Free Republic

Mayor Ron Gonzales was indicted by a county grand jury Thursday on six counts, his office said, but the allegations were not immediately clear. Prosecutors have said they were investigating whether Gonzales committed any crime for secretly negotiating a trash hauling contract with Norcal Waste Systems that cost taxpayers an additional $11.25 million in labor costs. Neither authorities nor Gonzales could immediately be reached for comment, but the mayor's office said he and aide Joe Guerra posted bail Thursday morning. Guerra's lawyer, Alan Lagod, hadn't seen an indictment, but said his client and the mayor "self-surrendered at the sheriff's department...

The Santa Clara County civil grand jury and district attorney are investigating whether San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales received any personal or political payments for helping Norcal Waste Systems secure an $11.25 million amendment to a city garbage contract, according to a subpoena obtained by the Mercury News. District Attorney George Kennedy issued the subpoenas earlier this month to companies at the center of the controversy -- Norcal and its recycling subcontractor California Waste Solutions. Prosecutors requested documents that would show any income or political contributions Gonzales or his campaigns may have received. Two earlier investigations into the mayor's secret...

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales has taken 40 political and business trips in North America during the past four years, and every time he goes, San Jose taxpayers pick up an unusual cost: They pay for a city cop to accompany him. In a few cases, there are two. No other San Jose mayor has received such protection, a post-Sept. 11 precaution that Phoenix, San Antonio and Dallas -- all bigger than San Jose -- don't provide their mayors. The officers often leave a day in advance of Gonzales to set up logistics and have run up $60,000 in travel...