Election 2024: Residents demand SJ City Council candidate Tam Truong drop out amid criminal investigation

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — As a San Jose City Council member is under investigation for criminal offenses, a candidate for City Council is also facing criminal investigation.

San Jose police Sergeant Tam Truong is facing fraud and wage theft charges during his campaign for City Council office.

The community wants reliable city leaders who adhere to high ethical standards, not those who face legal problems.

Residents representing various unions, coalitions and associations protest against San Jose City Council candidate Tam Troung.

“We collectively call on Tam Truong, a candidate for San Jose City Council District 8, to publicly end his candidacy,” said Doug Bloch, strategic advisor to the union.

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Truong is a sergeant with the San Jose Police Department but is on administrative leave and his officer license has been temporarily suspended.

Truong is charged with grand larceny for allegedly exploiting his position as a police officer to defraud mortgage lenders of more than half a million dollars.

The private security company he owns was also sued for alleged wage theft.

“How can we allow someone with this shameful history to aspire to a position of power?” said the Philippine Federation of Workers and Immigrants.

“His pending criminal case will make it impossible for him to effectively represent his 100,000 constituents in District 8,” said Ruth Silver Taube of the Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition.

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Troung’s campaign office sent us a statement saying this was just a political ploy: “It is clear to the people of our district that these political activists are targeting me because I take a strong stance on safety and because I have a “Demand greater accountability in homeless spending.”

Despite the allegations and the loss of key supporters like Mayor Matt Mahan, Truong remains in the race.

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters says more than 100,000 ballots are being processed and Truong remains a candidate.

At this point it is too late to remove him from the ballot.

“The election is still happening, we are still certifying and there is a winner,” said Evelyn Mendez, public information officer for the Registrar of Voters. “The winner can resign if they want to resign. If someone wants to call him back, that’s a different process. But the ballots still count and we are still certifying the election as it is, with the ballots that have already been cast.”

At this point, the future of San Jose District 8 rests in the hands of the voters.