric, and to work respectfully with anyone who shares the goal of restoring Santa Clara’s heart.
Everyone is entitled to passion about our city’s future, but there’s a difference between passion and hostility. Leadership requires composure, respect, and the ability to listen — especially in public meetings where the goal is collaboration, not intimidation.
I have always believed that rebuilding our Downtown takes teamwork, patience, and persistence — not temper. My commitment remains the same: to focus on results, not rhetoric, and to work respectfully with anyone who shares the goal of restoring Santa Clara’s heart.
As requested by another informed reader, here goes my expose. It’s everything you wanted to know but was afraid to ask. So let’s hop into our time machine and go for a ride. As we go, you will notice a pattern here by the Gillmor Mafia. What they do is often take narratives, political tools and terms and regurgitate them as if they are new. For example one of the most glaring terms is the “49er 5” which is essentially a reboot of “Stadium Five” that Lisa Gillmor was part of. Many who have been around Santa Clara a while know the “Stadium Five”. Gillmor took what was weaponised against her and used it against her new enemies, the current city council Jain, Park, Hardy, Chahal which also included Becker before his conviction. For reference check out more about the ‘Stadium Five’ – http://49ers.savesantaclara.org/santa_clara_stadium_five.php.
Now for a deep dive into the city and council history and specifically Gillmor & Associates employees. We will jump around on the timeline, so keep up. First though, we will look at how one commenter said ‘ever notice it is the group of people who stir up issues and then pull others into their complaints’. Well, this is the original group. Can you spot the wolves in this photo? https://www.stage.svvoice.com/the-full-picture-of-santa-claras-8th-council-member/ .
The Gillmor Dynasty
Gillmor & Associates had three individuals working for them during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. That was Dominic Caserta, Kevin Moore and Jamie Matthews, all Councilmembers during the 2000’s and early 2010’s. Lisa Gillmor left the city council in 2000 when she was termed out the first time (term limits did not exist till 2016). During the decade of the 2000’s Gillmor had others on council like Casterta, Matthews and Moore doing her work. The Gillmor mafia family has given money to all the electeds at that time except for Jamie McLeod. However that changed in the 2020’s when Jamie McLeod sold her soul and took Gillmor money in her multiple failed runs for Oregon congressional and secretary of state seats. There is a picture of Jamie McLeod and former Councilmember Will Kennedy standing in Teresa O’Neill’s backyard for a fundraiser for Jamie’s Oregon campaign in 2021 or 2022. It is an amazing picture considering that McLeod and Kennedy were the opposing votes to the stadium Measure J campaign and were berated by the Gillmor machine to get the stadium here. Guess the saying “if you can’t beat them join them” is real here. http://www.savesantaclara.org/Dominic_Caserta.php http://www.savesantaclara.org/Gary_Gillmor.php
In 2004, Despite their decades in politics, Gary and Lisa Gillmor claimed they didn’t know about a basic campaign finance rule — the $99 cash donation limit — after illegally handing out $7,500 in cash to local council candidates. One candidate, former Councilmember Pat Kolstad, caught the error and returned the money immediately; other Candidates like Will Kennedy, Kevin Moore (Moore and Kennedy would eventually become councilmembers that year) and Chuck Blair took weeks to correct it. The Gillmor’s said it was an “honest mistake”, blaming the city clerk for not informing them, though campaign law guides are given to all candidates. They say they honestly didn’t know. That is hard to believe coming from politicians with decades of experience. Current Councilmember Karen Hardy at the time sued them in small claims court, where the Gillmors dismissed the issue and mocked the proceedings. The judge threw out the case after the funds were returned and replaced with checks. No accountability and no consequences. Guess the Gillmor Mafia track record is staying above the law while the rest of the world complies. Though they say their donations are routine and legal, the Gillmors’ political savvy — and their influence — is no secret. Father Gary Gillmor, calls campaign cash the “lifeblood” of politics, downplays the contributions as “peanuts”. “Peanuts” is the same the city would get from Measure J and 49er stadium as stated by the attorney for the Measure J opposition in 2010. Critics often say the Gillmor mafia knows exactly how the system works — and how to work it.
But let’s start at the beginning of how we got here, Gary Gillmor built his real estate career through close ties with public land and development deals. In the late 1970s, he found his niche with school districts, selling over $32 million of surplus land for Santa Clara Unified between 1979 and 1985. You also can’t forget the Alum Rock School District too. By 1988–1991, he was appearing at city council meetings on behalf of clients, including his close friend Jim Joseph, founder of Interland, who later won the bid to redevelop the Fairway Glen Golf Course into luxury apartments. In the mid-1990s, Gillmor profited again as land-lease agent for the West Valley–Mission Community College District, which leased land to Joseph for what became the Mercado shopping center (this ultimately killed the Paramount Movie Theater deal at Great America, additionally many wonder why they named it the Gillmor Building on Mission College campus, here is your clue). Meanwhile, the Gillmor family accumulated 10,000 square feet of downtown Franklin Square, where a $3 million city-funded renovation in 2001 and ongoing taxpayer-covered maintenance benefitted their holdings. Flash forward to 2020’s Suds Jain is trying to make the property owners like the Gillmor’s pay their fair share of maintenance.
The Morse Mansion is a historic Santa Clara property. Gary Gillmor was part-owner of the mansion and pushed for years to have the city buy it, citing a desire for historic preservation—even as critics pointed out he let the property’s carriage house collapse rather than invest $75,000 to save it. In 2006, then Assistant City Manager Ronald Garratt declined Gary Gillmor’s proposal, noting the city wasn’t prioritizing such purchases. But shortly after, the mansion surfaced on the city’s priority list following a council brainstorming session. Several Councilmembers who supported the idea had received campaign contributions from the Gillmor family and associates, raising conflict-of-interest concerns. Remember, two Councilmembers even worked directly for Gillmor’s realty business. Fast forward to 2016: Lisa Gillmor—Gary’s daughter and then newly appointed mayor—voted in favor of the city purchasing the Morse Mansion, despite her family’s financial interest in the property. This clear conflict of interest went unchallenged, and she was never held accountable for casting what many view as an illegal vote. In doing so, Mayor Gillmor effectively delivered the outcome her father had pursued for years, raising serious ethical questions about influence, favoritism, and misuse of public office. Hello, Tom, Tom Shanks the ethics expert are you there?
In the 2000’s the Gillmor Mafia made attempts to take over Gilroy city council in an attempt to get the housing development built on Lucky Day Ranch. Campaign records in Gilroy at the time raised questions as they were donating for influence in votes on the Gilroy City Council. Yet in 2007 it was reported that 17 council candidates reported more than $188,000 in cash from unnamed sources—55 percent of all money raised—an unusually high figure compared to other Santa Clara County cities, where most donations are traceable. The Gillmor family and business partners have funneled over $11,000 to then Supervisor Don Gage, the only commissioner who supported Gillmor’s 1997 Gilroy development annexation attempt. https://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.12.07/coverstory-0737.html; https://theluckydayranch.com/about/ .
The “Great” Influencers
In August 1986 the civil grand jury received a complaint requesting the body to investigate the City of Santa Clara’s practices and policies concerning conflicts of interest and the acceptance of gifts and loans by the city council members, officials and employees. The Grand Jury expanded its inquiry into the bidding of contracts, specifically into the development of Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club which opened in 1987 (this golf course is the current site of the long delayed Related Development and demolished David’s Restaurant). In Summer of 1987 Civil Grand Jury released a report critical of Santa Clara’s government and violation of the charter including all the no bids and cost over runs on the Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club development. The grand jury stated in their findings, first that the city council violated the charter by purchasing the Great America Theme Park from Marriotts by using money from the city’s electric company. The civil grand jury stated that City Charter, Section 1320, restricts the transfer and use of utility funds for any purpose other than utilities. Second, the Civil Grand Jury found that members of the city council do not have a clear understanding of their role as a Councilmember and they do not appear to fully understand the complex financial strategies that the city and its agencies employ for major projects. Additionally, the civil grand jury cited that there is an apparent lack of trust between city council and staff. The Civil Grand Jury went on to admonish the city of Santa Clara because it has placed little emphasis on its code of ethics and that the Councilmembers are more concerned about complying with the Conflict of Interest Code than the Code of Ethics. The Civil Grand Jury then added that by Councilmembers accepting gifts on behalf of the city from persons they do business with, they violated the spirit of the code of ethics. They provided other concerns which included numerous possible violations of the states political reform act and referred them to the FPPC and then referred possible violations of anti-trust laws to the State Attorney General. Does this not sound like the 2022 and 2024 grand jury reports about city council and ethics. It gets more interesting. The civil grand jury interviewed the entire city council, Jim Ash, Vern Deto, Sue Lasher, John Mahan, Judy Nadler, David Tobkin and Mayor Eddie Souza. The civil grand jury also interviewed some interesting other names, like Larry Klein (current Sunnyvale mayor) then Palo Alto Councilmember, and some stand outs like Parks and Recreation Chair Lisa Gillmor and Planning Commissioner Emmy Moore-Minister. Why were the grand jury interviewing Lisa and her friend from Emmy from City Committees? They were the only ones interviewed from city committees. It is worth noting that Lisa Gillmor ran for city council in Fall 1988 and lost a close race by 241 votes to Dave DeLozier. It must be a coincidence that a report that came out in Summer 1987 about the city council after it interviewed then Chair of Parks and Recreation Commission Lisa Gillmor who referenced the report in the 1988 election cycle. Lisa Gillmor eventually beat incumbent David Tobkin in the 1992 election who was named in the 1987 report. Again coincidence? I think not.
In 1987 the grand jury interviewed everyone and even listed their interviews unlike in 2022 when they only interviewed Suds Jain, Karen Hardy and Lisa Gillmor and didn’t interview Raj Chahal, Kevin Park and Anthony Becker while the rest of the interviews are a secret. Additionally Grand Jury’s of the past were more transparent in the past naming who they interviewed. It is also worth noting that the comments I made before that referenced the 1990-1991 Civil Grand Jury that had Lisa Gillmor as a member and released a report that was critical of the jails which the Department of Corrections Director stated, “who would release a report without a foundation in fact, I will certainly be looking at motivations at this point” (a deja vu response from 2022/2024). Lisa Gillmor donated money in 1987 against the creation of the Department of Corrections. https://cdn.svvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/12131142/JAIL_BOSS_ATTACKS_REPORT_HALL_ASKS_AUDIT_OF__Mercury_News_The_San_Jose_CA___June_26_1991__p1B.pdf. Being on the Civil Grand Jury is something Lisa Gillmor did between her 1988 Election Loss and the 1992 election win. Gillmor resigned from the civil grand jury early in the 1991-1992 term.
The 1987 grand jury report was a basis for being critical of the golf course, something Lisa Gillmor opposed. Why you may ask?, well the Gillmor mafia had other bigger plans for the land near the Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club.
In 1990, Santa Clarans voted in favor of Measure N which was to develop and build a Baseball stadium for the San Francisco Giants on 60 acres of Santa Clara’s landfill. While Giants organization and voters approved of the idea, city and county voters however didn’t approve the financing for it. The location of this site was Great America Parkway and 237 where the current Santa Clara Gateway, Cloudera and Volterra is. In 1993, Santa Clara City Staff recommended in a report that the site’s land be used for a 9 hole, par 3 “executive golf course”, about 1/3 of the size of the city’s adjoining Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club, which is also built on a landfill. The most vocal critics, Councilmembers Lisa Gillmor and Mayor Eddie Souza were in favor of something rather than a golf course, “It potentially has a use for something bigger, whether a stadium or something else, It’s a key location for the South Bay near freeways, trains and light rail”, stated Mayor Eddie Souza. Lisa Gillmor supported soccer parks too as an option. Councilmember Tim Jefferies later said that he was open to any idea that economically helped the city whether it be a stadium or golf course. At the time, Councilmembers Keri Pronuncier and Jim Ash said they were leaning toward the golf course while Councilmembers Judy Nadler and Dave DeLozier say that they want to see something but weren’t sure what, DeLozier at the time proposed and favored retail or commercial center as an outlet mall tied to the convention center. Kevin Moore, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner at the time worked the Giant’s effort as head of the booster group that promoted the Santa Clara site and that the Giants were possibly interested in privately financed stadium. The dreams of the San Francisco Giants or an Executive Golf Course never came to realization.
Flash forward to 1998 and the same group that was pushing for the Giants stadium in the early 1990’s were pushing the Oakland A’s to move to Santa Clara on the 51-Acre site that was the Great America Parking lot (where Levi’s stadium is now). Councilmember Lisa Gillmor stated, “This is such an enormous undertaking. We would need the help of Great America. I strongly feel this will move forward, at least to get it talking in the public forum and consider studying its feasibility”. Gillmor then added it needs to be privately financed and said “Obviously we’re talking about a couple $100 million. We would explore bond issues, but no money will come out of our general fund.That is our lifeblood. I would never support using that money to finance any type of stadium, but there are other ways”. Eventually this dream died and only was revived in early to mid 2000’s to lure the San Francisco 49ers who were looking for a new stadium. That plan as we all know worked out. Gillmor fought hard to rid the city of the proposed executive golf course and eventually the Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club. Gilmor brought in the developer Related Company in the mid 2010’s. By 2017 she and the council eminent domained David’s Restaurant and by 2019, Gillmor stated “Golfing isn’t what it was 10 years ago, It’s changed. Our numbers are down.” This was as they were set to close the golf course to start the Related project which still today has not been developed. Again, Gillmor states our numbers are down, a similar pattern to other issues over the years like convention center, 49ers, BMX, always the numbers are down. In 2016, Gillmor wanted the Measure R passed to protect open space which is ironic considering she is the one who tried to develop Ulistac and fairway glen for soccer parks. https://abc7news.com/post/popular-santa-clara-golf-and-tennis-club-to-close–/5291584/
Going back to 1991 and the 1992 elections. In 1991 the District Attorney took huge unprecedented steps to having Mayor Eddie Souza arrested to force him to comply with campaign finance laws as he was avoiding reporting his finances. This is the same Mayor Eddie Souza who eventually said in 1993 that he couldn’t trust going to the police for what he felt was embezzlement by the convention center and that the police department has ties to other councilmembers. This is the same Mayor who had the mayor’s office windows taken out because he was afraid he would be assassinated. In 1992, Santa Clara defeated the Card Room ordinance that would have allowed for the largest cardroom in northern California. It was the second time that the voters rejected gambling measures. The ordinance and the driving force behind the gambling issue was Mayor Eddie Souza and his majority where it allowed 200-table card room/entertainment near the Great America Theme Park. However individuals like current Councilmember Karen Hardy fought the efforts of the cardrooms and got the petition going that forced the issue on the ballot. Lisa Gillmor was running for City Council against David Tobkin (as referenced earlier)then and she was in support of the gambling in Santa Clara. The 1992 race between Gillmor and Tobkin was vicious to say the least, it was a brutal campaign where the issue of gambling was at the heart of the race and Tobkin was against it. Gillmor outspent Tobkin heavily and Tobkin days before the election lost his father.
By 1993, Lisa Gillmor was comfortable on the city council and it was just to begin the The convention center witch hunt and then later by 1995 and 1996- the Judy Nadler 1994 mayoral campaign postage issue. Both of these “issues” or “political fires” were distractions from The Mission Trails Waste System controversy that involved none other than Lisa Gillmor.
In February 1993, Mayor Souza and Councilmember Lisa Gillmor hinted at Convention Center improprieties and embezzlement despite no evidence of it. Yet that didn’t stop them. Gillmor and Souza pushed forward for their investigation of the Chambers operation of the conventions center. Lisa Gillmor said “We have a problem, When I ask for information and I am not getting it, I have a real problem”. The Convention Center was under fire by Lisa Gillmor and Mayor Eddie Souza for many factors. In 1992 before Gillmor was elected, the City Council approved a $5.5 million expansion of the convention center, something Gillmor felt was not a good move because she felt the convention center is “losing money”, (just like her narrative about the 49ers money losing events?). Mayor Eddie Souza also stated like Lisa Gillmor that he wasn’t receiving information he requested like a marketing plan and a copy of the catering contract between the chamber and ARA Services but was told that it was confidential. Then City Manager Jennifer Sparanico explained to the two members of the council that the city pays the chamber to run the Convention Center and the contracts between the chamber and subcontractors are privileged documents. Mayor Eddie Souza hammered and said “If they didn’t have anything to hide, then why won’t they just give it to me?. Betty Hangs, president of the Chamber of Commerce at the time, stated they provided all the information. When pressed by Mayor Eddie Souza for info and why they wont release privilege documents, Hangs responded with, “The chamber won’t release that info on ARA services contract because it would give too much information to competitors of the caterer and the conventions center” (don’t that sound like the last near decade 2016-2025 when Lisa Gillmor became Mayor demanding info from the 49ers on concerts and how the 49ers said the exact same thing as chamber president did about confidentiality and competitors in 1993?). Gillmor and Souza continued to doubt the numbers and continued to state they didn’t think the investment of the convention center expansion was really worth it. City Manager Jennifer Sparacino at the time said, “No constructive resolution can be forthcoming and rumors will continue to spread, causing damage to our city”. Sparacino’s words ring true 30 years later.
By April 1993, Betty Hangs, the President of the Chamber of Commerce was grilled for 6 hours during a council meeting by Mayor Eddie Souza and Councilmember Lisa Gillmor. The chamber spent $20,000 and hundreds of hours gathering answers to Lisa Gillmor’s questions to only have Gillmor say that she is being “Stonewalled” (deja vu with the 49ers right?). In that meeting 3 Councilmembers, Jim Ash, Tim Jefferies and Mayor Eddie Souza joined in supporting Gillmor’s motion for an outside auditor to look at the convention center operations (deja vu with the ‘outside auditors’ right?). Gillmor said “she hopes a management audit will clear up her questions and make recommendations about how the city can make more money from the Convention Center and she continued to state she is “sceptical of the numbers”, that Betty Hangs presented (again does this not sound familiar of present Lisa Gillmor?). Councilmember Tim Jefferies stated then to the press for clarity that he supported the motion to appease Gillmor and to answer her questions and Mayor Souza’s. Lisa Gillmor promised as always, the matter was not over.
By the end of May 1993, the Mission Trails Waste System controversy was just getting started. Santa Clara Police recorded a conversation between Mayor Eddie Souza and former Mission Trails garbage employee Mark Soares, in which Soares said Mayor Souza threatened him over the phone. Following the recording of the convo the police found no threat, but it sent Mayor Souza off the rails that the police recorded him. Mark Soares had gone to the police and the District Attorney’s office in February 1993 alleging that the garbage company Mission Trails had paid him to work on the political campaign of Lisa Gillmor, Mayor Eddie Souza’s ally. Sources also stated that the company wanted to win political support for a controversial proposal that would give it exclusive franchise in the city and raise rates as much as 80 percent. Soares told police that Souza threatened him by saying “We are watching you, you better be careful” and “you shouldn’t be driving on a suspended license and he could end up in trouble with the police”. Sounds intimidating by Eddie Souza maybe because Mark Soares is a whistleblower?
Following this revelation by Mark Soares, the Mission Trails controversy would simmer on a back burner while Gillmor and Souza continued to raise the heat on the convention center probe. By June 1993 the city Council decided after all not to spend the money for a $100,000 audit of the convention center. After 7 months of brawling, the issue seemed to not go away, something Gillmor is famous for even today. By the late night of that council meeting, Councilmembers Lisa Gillmor and Tim Jefferies reached a climax with vicious exchanges. Jefferies was the swing vote on the matter and because he decided against spending the money, Gillmor went into attack mode, claiming he had “succumbed to the political pressure of the chamber of commerce and San Jose Mercury News”. Jefferies responded that it was a “Bull**** allegation” and was angry that it had been made and stated he was “quite frankly hurt by the accusation” and felt bad that Gillmor made it. Gillmor offered Jefferies no apology. In the same moments Gillmor then demanded with Mayor Eddie Souza that she herself was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and that she would be entitled to view its records, including confidential ones (yeah, really this is a 30 year pattern). Gillmor still demanded a detailed “performance audit” (yep there it is) to determine if the benefits outweighed the costs. Richard Johnston, a member from the chamber’s board of directors in 1993 said, “the whole affair has damaged the organization’s reputation”.
Following complaints filed from individuals in 1993 and numerous media reports of controversies among Santa Clara council, city staff and the convention center about the management of the convention center, the Civil Grand Jury released a report in June 1994 a Review of the Santa Clara Convention Center and the Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau. Worth noting this grand jury had juror former San Jose Councilmember Joe Colla of the famous interchange incident in 1976, https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/10/16/herhold-the-story-behind-joe-collas-famous-1976-highway-stunt/. In the civil grand jury’s conclusions they state “the grand jury found little justification for the often acrimonious convention center debates of recent years” and additionally noted, “the accusations, and complaints were baseless”. The whole ordeal that Mayor Eddie Sousa and Councilmember Lisa Gillmor started finally ended. However the next narrative and issue was coming around the corner in the 1994 elections.
However before the 1994 elections and after the decisive vote by Councilmember Tim Jefferies to not spend the $100,000 on the convention center audit, Councilmember Gillmor and Mayor Souza made life hell for Jefferies. Before that proposed audit, Tim Jefferies was considered a crucial swing vote on the council. Jefferies broke many ties between the two factions, Lisa Gillmor, Jim Ash, and Mayor Eddie Souza on one side and Keri Procunier, David DeLozier and Judy Nadler on the other. Another pivotal vote that upset Gillmor and Souza was that Jefferies prevented a garbage company (Mission Trails) from getting an exclusive franchise in the city’s industrial district and would have raised rates significantly. That franchise was supported by Gillmor, Souza and Ash. Eddie Souza and Lisa Gillmor would begin to intimidate Councilmember Jefferies by finding issues with him. Mayor Souza would accuse Jefferies of ceasing to care about Santa Clara while Gillmor would bring up his attendance record, which he missed a lot. Jefferies was a commuting Councilmember by 1994. Jefferies purchased a home in Colorado after getting a new job and decided he was not going to run for re-election. When the elections of 1994 started Gillmor and Souza got Jim Arno to run for his seat. Jefferies though would not stay on the council till after the November election. In September 1994, Jefferies unexpectedly resigned early from city council after controversy and a council meeting all about his residency pushed by Lisa Gillmor. When Jefferies resigned he left the seat vacant for nearly 3 months till after the November election winner Jim Arno was sworn in. Jefferies was pushed out by Lisa Gillmor and her mafia tactics. With young Councilmember Jefferies out of the picture, Jim Arno became the 4th vote needed for Gillmor, Ash and Mayor Souza’s majority.
While the sun set on Councilmember Tim Jefferies in Santa Clara, the elections of 1994 were contentious. Lisa Gillmor was running against Judy Nadler for Mayor. Jim Ash and Tom Pereira were running to split votes from Judy Nadler. Judy Nadler won that race thankfully. This is where the Judy Nadler Campaign Postage issue started. But this was all a distraction from the increasing noise and heat surrounding the Mission Trails controversy. By July 1995 following Judy Nadler sworn in as Mayor in winter of 1994, the city was set to negotiate with convicted trash haulers Mission Trails. The owners, the Rinauro’s of Mission Trails were convicted of skimming $540,000 from the tollbooth at the city’s old landfill and in February of 1995 it was revealed that new Councilmember Jim Arno failed to report $13,000 in money and services from Mission Trails. The punishment was 5 years probation for The Rinauro’s (convicted of skimming and tax evasion) and the City Clerk fined Jim Arno $2,000 for not reporting the contributions till after the election (light punishment for both).
The legal issues for Jim Arno though were just beginning, in fact there was discussion to censure Jim Arno. Lisa Gillmor who was initially there for Jim Arno’s defense suddenly limited her objections to procedural issues (see David Kertes, I know you are reading, see how fast she flipped on Jim Arno). Yet this didn’t stop Lisa Gillmor at the time negotiating a new contract with Mission Trails. Gillmor stated, “This is the best decision for our residents, any other decision we make would be emotional, not reasonable”. To think Gillmor was all in for the convicted trash haulers, but today fears the 49ers are crooks. You can’t make this stuff up. Gillmor questioned why the issue of censure or even recall of Jim Arno was being discussed, accusing Mayor Judy Nadler of forcing the item onto the agenda (Jim Arno’s former opponent in the 1994 election J.Byron Fleck proposed the censure to council). At the time the city did not have a provision in the charter for censuring electeds (that changed in 2018 with Dominic Caserta where Gillmor made sure it was established). Lisa Gillmor insisted that instead of Councilmember Jim Arno apologizing for his unreported donations, Gillmor felt the city council should offer one for damaging Jim Arno’s reputation. ”This is just another black mark on our city. The next time this council wants to hold a kangaroo court, it can hold it somewhere else.” (flash forward to today, the hypocrisy right?)
In 1995, the Council was constantly in turmoil as Mayor Judy Nadler tried to push for reforms but Lisa Gillmor was wanting to settle old scores. To distract from the recall and censure of Jim Arno, the narrative of Mayor Judy Nadler’s campaign finances became an issue Gillmor would latch onto and not let go of. As mentioned in a prior comment of mine, Gillmor demand, “Where’s the postage? This could end right now if you tell us where the postage is, This issue is not going away”. Despite an FPPC rejection in January 1996 into the investigation of the original August 1995 complaint where Gillmor failed trying to pin Mayor Judy Nadler as an unethical campaign law violator that her mailers advertised in the 1994 Mayor Election. Gillmor can never let a grudge go. Former Councilmember Dave Delozier said in 1995 that the council got nothing done because of all the political ‘fires’ created by the Gillmor Mafia machine. At this time Gillmor was in the minority on the Council. That again did not stop Gillmor as it became a “Get Judy Nadler campaign” by taking up two city council meetings where Lisa continued to berate Judy and accuse her of concealing campaign spending and failing to account for postage payments. The FPPC shut Lisa Gillmor’s witch hunt down by stating in its rejection letter that “The public harm from this reporting discrepancy is minimal, therefore the case is closed”. Following the ordeal, Mayor Judy Nadler called on her council colleagues to refrain from using the city council meetings to settle the old “political scores”. Those comments were specifically directed at Lisa Gillmor.
By 1996, the push for recalling Jim Arno (led by Karen Hardy, Byron Fleck etc) gained some steam, and the 1996 elections saw new members join the Council, Rod Diridon Jr., Aldyth Parle and John McLemore (1994 Patty Mahan joined the council). Leaving council were Dave DeLozier, Keri Procunier and Jim Ash. A new majority was born of ethical leadership, with Mayor Nadler, Rod Diridon Jr., Aldyth Parle, John McLemore. In the minority were Lisa Gillmor and Jim Arno. Lisa survived her own re-election against former Councilmember Sue Lasher. Lasher running against Gillmor was a surprise considering Gary Gillmor was co-chair of the Sue Lasher campaign for city council in 1983. Sue Lasher ran against Lisa because of Lisa’s attacks on the convention center and her stance on Councilmember Jim Arno’s campaign transgressions. As time would go on lots of old political alliances would crumble and new ones would form.
By January 1997 Councilmember Jim Arno avoided an embarrassment of a recall election yet Jim Arno was not out of the woods yet. The rest of his term would take a nosedive and be plagued in turmoil. The District Attorney’s office issued a warrant for the arrest of Councilmember Jim Arno for “allegedly” failing to disclose nearly $14,000 in contributions from Mission Trails during the 1994 election. The DA’s office said the motive was simply that Jim Arno didn’t want anyone to know that one month before the election, the owners of Mission Trail Waste Systems, Nicholas Ronaro Sr and his son, pleaded guilty to skimming $540,000 in cash from Santa Clara’s old landfill. Councilmember Jim Arno called it an “honest mistake” (kind of like the ‘honest mistake’ Lisa and Gary Gillmor made in 2004 with illegal cash contributions). At the time, Jim Arno and Eddie Souza were the only elected officials in the county ever criminally charged with violating the Political Reform Act.
In the same year Jim Arno’s campaign accomplice (and Lisa Gillmor’s good henchman) James Rowen faced his own legal issues when he was finishing up his probation because the prior year he was charged with battery on a transit employee (later reduced to disturbing the peace). Rowen and his family were well known as ‘activists’ and often were very hands-on and oftentimes were met with the law. James Rowen himself was very well known and once a high ranking official in the Democrat party and Arno’s go-to guy. James Rowen was and still is a political bottom feeder doing the dirty work back in the 1990’s (pursued investigating his neighbor then Councilmember Keri Procunier, a Judy Nadler ally) and even today for Lisa Gillmor. How much does the Gillmor’s pay him? Rowen back in 1998 and even today is proposing that the City Council create an ethics commission to monitor the activities of elected and appointed officials. This is the same ethics commission Lisa Gillmor wants today and had a convenient plan for when the 2022 grand jury report was released one month before the election. https://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/09.11.97/public-eye-9737.html ; http://www.savesantaclara.org/James_Rowen.php .
By 1998 Councilmember Jim Arno was trying to avoid trial and settling the case of his misdemeanor charges. At the time Councilmember Lisa Gillmor said Jim Arno told her he didn’t have the money to go to trial and was trying to work out some sort of arrangement without going to trial and that both sides came out unscathed. Jim Arno was up for re-election and he told many at the time he was going to run again, even ex Mayor Eddie Souza was wearing stickers with ‘Elect Jim Arno’. However, Arno did not run, his attorney said, “Jim never intended to serve more than one term.” In the 1998 election Jamie Matthews would replace Jim Arno on the city council.
By the end of 2000 Lisa Gillmor would leave the city Council and during that decade her influence (Caserta, Matthews, Moore) would be behind the scenes as stated in the beginning of this expose. Gillmor would return to the council through appointment in 2011, what many call the “appointment of the Trojan horse”.
The Center of What’s Corrupt
Over the years Santa Clara has seen it all from Mayor Eddie Souza often mocking the public speakers at council meetings to the Jamie Matthews era of “one Minute Matthews’ where people would have only a minute to speak. Santa Clara was a laughingstock then like it is now. The two Santa Claras, one is the pleasant city, proud history, small town feel with safe streets, cheap services while the other a viper pit of corrupt leaders like the Gillmor mafia. Many certainly remember how ill Jerry Marsalli was when they pulled him for votes. While Jerry was so frail, Tino Silva thought he was going to replace Jerry (Patty Mahan won that race).
What’s bigger than all the money in the world and control? Having a legal system that will help you in elections and other means. That is the Gillmor mafia way. The Gillmor family’s influence over Santa Clara politics runs deep — and has often raised ethical red flags. For example, The lack of ethics is apparent in Gillmor’s rule like recent leaks about Fanatics, Super Bowl Costs, and closed session FIFA discussion to the San Francisco Chronicle (based on Santa Clara Public Records Request #25-158) which both Suds Jain and Kevin Park have called out (this also includes a grand jury report leak to the Chronicle in 2022). Most recently, Lisa Gillmor harassed School Board President Vicki Fairchild for closed session information. When Vicki did not comply it was a verbal abuse tirade from Lisa. Again, where is Tom Shanks the Gillmor proclaimed ethics expert ?
The Gillmor’s remember who wronged them, who voted how and who supported who, that’s why Gillmor remembers who David Kertes supported in the 2018 Mayors race. To Gillmor, Kertes is just a “useful idiot” who she will throw away when he is not needed. Look at the track record of destruction in the path of the Gillmor machine. Revenge is in the DNA of Lisa Gillmor, as stated before, she comes back and gets everyone. Davids Restaurant, Chamber of Commerce, Convention Center, council colleagues like Nadler, Caserta, Matthews, Becker, Jain, Park, Hardy, Chahal, Mahan the list goes on. Patty Mahan at a function in 2018 described her experience with Lisa Gillmor when they were still friendly with each other that Lisa was describing who she is gonna take down and who is a threat. Patty said she thought to herself when was she was next (she was). In 2018 the Mayor election was supposed to be Gillmor vs Mahan but Patty’s health was poor. For example how diabolical she is, during the that 2018 election specifically October 2018 a Grand Jury complaint was filed by then Mayoral candidate Anthony Becker about Sam Singer contracts and public records https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/10/03/santa-clara-mayoral-candidate-accuses-city-of-wrongdoing-in-civil-grand-jury-complaint/ . A grand jury report was released in June 2019 https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/civil-grand-jury-slams-santa-clara-for-flouting-cpra-law/. Deanna and Doyle responded and took no responsibility. Yet When Becker was elected in 2020 and then eventually fired Deanna and Doyle, they then went to the Grand Jury on the encouragement of Lisa Gillmor. Coincidentally, if one notices the Becker complaint was reported 10/4/2018 and the 2022 grand jury report was sent to council 10/5/2022, exactly 4 years later. This sounds like for sure Gillmor, Santana and Doyle retaliation. The timing! An even more diabolical example of the Gillmor Mafia is when Jeannie Mahan described a time at the classy bag affaire in 2024 that Gillmor loyalist Debbie Tryforos was in charge of the seating and placed a civil grand juror at her table with the indicted Councilmember just weeks before the 2024 grand jury reports came out. What is interesting to note is that Grand Jury reports are always released in June (with some released in the late winter, early spring) and only twice in its history with records dating back to the 1970’s that they released a report off schedule in October and that was in 2020 during the pandemic and more importantly in the election window of 2022.
If it is not revenge or total destruction of those who were friends, once friends, loyalists or former loyalists of Lisa Gillmor and the Gillmor mafia they either moved away or left in some form. Casterta is a given, but the list is long, All those that moved away. Ricci Herro; Adam Thompson and his wife who worked in the public defenders office till recently; Rod Diridon Jr. (seeing Rod Diridon Sr. at the state of the city event, I believe when he dies she will unleash hell on Rod Diridon Jr.), Pat Kolstad (when her father Gary dies she will go after his friends Pat who got passes in the past- Lisa tried to destroy Kolstad for where he was living and his home in Washington as well as censuring him for not appointing anyone to the seat left vacated by Dominic Caserta); Jamie Matthews was threatened with grand jury investigation and confronted when he attended the super bowl in the luxury boxes, since then no one has seen Jamie Matthews (this was the beginning of the purge which Mayor calls “Monkey Business” going on- funny to note, Lisa Gillmor was appointed twice to replace Jamie Matthews twice); The list goes on, Tino Silva, Debi Davis, Debbie Bress, The Lemons, Chuck Blair, the only one around getting a pass is Kevin Moore and that’s because Lisa is great friends with his sister Emmy Moore-Minister. There are probably more names that I missed. Lots more.
Same Story, Different Decade
It is a clear history, Gillmor has an appetite for political investigations of her critics and enemies. Damages reputations and vilifies those she does not agree with. With the Gillmor Mafia it has always been the O.K. corral in Santa Clara, it is like a Gillmor anarchist cookbook. Yet, never ever ask for an investigation into Mayor Gillmor. When pressed in 2022 about the grand jury report leak and her search history of “consequences of perjury,” “what is contempt of court,” and “ceiling on a misdemeanor”, Gillmor had no comment and no explanation and deflected.
Whether it was the 1990’s or the last 10 years, it is the same Lisa Gillmor dialogue. The record cannot be denied that most of her dialogue and quotes are always the same whether its with the chamber of commerce and Betty Hangs in 1993; Judy Nadler’s campaign finances in 1995; or the 49ers over the last decade, the script of Lisa Gillmor is always the same, quote after quote, “I am not getting the documents” (World Cup, Super Bowl, 49ers finances, Chamber and Convention center), “We are losing money”; “Money losing”; “I want an audit or performance audit”; “This issue is not going away”; “Team owes the city money”; “Team is losing money and not profitable” “When I ask for information and I am not getting it, I have a real problem”; “Stonewalled” (Chamber and Convention Center 1993/2018; Golf course; 49ers; Concerts; Performance Rent; Councilmembers). It is eye opening from a 30,000 foot level isn’t it?
The modern city council is still putting out political fires created by the Gillmor Mafia machine. Decades worth of “fires”. The root of the problem is clear. Those Councilmembers deciding who is gonna run for mayor need to decide soon. All those non-Gillmor aligned Councilmembers need to gang up on the problem (Gillmor) and not each other. Recall Gillmor or force Gillmor to resign. Hopefully soon the Santa Clara nightmare will end, but if Kathy Watanabe wins Mayor in 2026, Kelly Cox resigned and Lisa runs for her seat and Teresa O’Neill and David Kertes getting on council, the city is doomed. Santa Clara cannot afford another Gillmor Mafia administration in full control.