A recent public confrontation at the Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival between two former city councilmembers—both vying for the mayoral seat—prompted a police response, though officers ultimately took no enforcement action.
Anthony Becker approached Kathy Watanabe at her “Kathy Watanabe for Mayor 2026” campaign booth to question her about a video she had removed from her social media page. Watanabe declined to answer, stated she did not want to be recorded, and ignored his questions for several minutes before calling the Santa Clara Police Department to report harassment.
Officers arrived within eight minutes of the 11:23 a.m. dispatch call. After speaking with both individuals, Lt. Eric Lagergren confirmed that no crime had occurred and no police report was filed. Officers informed Becker that filming and questioning a public official in a traditional public space is protected under the First Amendment.
Differing Accounts of the Incident:
Both candidates offered contrasting perspectives on the interaction:
Anthony Becker’s Position: Becker stated that his husband and a friend recorded the exchange as a precautionary measure to maintain an objective record, noting prior accusations of harassment. He defended the recording as a public service, emphasizing his background as a documentary filmmaker with a degree in film, radio, and television production, and noting his current work covering the mayoral race on a new YouTube channel.
Kathy Watanabe’s Position: Watanabe maintained that Becker persisted in harassing her and her companion for 15 to 20 minutes, creating an unnecessary disturbance and a dramatic atmosphere that intimidated people near surrounding booths.
Background on the Candidates and the Deleted Video:
The dispute over the social media post centers on differing interpretations of local political dynamics:
Becker’s Perspective: Becker questioned how a deleted video which he interpreted as criticism toward unions and corporations influencing local elections aligned with Watanabe’s endorsement from the Santa Clara Police Officers’ Association.
Watanabe’s Response: Watanabe clarified that the video was actually a response to a September 15 San Francisco Chronicle article detailing $980,000 in political spending by the San Francisco 49ers in August (including $645,000 supporting mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris and $335,000 supporting council candidate Kimberley Williams). She deleted the post to add context, prevent misconstrued statements, and re-release it properly, stressing it had no connection to her police union endorsement.
The clash unfolds against a backdrop of prior political tensions in Santa Clara. In December 2024, Becker was convicted of perjury and failing to uphold his duties after leaking a confidential 2022 Civil Grand Jury report to a 49ers executive and misleading investigators. He was sentenced in April 2025 to 40 days in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Work Program and is currently appealing the conviction as the November 3, 2026 election approaches.
