The Brief
- The City Hall grumbles are getting louder about San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s longstanding practice of using individual social media accounts for both city business and to promote his own personal brand.
- Seamus Gann, spokesperson for Mahan’s office, said the mayor’s social media practices have remained well within legal bounds.
- Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz — an election law expert who serves as an administrator at Santa Clara University School of Law — voiced skepticism that any legal violation has taken place.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Just weeks after announcing his run for governor, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launched two new social media accounts on X and Instagram, each designated as a city-backed account for official messaging.
The move in February came amid City Hall grumbles about the mayor’s longstanding practice of using individual social media accounts for both city business and to promote his own personal brand.
Such complaints have grown louder in recent weeks, as Mahan’s personal channels have turned their focus more and more toward promoting his gubernatorial campaign.…