Matt Mahan

Right now, 75% of the audit recommendations from the state auditor never get implemented.

So there isn't a feedback loop with the public or an accountability for the outcome.

There is a lot of performative politics, a lot of discussion of how much good we're trying to do, how we're trying to be responsive to everyone.

We have a tendency, particularly in the Democratic Party, to want to be empathetic and tell everyone that we're working on everything.

We try to be everything to everyone all at once, rather than very strategically saying some things matter more than others.

The high cost of housing, the high cost of energy, the quality of our public schools, the safety in our neighborhoods.

These are the things people care about and think that they should be getting when they pay taxes.

But despite increasing spending in the state by 75%, none of those outcomes have actually gotten better.

Some have gotten worse.

Yeah, well, certainly if you're in a hole, don't keep digging.

And sadly, one of my opponents in this race, Eric Swalwell, just in a debate, he said it a couple of times now in debates, when asked what his top three, we were all asked what are our top three priorities for the state, said revenue, revenue, revenue.

And to me, that is just, that is a mindset that doesn't get recognized.

what has broken down in the state.

You're absolutely right.

As Democrats, we have to own the outcomes we're getting in this state.

And for too long, our reflexive answer has been, we need more revenue.

If we just have more money, we'll solve this problem.

I just don't believe that.

And I say that as the only current executive in this race,

I'm the mayor of the largest city in Northern California, San Jose.