Stupid local laws and the rise of unfettered independent expenditure committees are making a mockery of the election process. Candidates are no longer in control of their own messages and in many local races they are not relevant to the debate.

Usually, the race for California’s highest public school office lacks suspense. This year is a notable exception.

An op-ed by a former San Jose police cadet touched off a debate about whether the head of the Police Officers Association committed an ethical violation by encouraging recruits to drop out. Jim Unland, president of the police union, has denied the allegations.

When it comes to openness and sunshine in government, Sam Liccardo has a better record than his opponent for mayor. He also has a plan. He has been accessible during his terms of office and doesn’t dodge tough issues or constituents.

We have an opportunity on Election Day to protect two critical resources that are inextricably linked: open space in our local watersheds and the life-giving water that flows through our valley.

Two new polls show candidates are neck-and-neck in both the San Jose mayor's race and the battle for Silicon Valley's 17th Congressional District seat. But, as expected, not everyone agrees on the numbers.

Sam Liccardo’s mayoral campaign sent an email blast Thursday announcing it had filed another ethics complaint against opponent Dave Cortese. There could be a couple issues with the new complaint, though.

The San Jose mayor’s race has been unfortunately distilled down to a contentious debate on public safety, crime and pension reform. But if the next mayor focuses on one different issue, he will be able to address all of the aforementioned topics.

San Jose may try to settle a spat with Santa Clara County to free up some $20 million-a-year that could pay for affordable housing and homeless shelters.

Taking a page from the script of “Friends,” Dave Cortese defended his improper collection of campaign cash in the San Jose mayor's race by stating that his campaign was on “a break.” The city's Ethics Commission ruled last week that he should return $9,825.

Sources confirmed Monday that a complaint has been filed with San Jose's Ethics Commission against the mayoral campaign of Dave Cortese. Questions are now being raised about whether he will have to return money that was collected immediately following the June 3 primary.

“Cortese ‘not afraid to say no'” to special interests, thundered a polished mailer from the Dave Cortese San Jose mayoral campaign. That might seem like typical candidate-speak, but the mailer actually quotes the Mercury News. But the Merc is accusing Cortese of deliberately "lying with the facts."

A transportation measure intended to raise the local sales tax will have to wait until 2016. Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino said new polling projects low voter turnout. But questions remain about how Guardino's been handling his polling information.

Tuesday's primary election told us a number of things: Ro Khanna has more than an uphill fight against Mike Honda, spoilers altered the San Jose mayor's race and libertarians in Silicon Valley have disappeared.

Political horse whisperer Carl Guardino is pushing to get a transportation sales tax on the November ballot. But his support of Sam Liccardo in the San Jose mayor's race could hamper those efforts.

Two private school-educated Italian-American lawyers who have spent the majority of their careers in government jobs will face off in November with hopes to become mayor of Northern California’s largest city. Here's a guide to the next five months, as San Jose chooses a new leader.