The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to hold a special election to replace their colleague George Shirakawa, who resigned last week after he was charged with perjury and other allegations related to his misuse of public funds and failure to file campaign finance disclosure forms.
The supervisors voted to conduct the special election at Tuesday’s board meeting. A special election was one of two options the board could have taken to replace Shirakawa, who announced last Friday he intends to plead guilty to the criminal charges. The other option would have been to appoint a replacement to the seat that represents the downtown San Jose district on the board.
“Holding a special election is the best solution to provide stability for District 2,” said President Ken Yeager, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. “In the interim, the President’s office with the support from the other Board offices will be available to assist District 2 residents.”
The supervisors decided against appointing Shirakawa’s successor because the appointee would gain an advantage in the next regular election for the seat for subsequent terms, according to County staff.
The cost to conduct a special election is about $1 million, according to County staff.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a press release last Friday that Shirakawa has been charged with four felony counts of perjury, and one felony count of misappropriation of public funds, as well as seven misdemeanors for failing to file accurate campaign reports.
The supervisor was “engaged in a persistent pattern of misusing public money and campaign funds for prohibited expenses including parties, golf outings and gambling,” the D.A.’s press release said.
In his resignation letter, Shirakawa said he will plead guilty to the charges at his March 18 arraignment at the San Jose Hall of Justice.
Shirakawa, 51, has been under fire since last year when media investigations revealed that Shirakawa – who was first elected to the county’s board of supervisors in 2008 – had inappropriately used campaign funds and failed to file numerous election campaign finance reports.
Later reports – including an internal county audit – also revealed that since 2009 Shirakawa has repeatedly violated county policies for the use of his taxpayer-funded, county-issued credit card. He has used the credit card to make more than $12,000 in purchases that violated county policies.
Supervisor Mike Wasserman, who represents the district which includes South County on the board, has endorsed stricter controls over the use of County-issued credit cards, but has previously stopped short of calling for Shirakawa’s resignation.
“It is appropriate that he acknowledged his wrongdoing and is taking full responsibility for his actions by resigning and pleading guilty to the charges,” Wasserman said last Friday.
Shirakawa said in his resignation letter that “for years” he has suffered from depression and a gambling addiction, but he takes full responsibility for his actions.
He will be arraigned for the charges March 18, and Shirakawa plans to plead guilty.
