South Bay Senate race heats up after fight at fundraiser

SACRAMENTO — Allegations are swirling in a hotly contested state Senate race in San Jose between two Democratic lawmakers after a fight broke out at a political fundraiser.

Assemblywoman Nora Campos, D-San Jose, says her husband was physically attacked by a labor leader last month in San Jose “simply for being married to me.”

Campos said her husband was attacked at a political fundraiser at the Fairmont Hotel by leaders with Laborers Local 270 union, which supports Beall.

Enrique Arguello, business manager with the union, admitted kicking Struthers in the leg but only after Struthers made racist and homophobic remarks while threatening him.

[...] Campos has partnered with Assembly candidate Darcie Green, who alleges Beall used his influence to try to force her employer to fire her when she decided to run against someone he supported.

Green, who is running for the San Jose Assembly seat Campos is leaving when she terms out this year, said she had worked out a plan with her employer, Kaiser Permanente, when she decided to run for the office.

Green said that plan was thrown out when Kaiser told her in August that she had to quit her campaign, quit her job or take an unpaid leave without benefits.

“When I pressed and pressed as to why they are doing this, we’ve had meetings about this and were all on the same page, why the abrupt change of events, finally someone in leadership told me that Kaiser Permanente had been influenced by Sen. Beall,” she said.

Campos said de Leon, as leader of the Senate, needs to stop the intimidation tactics and let voters decide who they want in office.

“It’s bizarre, irrational and an utterly preposterous accusation to make against a respected senator,” said Jason Kinney, a spokesman for Senate Democrats.

Frankly, it’s way beneath the dignity of the public office Nora Campos is seeking.