Decision makers at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) have adopted an unusual approach to local elections: when they don’t like a candidate, they campaign for everyone else.
In the Santa Clara County Supervisor District 4 race, SVLG CEO Carl Guardino and several leading SVLG executives formed a PAC to back both Susan Ellenberg and Pierluigi Oliverio, sending out virtually identical flyers for the candidates. In the San Jose City Council District 9 race, Guardino’s PAC supported both Pam Foley and Kalen Gallagher with polls, banner ads and mail.
It is unusual to back two candidates for one seat, and Guardino’s PAC has done that in two races. What’s the strategy? It appears that the goal is to stop labor-backed progressive candidates – Don Rocha in Supervisorial District 4 and Shay Franco-Clausen in City Council District 9.
Critics of negative campaigning might prefer to campaign for many candidates instead of against one. On the other hand, when the SVLG PAC campaigns for multiple candidates, will those candidates appreciate the support or will they just figure that Guardino and the SVLG wanted anyone but a labor-backed progressive?
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