Kathy Watanabe
CA · Trustee, Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Education
Santa Clara Unified school board trustee, former eight-year Santa Clara City Council member, and longtime legal assistant. Her priorities are strengthening the local economy through responsible redevelopment and investing in parks, libraries, and youth and senior programs.
Where Kathy Watanabe stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Public Infrastructure (2 records)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Made the motion to place a $400 million infrastructure bond on the November 2024 ballot; it passed 6-1.
July 9, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Made the motion to temporarily reopen the International Swim Center at an estimated one-time cost of $1.86 million; it passed 6-1.
June 25, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Moved to spare the police field training program, a police task force, community service officers and fire staffing from COVID budget cuts; the amendment failed 3-4.
March 9, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Moved to spare the police field training program, a police task force, community service officers and fire staffing from COVID budget cuts; the amendment failed 3-4.
March 9, 2021Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
Made the motion to place a $400 million infrastructure bond on the November 2024 ballot; it passed 6-1.
July 9, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Made the motion to temporarily reopen the International Swim Center at an estimated one-time cost of $1.86 million; it passed 6-1.
June 25, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Track record — General
General · 8 records
Was endorsed for Santa Clara mayor by the Santa Clara Police Officers Association.
September 4, 2026
Source: santaclaranews.org
As a new Santa Clara Unified trustee, voted no on the 2025-26 school calendar with an Aug. 13 start date; it passed 5-2.
December 19, 2024
Source: svvoice.com
Voted no on the council majority's replies to the grand jury report on the 49ers stadium deal; they passed 4-2.
September 4, 2024
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Made the motion adopting a 2024-25 fee schedule that dropped field fees for nonprofit youth sports, using stadium naming-rights money; it passed 4-3.
April 23, 2024
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Moved to have an ethics center review the city's code of ethics and voted no when the majority chose not to create an independent ethics commission, 5-2.
July 11, 2023
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Voted no on the council majority's response to the civil grand jury report that faulted the council's ties to the 49ers; it passed 4-2.
December 8, 2022
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Cast the only no vote on sending a charter amendment on council election districts to the June 2022 ballot; it passed 4-1.
February 22, 2022
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Moved to finish the El Camino Real Specific Plan with council height limits and $200,000 for new studies; it failed 3-4.
July 6, 2021
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Was censured by the Santa Clara City Council under the city ethics code, 4-3, after refusing to let Councilmember Kevin Park speak at a Stop Asian Hate rally she organized.
June 8, 2021
Source: santaclara.legistar.com
Past race Kathy Watanabe ran in:
- Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Santa Clara city, California