Kumar, who is running for Santa Clara County Assessor, claims the text “could not have originated from” the campaignThe campaign text that flashed across Sunnyvale City Councilmember Richard Mehlinger’s phone pledged that Rishi Kumar would put money back into his pocket if elected as the next Santa Clara County Assessor. Kumar, a former Saratoga City Councilmember, is one of four candidates looking to fill the seat left vacant after longtime Assessor Larry Stone stepped down earlier this year. But Mehlinger already had endorsed one of Kumar’s opponents — Los Altos Vice Mayor Neysa Fligor — and decided to write...