With less than a month away from election day, the proverbial political sparks are flying in San Jose.
Case in point comes from the city council District 8 race.
On Thursday, the police union filed a complaint against San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed accusing the mayor of illegal campaign maneuvering.
"The complaint details Mayor Chuck Reed’s illegal funneling of $100,000 in campaign cash to support council candidate Rose Herrera," said Jim Unland at a press conference in the SJPOA headquarters.
He filed the complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
The SJPOA supports Herrera’s opponent, Jimmy Nguyen.
Reed fired back.
"It's just another in another bogus charge designed for political impact. I have a right to support independent expenditures that people want to do to support Councilmember Herrera," said Reed.
In turn, one Herrera supporter also filed a complaint Thursday, this time with the San Jose Elections Commission, accusing Nguyen of illegal fundraising.
The reason for the dueling complaints is clear, and neither side is denying it.
"The unions are trying to take control of the city council so they can raid the city treasury
and knock Councilwoman Herrera out. They think they can get a council majority to overturn all the pension reform and fiscal reforms we've done," said Reed.
The SJPOA is standing by their candidate.
"We like him honestly because we think he's going to somebody that can bridge the gap the currently exists amongst our city council. Its a very divided council under this mayor," Unland said.
That divide might not go away, no matter who wins the race in District 8.
