The San Francisco 49ers’ political spending spree in Santa Clara, home of Levi’s Stadium, is well underway. According to filings reviewed by SFGATE, the team’s ownership has shoveled more than $1.5 million toward the campaigns of hand-picked city council candidates one month before the election.
Donations from “DeBartolo Corporation & Affiliated Entities, Including Forty Niners Football Company, LLC” have totaled $1,565,374.40 through Oct. 4, according to campaign finance records. This money has gone to four candidates: Albert Gonzalez (District 1), Kevin Park (District 4), Suds Jain (District 5) and George Guerra (District 6). By comparison, the opponents of those four candidates have reportedly received just one major donation over the $5,000 threshold: a $49,000 contribution on Sept.