In a recent media briefing, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo outlined his vision and key priorities for running in California’s 16th Congressional District. With his wealth of experience and pragmatic approach, Liccardo emphasized his commitment to bipartisan cooperation, reducing the federal budget deficit, and lowering crime rates.
The 16th District is located in Silicon Valley, covering areas like Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Redwood City, and a portion of San Jose. The current congressional representative for the 16th District is Anna Eshoo, who has been representing the district since 1993 but has announced she will not seek re-election in 2024.
The two candidates currently in the running for the November election are both Democrats. Liccardo has received the support of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) in the House of Representatives. The NDC is a core group within the Democratic Party made up of liberals and moderates who advocate for pro-business economic policies, moderate government budgets, and liberal views on social issues.
Liccardo’s opponent is Evan Low, who has been endorsed by the Progressive Caucus PAC, the most progressive group within the Democratic Party on social issues. They hope Low can become the “first LGBTQ person elected to Congress in the Bay Area.”
During a news conference organized by the Chinese American community, Liccardo stressed the importance of cooperation between Democrats and Republicans to effectively address the pressing issues facing the country. Reflecting on his experience of successful collaboration with political opponents during his tenure as mayor of San Jose, Liccardo said, “I believe in the power of cooperation. I learned as mayor that success often requires working with those who hold different perspectives.”
Liccardo emphasized the need for Congress to move beyond partisan gridlock, as it has led to the lowest efficiency in decades. He stated, “In Congress, I will work to build bipartisan coalitions focused on common-sense solutions that serve all Americans.”
Addressing questions regarding the federal budget, Liccardo expressed concern over the projected $1.9 trillion federal deficit for the next year, emphasizing the burden it will place on future generations.
Balancing the federal budget is a core tenet of Liccardo’s campaign platform. He underscores the urgency of fiscal responsibility, highlighting the unsustainable nature of the current government’s financial operations.
Liccardo stressed the importance of managing expenditures and reducing the deficit for economic stability and the prosperity of future generations. He proposed targeted spending cuts, increasing revenue, reinstating budget limits, and implementing automatic spending reduction programs to enforce fiscal discipline.
Public safety is a top priority for Liccardo, drawing from his experience not only as mayor but also as a former prosecutor. He emphasized the need for federal and local cooperation to combat rising crime rates, outlining his plans to address crime through policy changes and community partnerships.
Liccardo holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. He has also taught courses on addressing the housing crisis and homelessness at Stanford Law School.
Before leaving office as mayor of San Jose, Liccardo left a $30 million surplus for his successor. In 2008, the city faced a $4 billion pension deficit, leading to legal disputes between the city government and labor unions. When Liccardo became mayor in 2015, these pension challenges persisted. Through extensive negotiations with 11 city employee unions, agreements were reached, saving taxpayers $3 billion in taxes over the next thirty years.
In light of these priorities, Liccardo also discussed addressing the high cost of living and homelessness issues. He proposed increasing affordable housing construction through tax incentives, promoting solar energy and home batteries, reducing public utility costs, supporting the tech industry, and advocating for fewer immigration restrictions to attract top talent. He called for increasing H1B visas and permanent residency options to ensure the U.S. can access more skilled professionals.