James Rowen just can’t seem to quit Magdalena Carrasco. The political operative who was sued off the Internet for defamation has once again taken aim at the San Jose councilwoman’s fundraising before taking office this year.

The sudden realization that most of San Jose’s lawmakers are law breakers is not the best way to end summer vacation. Not that they intended to end up on the wrong side of the law, of course.

A race that’s still a year away has created a wedge between two longtime political allies. Sources tell Fly that county Supervisor Cindy Chavez and Assemblymember Nora Campos (D-San Jose) have not been on the closest of terms of late.

George Shirakawa Jr. stole an election with a fraudulent mailer, and Judge Ron Del Pozzo called his sentence of 45 days community service "a win-win-win-win situation." That was far from the consensus.

Magdalena Carrasco got redemption in last June’s election, when she defeated Xavier Campos in a rematch for San Jose’s East Side council seat. But now, less than three months after taking office, sources say Carrasco already has her sights set on a run for the State Assembly.

If George Shirakawa Jr. receives community service instead of jail time as punishment for his felony mail fraud, he can thank a judge with whom he’s shared a political relationship for more than a decade.

Ex-county supervisor George Shirakawa Jr. attempted to pull strings from jail last year, according to new court filings from his political mail fraud trial. And in what could become a showdown over the use of the Fifth Amendment, the District Attorney's office plans to offer former San Jose Councilman Xavier Campos immunity in exchange for his testimony.

Last month ex-San Jose Councilman Xavier Campos joined a lobbyist and consulting firm. Less than two weeks later he took a meeting with a council member's chief of staff. City Attorney Rick Doyle says that's concerning when it comes to San Jose's revolving door policy.

Four months ago Fly detailed the swift decline in power of the Campos Clan. The process now appears near completion and Assemblymember Nora Campos (D-San Jose) is understandably desperate.

Xavier Campos has made the predictable shift from councilman to "facilitating relationships" for Ford & Bonilla, a lobbying and consulting firm with extensive ties to the Campos family.

Definitely makes for a wild week when the dullest thing to go down at San Jose’s City Hall was a bomb threat.

In a stunning gesture, County Supervisor Cindy Chavez this week recommended East Side’s favorite punch line, Xavier Campos, for a commendation for his one and only term on the San Jose City Council.

San Jose police are planning another gun buyback to take illegal firearms off the streets—no questions asked. Two key organizers have formed an unlikely alliance.

Sacramento’s most notorious lobbyist and San Jose’s shadiest council member each got slapped with fines by the state political watchdog.

Against the backdrop of an impotent state legislature and a growing awareness of the predatory nature of payday lenders, local governments have had to pick up the slack and adopt laws to stifle the industry.

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.