Transparency in Action: Who is Behind the Recent Mailers? (updated 11.02.24)

In the fall of 2024, Gilroy residents begin receiving a series of campaign mailers that raised questions about their origin. As a concerned voter and a candidate for Gilroy City Council, I’ve taken it upon myself to investigate recent campaign mailers that have been circulating in our community. My commitment to transparency and accountability drives me to ensure that the people of Gilroy have the facts they need before making their decisions at the polls. Images are at the bottom of this post.

• October 5th Mailer: A full-page color mailer targeted Mayor Marie Blankley. The mailer contained misquoted statistics and suspicious information.
• October 8th Mailers: Three full page color mailers supporting incumbent city council candidates, Rebeca Armendariz, Zach Hilton, and Fred Tovar, and one more attacking Mayor Blankley were received by residents. All the mailers appeared to be part of a coordinated effort, which raised further questions about their origin and the parties involved.
• October 12th Mailers: Two more mailers were received supporting incumbent city council candidates Zach Hilton and Fred Tovar.
• October 18th Mailer: Another full-page color mailer targeting Mayor Marie Blankley.
• October 29th Mailer: A full-page color mailer supporting Greg Bozzo.
• November 1st Mailer: Another full-page color mailer targeting Mayor Marie Blankley.

My Findings:

1. Return Address Investigation for the Mailers:

   • I reverse-searched the return address listed on the mailers. The address is linked to Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni, LLP, a law firm specializing in government and political law (https://www.nmgovlaw.com/contact-us/offices/). This discovery helped connect the mailers to a specific legal entity and provided further clarity on the mailing source.

2. FPPC Lookup: "Building Tomorrow, sponsored by California Friends and Family, LP":

   • I continued my investigation by searching for “Building Tomorrow” on the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) lookup site, Cal-Access. Here’s what I found:

     • The organization’s full name is "BUILDING TOMORROW, SPONSORED BY CALIFORNIA FRIENDS AND FAMILY." However, previous records indicate it was historically known as "BUILDING TOMORROW, SPONSORED BY TEN SOUTH MANAGEMENT INC." This shift in sponsorship raises important questions about the connections between these entities.

     • The amendment lists William McGuinn, the General Counsel for TenSouth, as a principal officer. McGuinn's involvement as General Counsel is also referenced in this Gilroy Dispatch article, which details the ongoing lawsuit involving Gandolfi Investments: Developer claims builder’s remedy victory for 501-unit project. The email used for filing these documents is “FORM410@NMGOVLAW.COM,” linking the filings directly to Nielsen Merksamer.

3. Gandolfi Investments Connection:

   • To gain further insight, I explored Gandolfi Investments, a subsidiary of builder TenSouth. Gandolfi Investments is currently suing the city of Gilroy under the builder’s remedy law. Following a closed session discussion on July 29, the City Council voted 4-3 to fight the lawsuit. Notably, Council Members Rebeca Armendariz, Zach Hilton, and Fred Tovar voted in dissent. You can read more about this lawsuit in the Gilroy Dispatch article here.

4. Ownership Structure of "California Friends and Family LP":

   • The mailers list an entity called "CALIFORNIA FRIENDS AND FAMILY, LP," which I found to be registered in Delaware. "California Friends and Family LP" is made up of "CA Friends and Family GP LLC", and the manager of this entity is Scott I. Canel.

5. Ten South Connection:

   • According to the Ten South website: “Ten South Group represents a series of real estate development enterprises controlled by Scott Canel for the benefit of his family.” You can see it here.

6. Mailing Address Investigation for "CA Friends and Family GP LLC":

   • The mailing address for "CA Friends and Family GP LLC" is 445 Central Ave Ste 200, Highland Park, IL, 60035, which is the same address listed for Ten South.

Financial Impact (updated 10.25.24):

• Filings from 01/01/2024 to 09/21/2024 reveal substantial contributions and expenditures aimed at influencing local elections. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Contributions: $200,000 from California Friends and Family LP.
  • Expenditures: $45,151.50, with the majority spent on Pathfinder Strategic LLC, known for their analytics-driven strategies to provide "the winning edge" in campaigns.

• As of October 24 2024, filings show significant spending on digital and/or physical campaign materials in the following elections: the both Mayoral and City Council races in Gilroy, the Mayoral race in Morgan Hill, and the City Council race in Roseville. Here’s a breakdown of what has been spent so far:
  • Against Marie Blankley (Gilroy): $51,750.00
  • Supporting Fred Tovar (Gilroy): $28,750.00
  • Supporting Greg Bozzo (Gilroy): $23,750 [$11,500.00 (form 460) + 12,250.00 (10/25 form 496)]
  • Supporting Zach Hilton (Gilroy): $23,000.00
  • Supporting Rebeca Armendariz (Gilroy): $11,500.00
  • Supporting Mark Turner (Morgan Hill): $38,586.56
  • Supporting Scott Alvord (Roseville): $8,750.00

See for yourself here:

• FPPC Website Filings Click on "Electronic Filings" to view the details.
• Gilroy Website Filings You can view or download all files there (paper and electronic). Click on "*NEW* FPPC Campaign Statement Filings" from the right hand side and search by name. Enter "building tomorrow" in the search.

My Ongoing Commitment

I know that taking this approach might put me at risk of becoming the next target for criticism. However, my priority is ensuring that voters, like myself, have access to accurate, unbiased information. This commitment to transparency and fairness is what I do in my personal life, my work, and on the planning commission—and it’s exactly what I will continue to do if elected. I am committed to keeping our election process local, fair, and transparent.

Thank you for your support and for standing with me as we work together to uphold the integrity of our community.

👉 Curious how builder’s remedy plays into these developer-funded mailers? Click here to see what’s at stake.

Statement: Please note that I have not sent, and I have no plans to send, any mailers for my campaign. My focus is on direct, transparent communication through digital platforms and community engagement.

Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on publicly available records and by my independent research. No accusations or allegations are being made; this information is provided solely for transparency and public awareness.