Is SJ's mayoral race really "non partisan"? And what does that even mean? Mayoral candidates explore ideology vs pragmatism

Question for mayoral candidates: Does political ideology matter for municipal positions? San Jose's elections are officially "non partisan," but that doesn't stop the major political parties from attempting to influence the elections, and endorsements come fast and furious invoking national political rhetoric and hot button issues. Do you think your political ideology (you're both Democrats) informs how you'd govern? Is it corrupting for partisan players to be throwing money at SJ races and attempting to make them partisan? To receive daily updates of new Opp Now stories, click here.

Matt Mahan

District 10 SJ Councilmember

There is an old saying about local governance – there are no Democratic potholes and no Republican potholes – just potholes that need to be filled.

I agree. We need our local leaders to focus on local problems: lowering crime rates, ending street homelessness, cleaning up our dirty streets, and putting new housing where it makes sense--not where it will create traffic nightmares.

When San Jose was one of the best-run cities in America, we took this view seriously.

But things started to change, for the worse, when big special interest groups gained power over our politicians. Those politicians, in return, appeared to start working harder for their donors and the loudest advocates than for the citizens they were elected to represent.

It was exactly this kind of flawed politics that brought us to the brink of fiscal ruin. San Jose politicians like Cindy Chavez (my opponent in the race for Mayor) went on a reckless spending spree.

There were massive, unfunded and even retroactive increases in long-term benefits given to our employees (whose unions aggressively supported politicians like Chavez) without adequate thought to how those new obligations would be met.

It all resulted in a near fiscal disaster. We had deficits so large that we impoverished our core services--and were even forced to let go of vital workers, like police officers. Decades later, the City is still struggling to get out from under Chavez & Co's fiscal mismanagement, to the unhappy tune of over $200M+ per year to pay back unfunded liabilities.

Let me be clear, however: There is nothing wrong with unions advocating for their members – that is, after all, their job.

What’s wrong is when politicians put their donors and political supporters before the broader and long-term interests of the community.

Two years ago, as I was running for City Council I saw very quickly how “things work” at City Hall and how the dysfunction persists: How there's simply too much focus on the next election and too little thought for the next generation.

I am 100% dedicated to reversing this upside-down political culture and getting San Jose back on track.

It's why my Council campaign was focused on shaking up City Hall.

It's why I'm adamant that all local politicians should commit to putting toxic partisanship aside and focusing on common sense and the common good.

And it's why I'm running for Mayor.

Cindy Chavez

County Supervisor District 2

Policy decisions at the local level are often based on the values of the officeholder. Most candidates run for public office to make their community a better place. But their values often determine what vision of a “better place” a candidate will strive to create or support.

These values also inform how a leader makes decisions. Does a leader place a priority on letting people do whatever they want and whenever they want? Or does a leader care more about the effects of an individual’s actions on other people? These questions don’t get resolved by fiscal or technical analysis.

My own values are reflected in many of the policies on which I have exercised leadership: providing health insurance for every child in the county, making prevention of domestic violence a priority, improving programs for vulnerable young people, such as foster youth, bringing BART to San Jose, and establishing the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative. 

Political ideologies are a system of values, and political parties organize themselves around those systems. Political parties often become a shorthand indicating which system a candidate endorses. The challenge in developing these systems is to blend flexibility with firmness. For example, a candidate may support the value that some homeless people need intensive mental health services but be open to different ways to provide those services.  On the other hand, the horrific instances of mass gun violence in our country justifies values that draw a line against organizations that place the desires of some gun owners over the safety of our families.

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