Sign Spat Riles San Jose District 9 Race

Campaign signs have become a flashpoint in San Jose’s District 9 City Council race less than three weeks before the June 2 primary. San José Spotlight reported on May 12 that Cambrian resident Jeff Bollini had been removing signs he said were posted illegally, and that candidates Rick Ator and Mike Hennessy had accused him of undermining their campaigns. The dispute has produced police reports, direct confrontations and competing claims about what city rules allow. The five-candidate race is one of the June 2 contests for San Jose City Council, according to the city clerk. ### Who is taking the signs, and what does he say he is doing? Jeff Bollini, whom San José Spotlight described as a Cambrian resident and “part-time volunteer,” said he has been going out regularly to remove signs he believes were placed in violation of San Jose rules. According to the report, Bollini did not hide that he had the signs and even told candidates where they could retrieve them. (sanjosespotlight.com) San José Spotlight reported that Bollini said he was providing a lawful public service by clearing away signs he viewed as improperly placed. The same report said San Jose officials rejected his interpretation of the city’s sign rules. ### Which candidates say they were hit hardest? Rick Ator, a tech worker, and Mike Hennessy, an entrepreneur, told San José Spotlight that scores of their signs had disappeared across District 9. (sanjosespotlight.com) The report said the missing signs were concentrated along Almaden Expressway, Blossom Hill Road, Capitol Expressway and Hillsdale Avenue. Ator told the outlet the losses “completely handicaps the campaign,” and both candidates said the disappearances had cost them thousands of dollars. (sanjosespotlight.com) San José Spotlight also reported that both men feared they were being targeted as part of a harassment campaign. ### What do San Jose rules say about political-sign complaints? The City of San José says its Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices does not investigate complaints about the placement and size of political signs. (sanjosespotlight.com) The city’s complaint page directs people with those complaints to the Code Enforcement Division instead. The city clerk’s elections page says the Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices investigates alleged violations of Title 12 of the municipal code, which covers campaign and ethics ordinances. The city attorney’s office also provides legal interpretation of San José election rules, according to the clerk’s site. ### How unusual is the confrontation in this race? (sanjoseca.gov) San José Spotlight reported that both Ator and Hennessy filed reports with law enforcement, but that signs continued to disappear. The report also said the dispute escalated into tense in-person confrontations, video surveillance and reports that an unknown chemical agent had been found on some signs. (sanjoseca.gov) One episode went further. San José Spotlight reported that Hennessy entered Bollini’s home without permission to retrieve signs. ### Who else is on the ballot in District 9? The June 2, 2026 primary for San Jose City Council District 9 includes Rick Ator, Mike Hennessy, Genny Altwer, Scott Hughes and Gordon Chester, according to San José Spotlight and the city clerk’s election page. (sanjosespotlight.com) District 9 is the only open City Council seat on the June ballot, the Mercury News reported. Scott Hughes is District 9’s current chief of staff, according to the city’s District 9 staff page. (sanjosespotlight.com) San Jose held a District 9 candidate forum on March 11 at Camden Community Center in partnership with San José Spotlight and the League of Women Voters of San José/Santa Clara, according to the city calendar. ### What comes next before voters decide? (sanjosespotlight.com) June 2 is the primary date for San Jose’s District 9 race, according to the city clerk’s 2026 elections page. The same page says the filing period has closed and lists campaign-finance resources and disclosure portals for local candidates. San Jose’s complaint process remains split by issue. The city says sign-placement complaints go to Code Enforcement, while campaign and ethics complaints can be filed with the Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices through the city clerk. (sanjoseca.gov) (sanjoseca.gov) (sanjoseca.gov)