California General Election
Santa Clara City Mayor
Kathy Watanabe
members of the Coalition for Community Engagement said they endorsed former Vice Mayor Kathy Watanabe in the mayoral race because they suspect the 49ers have failed to pay the city its fair share of stadium revenues for several years. Coalition founder Edward Escobar said his group backed Watanabe after learning the 49ers had already spent nearly $1 million to boost mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris, a former president of the local public employees union, and City Council candidate Kimberley Williams. “These folks are not qualified, and they are beholden to their enablers,” Escobar said of the candidates the team supports. As for the 49ers, he said, “They feel they can buy anyone, and I have a problem with that.”
