Audit finds conflicts of interest, questionable contracts at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds

A NEW AUDIT SUGGESTS the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds harbored conflicts of interest and questionable contracts for years, as county leaders seek to take direct control of the 165-acre public property.

County auditors — in a report published this month — found fairgrounds management approved three contracts that totaled at least $1 million with vendors who were family members of fairgrounds officers and employees between 2017 to 2023, when former fairgrounds executive director Abe Andrade was in charge. The auditors found one of the fairgrounds managers, during that time, was listed as a business agent for one vendor who was receiving payments despite being suspended by state tax officials.