She showed up to South Bay Labor’s primary election canvassing kickoff Sunday and the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee meeting a few days prior.
But Jenny Higgins Bradanini hasn’t yet confirmed whether she’s having second thoughts about continuing her campaign for San Jose’s District 10 City Council seat after causing a traffic fatality on Dec. 16. The labor-aligned candidate didn’t return Fly’s calls for more info. And her campaign consultant, Eric Stroker, declined to comment.
But people are wondering whether a run for office is even feasible for the Bay Area Women’s March president, who’s running against business-backed Matt Mahan and local entrepreneur Helen Wang to replace Councilman Johnny Khamis in the Almaden Valley district.
Nearly a month has passed since the crash and the Santa Clara County DA hasn’t filed charges. Meanwhile, survivors of Timothy Starkey, the 66-year-old Santa Cruz handyman killed in the collision, have asked for privacy until further notice. With the March primary just weeks away, however, it’s hard to imagine that Starkey’s death won’t catch up with Higgins Bradanini—if not with criminal charges, then with civil litigation.
An insider called it “despicable” for Higgins Bradanini to return to the campaign trail so soon after the tragedy. “I think the matter of resolving the traffic fatality has to come first, because ultimately it’s all about respecting the friends and families that survived Timothy Starkey,” the observer told Fly.
While Higgins Bradanini initially said she’d suspend electioneering, it was unclear how long the break would last. But her presence at the recent South Bay Labor Council kickoff suggests she’s ready to pick up where she left off.
“She didn’t show up at any neighborhood associations,” the insider noted. “She showed up to the Labor Council. … It’s clearly campaign oriented.”
What is up, Stroker? Need to get a football ticket and lunch? How low can these two get?
In your article above by ‘The Fly’
…about continuing her campaign for San Jose’s District 10 City Council seat after causing a traffic fatality on Dec. 16.
‘After CAUSING a traffic fatality? CAUSING? The way I am reading the above, SHE is guilty hence should be in JAIL.
Then another part of the article – An insider called it “despicable” for Higgins Bradanini to return to the campaign trail so soon after the tragedy. “I think the matter of resolving the traffic fatality has to come first, because ultimately it’s all about respecting the friends and families that survived Timothy Starkey,” the observer told Fly.
My question is ‘who is setting up the guidelines of POLITICAL MORALITY’. Higgins has to make her moral decision as to what had happen. To me personally, if I was wrong and hiding the truth and even if I was truthful and it was an UNAVOIDABLE accident, I am sure I would be in sorrow and need a forever time for spiritual and mental healing and wonder if I would even get ‘BACK on the SADDLE’.
Higgins is a human being and like all of us made up differently. For anyone to continue life and move forward versus stop doing what a person is set to do is definitely strong and determined person.
For Higgins to continue her original political ambition and see it through is a sign of STRENGTH not WEAKNESS which I hope I would have.
But the matter of CAUSING the FATALITY is saying to me , GUILTY. But I think the article should say, She was in an accident which she was involved and will be investigated to continue what happened (Find the Truth) in this incident.
As I recall in some news including yours, Higgins personally gave her peace to the family and friends of Mr. Starkey.
Manu
Hello Manu, you should read news and facts about the accident before posting your opinion. The death man was taking things out of his legally parked vehicle getting ready to set up Christmas decorations. Then he was stroked by the to be hopeful council member. He was cut in half. Thus this is a cause and effect situation in which this woman killed a guy. What are the intervening variables for this woman going off the driving lane is unknown, alcohol, texting, other…Her outrageous, reckless driving killed a man who was also a human. She returning to her political ambition may be a sign or lack of regard for other’s pain, or just not having an ability to feel emotions. Per research, most sociopath are in the public service and followed by law enforcement. This is where Jeff Rosen comes into play. He gives passes to influential people or those connected to them. He recently gave a pass to a local law enforcement with history of DV, child porn, and who recently attempted to choke his own daughter in Gilroy. This is the club this woman wants to be part. Women’s Mach women are in deed something else! Talk about Linda Sarsour…and other antisemites in congress.
> Women’s Mach women are in deed something else! Talk about Linda Sarsour…and other antisemites in congress.
Hmmmmm.
Didn’t know much about Linda Sarsour, founder of the Women’s March.
Sounds pretty toxic.
https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individuals/linda-sarsour/
Shall we conclude that Jenny Higgins Bradanini is fully aware of and comfortable with the character of the people she is associating with?
Regardless of the cause (on her cell phone, distracted), Higgins hit the man from behind and caused the man to be crushed (even more gruesome details by witnesses). Take a look at the aerial photo.
Who could possibly kill a person and just move on?? Strength?? Hardly! Political ambitions always seem to outweigh anything else.
At the very least, she’s going to be tied up in lawsuits. If she is found guilty of being on her cell phone or any other illegal driving, she will have her driver’s license suspended or even revoked. Then what?
Although there were some in our district who may have considered voting for Higgins, no longer. In fact, it’s a big NO.
Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the man who was out doing a good deed.
Her return to the political arena in about a month after negligently killing a man parked legally and getting stuff from the trunk of his vehicle is a good talking point for the other side’s attorney since it shows lack of global mature judgement. Something is not quite right with this person!
Bobble, this is the typical Jeff Rosen approach I have talked about for so long. The family of this person should not leave it to authorities. They should hire an attorney now. This is an auto wrongful death situation. Do not trust insurance companies either. HIRE AN ATTORNEY. If it is an auto…call Makkabi LAW Firm Group, APC 855-877-8700 24/7 line Beverly Hills, CA 90212. You won’t spend a dime! Santa Clara County deserves better than Jeff Rosen!!!
When is it appropriate to go back to work after something like this?
Life goes on for the living.
“Despicable” is a fair word. “Disgusting” shot through my mind when I saw this headline.
I would not be surprised if, to some extent, Ms. Bradanini is motivated by a belief, possibly communicated to her by those supporting her, that her candidacy is bigger than herself — that she represents communities and policy positions that the other candidates do not. She is not wrong. She is the only one running on behalf of labor interests, and her backers like Cindy Chavez would be disappointed if Mahan or Wang won. But this is not only bigger than Bradanini, this is bigger than the election for D10 Councilmember. This is about humility, integrity, and respect for human life. The family of Timothy Starkey deserves better than this.
What will she hold herself accountable for if not this? Set an example for the community, Ms. Bradanini. If you are struggling with guilt, start your atonement by showing the public that you understand what you did was wrong.
I understand that there are still some small unknowns here, but enough information has been made public that it is extremely hard to not find Ms. Bradanini totally at fault here. The aerial image released by NBC Bay Area shows no skid marks behind her car, suggesting she didn’t even see Starkey until she was already striking him. The distance she had to drive outside of her lane to hit him, crossing a bike lane about the size of a regular driving lane, also suggests that she was more than momentarily distracted. Whether she was on her cell phone or was turned around trying to grab a sweater out of her backseat, it doesn’t really matter. Unless she had a stroke, it was her fault.
Thankfully, she is polling very low.
This is in the realm of “you’ve gotta be kidding me”. Chutzbah to the maximum degree.
There were two stories today. Evan Low is joining Yang’s campaign.
Why?
Because Low sincerely believes he is making a difference to the community. Low thinks it is the right thing, he maybe right.
Now this person along with her manager is ignoring the damage she did and is out to get what she wants.
Well, those are the stories today.
> Nearly a month has passed since the crash and the Santa Clara County DA hasn’t filed charges.
Why haven’t the authorities completed their investigation?
What’s taking so long?
It’s unfair to the Starkey family.
It’s unfair to Bradanini.
It’s unfair to District 10 candidates and voters.
It’s unfair to the public.
The results of the investigation are likely to indicate where responsibility and accountability should be assigned. These are likely to have an influence on the District 10 election.
When the action or inaction of investigators are likely to affect an election, the investigatory authorities need to say something.
You got that right.
Even if they took Christmas week off, the accident reconstruction should be finished.
My fear is that they did not do a tox screen because politics.
Let’s not jump to the conclusion that she is resuming her campaign. I can understand why Ms. Bradanini would meet with the party and the labor council to see if her bid is still viable under the circumstances. If they looked at her with shock and horror when she entered the room, there’s her answer. But I would be strongly counseling her to sit it out till she resolves her legal issues.
According to this article, it’s mere speculation that Ms. Higgins-Bradanini is resuming her campaign. Most people posting her are assuming she is without any meaningful evidence. All of these condemnations of her as a morally debased politician seem rushed and premature.
However, in case she is thinking of it and happens to read these comments, I’d like to quote from Sir Robert Bolt’s masterpiece play, A Man for All Seasons. Basically, Sir Richard Rich is angling for higher office and perjures himself in trial testimony that sends St. Thomas More to his execution. The excerpts go like this:
« CROMWELL … Yes …
RICH Sir Redvers Llewellyn has retired.
CROMWELL … Mm …
RICH … The Attorney-General for Wales. His post is vacant. You said I might approach you.
….
RICH [during More’s trial] I said [to More], “Ah, but I will put you a middle case. Parliament has made our King Head of the Church. Why will you not accept him?”
Then he said Parliament had no power to do it.
NORFOLK Repeat the prisoner’s words!
RICH He said, “Parliament has not the competence.” Or words to that effect.
CROMWELL He denied the title?
RICH He did.
MORE In good faith, Rich, I am sorrier for your perjury than my peril.
….
MORE I have one question to ask the witness. (RICH stops) That’s a chain of office you are wearing. (Reluctantly RICH faces him) May I see it? (NORFOLK motions him to approach. MORE examines the medallion) The red dragon. (To CROMWELL) What’s this?
CROMWELL Sir Richard is appointed Attorney-General for Wales.
MORE (Looking into RICH’S face, with pain and amusement) For Wales? Why, Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world . . . But for Wales! »
Ms. Higgins-Brandini, don’t be like Sir Richard Rich.
NOT AFRAID OF THE FUTURE, I just hope this woman does not have you as her defense attorney. If she does, she should really be very AFRAID OF THE FUTURE. The family of this dead man are still struggling with the after effect of her negligence. If she has a bit of decency and regard for others, she should drop! Her judgement is very questionable. There is a man that cannot even be afraid of the future. He has no future. HE IS DEAD!
Stroker is Richard Rich, also Mitch in Requeim for a Heavyweight, touting a bad fighter for groceries
> According to this article, it’s mere speculation that Ms. Higgins-Bradanini is resuming her campaign.
You are correct.
The headline of the article is a bit misleading:
> Council Hopeful Who Caused Traffic Fatality Resumes Bid for San Jose’s District 10 Seat
It is my understanding that her name will appear on the ballot.
If so, then “suspending” or “not suspending” her campaign is a fairly meaningless distinction. If she makes no formal declaration, but doesn’t do a whole lot, is her campaign suspended or not?
If she’s sitting at home, but labor activists are hard a work “getting out the vote”, she could still win.
Feel free to go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/starkey-family-fund to support Tim Starkey’s family.
Ms. Brandini was part of the Recall Perky Campaign and against the lenient sentence Brook Turner received. I just hope she will receive the sentence any other person on the same situation would face and not a lenient sentence based on the support of supervisors Cindy CHAVEZ and Don Rocha.
It is horrible and it is tragic, and it’s an accident. She didn’t become a mafia hit man. She didn’t sell the neighborhood kids fentanyl.
She cooperate with the investigation, she wasn’t found under the influence, she wasn’t on the phone, she extended her sympathies to the family and she stayed out of the public eye for a month (which sounds like bfd, but in fact, would only create more media reports for the family).
I’m certain she also went through a lot herself coming to terms with the accident and the fact a life was lost.
Like most people, after taking time off after a tragic event, she is returning work. She is still the best candidate and I wish her well.
Paula, of all the accidents that happened every day, one party is typically found responsible and the insurance has to pay the other party for the harm and damages. I personally know two women here in San Jose, one was hit while crossing a side walk. She lost consciousness for months and had physical therapy for years. Her face came off due to the accident, The situation caused lot of pain to her and her family. The driver cooperated with the authorities but was found responsible for the accident. The other one was rear ended. She also had lots of therapy and minor surgeries to walk without pain again. The driver also cooperated with authorities and was not DUI or on cell phone. He was also found responsible. The life of this woman was upside down and she and her family too had. Lots of struggles. The fact that you are saying she was not under the influence or using her cell phone supports another fact, she is a dangerous driver. If she can kill a man just with her plain driving without DUI or cell phone, imagine what would happened if you add these two acts in addition to her driving. SHE KILLED A PEDESTRIAN who was not even on the driving zone. Your support is obnoxious!
> she wasn’t on the phone
How do you know this?
Do you consider texting as being “on the phone”?
Or, when you say “she wasn’t on the phone” you are also saying “she wasn’t texting”?
How do you know that “she wasn’t on the phone” and she wasn’t texting?
What is your source?
In fact it’s my impression that hardly anything about this fatal collision is publicly known. However, if Ms. Higgins Bradanini supported the recall-Judge-Persky effort, as others are saying, I wouldn’t vote for her no matter what the facts of this fatal encounter. That recall did huge damage to the rule of law in this state; it’ll take decades for the judiciary to recover from it, and meanwhile, lots of criminal defendants will get unduly harsh sentences, most of them decidedly not beneficiaries of so-called “white privilege.”
NOT AFRAID OF THE FUTURE, I supported the Persky recall and would support it again. That rapist got it easy. Thus, I congratulate Ms. Brandini and the other gals on that effort. But. There is enough evidence to indicate she was solely negligent and is responsible for the death of this man who was in the process of helping a friend getting ready for Christmas. She was not under the influence according to her supporters here, and not texting. Thus, imagining a person has hands and mind on the road and out of the blue drives off the rode and kills a pedestrian is a quite scary thought! Thus, I hope Ms. Branding does NOT receive a lenient sentence for her gross negligence just for belonging to the Dave Cortese, Cindy Chaves, and Don Rocha’s club. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with lack of justice for victims of sexual crimes and grossly negligent behavior! I am just using the Recall Persky slogan. Lucky for the family of this victim and my friends…there were witnesses.
> There is enough evidence to indicate she was solely negligent and is responsible for the death of this man who was in the process of helping a friend getting ready for Christmas. She was not under the influence according to her supporters here, and not texting. Thus, imagining a person has hands and mind on the road and out of the blue drives off the rode and kills a pedestrian is a quite scary thought!
There are NO facts here!
If you waited until you got the facts, you wouldn’t have to eat your words . . . . OR defend a stupid and wrong position and look like an idiot.
The facts are knowable. Let’s just find out what they are. FIRST!
Here’s a plan I recommend:
1. GET FACTS
2. TALK
Robyn, this is in deed a sad case for the family who independently of the intervening factors of this case lost their love one forever. This is an auto wrongful death case independently of driver’s or vehicle’s factory defects or malfunctioning. There was a pedestrian who was killed by a driver. Ms. Brandini is the driver. The family of this man’s needs good representation. SJPD and GPD have reputation for sloppy report writing or intentionally omiting facts and evidence. I am not sure about the LGPD!
Women are always putting on mascara while they drive, especially in Los Gatos. That’s ordinary negligence, so it should be just a misdemeanor with a maximum of one year in jail. She could get the Brock Turner sentence of three months with good behavior and do the time before her term begins or stretch it out on weekends. The important thing is she got the DCC endorsement:
https://sccdp.org/index.php/voter-resources/endorsements/
Wonder what she’s driving now?
Re: “ That’s ordinary negligence, so it should be just a misdemeanor with a maximum of one year in jail.“ She KILLED someone!! Her actions have cause a man to be FOREVER absent from his family, friends and the community. No doubt Higgins’ attitude towards this tragedy is the same as yours. For that reason alone, we have every intention of not voting for her.
Let us know when law enforcement cares. The victim was old, white, and male. This groovy gal will rule San Jose. No Santa Clara DA will go against the DCC and SBLC ever.
An accident?
I have driven over 400,000 miles, and I have never run off the road and struck a parked car. Not when it was raining. Not when it was snowing. Not even when I was driving on a sheet of ice. And especially not in the middle of a cloudless day on bare pavement.
Unless her $50,000+ vehicle had a sudden mechanical failure, or she had to swerve to avoid a small child, I do not understand how she could not be at fault.
Paula, I’m inclined to be more lenient with a drug dealer because a person always has the option of not buying their wares–therefore the damage done by drugs is at least somewhat option for the user. Conversely a negligently driven car that can kill me when I’m outside is something out of the blue I have no personal control over.
Maritza,
Interesting that Brandini believed that Brock Turner got off easy. Let’s hope that she isn’t. The NYT recently reported that a texting NJ woman was sentenced to 10 years for killing a woman in a crosswalk.
Who is the “insider” and “observer”? This is just an anonymous person who lacks scruples and integrity to be named.
The comments attributed to this person should be disregarded.
This is a sad case. Wait for the police to complete their investigation before drawing conclusions.
Was a cellphone involved? Did the brakes fail? Was there another distraction? Again, this is sad.
Just so you all know… this was all over Nextdoor the day it happened with gruesome details. There were witnesses.
Then there was this about the man killed and news footage.
https://youtu.be/e5bjZ02e3as
Is Speed Racer reading this? Is her campaign manager reading this?
Ecolsnation from both of them would be nice.
While Jeff Rosen is taking his time with this case, he is already in the process of prosecuting Susan Bassi who has consistently reported the criminal acts of local prosecutors and those in the family courts system. It is time we organized and take the biggest crook of Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen out of his position. His work is a rip-off. I was glad to see and hear someone slammed you in front of the county supervisors and community people for your constant and ongoing “pampering” of a local law enforcement who has engaged in child porn watch, IRS fraud, DV, and other crimes. I could see you felt intimidated. Your declined Not to give your opinion in the children forum after she slammed you for your outrageous conduct. You have created many enemies in this county JEFF ROSEN. YOU GOT TO GO! THOSE SUPPORTING YOUR CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE HAVE TO GO TOO!
> he is already in the process of prosecuting Susan Bassi who has consistently reported the criminal acts of local prosecutors and those in the family courts system.
Splain.
No one tells me anything.
Bubble, the family court system in Santa Clara County is an elites and rich person club. The court intentionally prolong the cases so family law attorneys can make big cash out of it. Children custody is typically given to abusive parents with more means to manipulate the system. In some cases these children are given to domestic abusers and Pedophiles parents that end up sexually abusing their children and even killing them, Alicia Mesiti case. Ms. Bassi was just one more of those cheated parents, the murder Suicide case of 2011 in GILROY is also a vivid and permanent example of the corruption in the criminal law, police departments, and family law system. Ms. Bassi started exposing all this corruption particularly Jeff Rosen ongoing behavior of giving passes to law enforcement, Local politicians and those close to them, 49s, tech executives… All this while focusing on other aggressors andperpretators with no means to pay for expensive representation. Jeff Rosen is trying to get even with Ms. Bassi and punish her for openly exposing his corruption and the corruption of others in the county. The woman who recently slammed Jeff Rosen publicly is also from GILROY. In 2011, this woman found out chil pornography in her then husband’s laptop computer. He engaged in DV after her reporting, stole money from her after divorce by forging her signature on IRS documents, physically abuse this woman’s dogs, and just last May he attempted to choke this woman’s daughter. She reported all those crime. In each of them Jeff Rosen and the Morgan Hill court decided not to do anything. The woman directly contacted the county supervisors. It appears the guy now has some criminal records when you search his name. This guy retired from the San Jose Police Department in 2008 and was then hired by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. This office was aware of this guy’s acts. He continue to work there. These are unfortunately the usual cases of families who have to face the family court system in Santa Clara County. Jeff Rosen want to show his power to silence anyone who dares to counterattack his corruption. Ms. Bassi is one of his targets. It is time we Recall DA Jeff Rosen and his corruption!
> he is already in the process of prosecuting Susan Bassi
What is Jeff Rosen prosecuting Susan Bassi for?
It seems very likely Higgins/Bradabnini was at fault in this. It was a clear day, no rain, that section of road is very wide and very straight, she would not have been facing the sun, and as the photo.shows, she was way, way out of her lane. Interestingly, the claim was made she was heading to a doctor’s appointment, which seems irrelevant if there was no claim of impairment made, so itvwould be nice to know if that was a lie. As long as Higgins waived confidentiality her doctor could verify it.
But most suspicious by far, it is almost 2 months, but no police report. It really looks like the cops and/or DA are going tp wait until after the primary to tell us anything, in order to protect Higgins.
My personal theory is she was 100% at fault, called her Recall Persky ally Stanford Law Prof Michele Dauber from the scene, and Dauber called the DA and fixed it with him. Just because Higgins would know Dauber had the best shot at fixong it
I xan find some very unlikely scenarios which give Higgins less culpability, but none for the report taking more than a couple of weeks to prepate. Politics.