Candidate for
Mayor; City of San Jose

Michael Mulcahy

As Mayor, Michael Mulcahy will apply his business experience and civic leadership background to make sure San Jose works for everyone.

Michael knows we deserve more solutions from government, not more politics, partisanship and bickering. That's why he is refusing contributions from lobbyists and proposing comprehensive ethics reform. Michael will end the culture of back room dealing that led to the Norcal scandal and other wasteful spending.

A successful businessman who knows how to make big projects "pencil out," Michael's priority is growing a vibrant economy. He is fighting to attract new industries and to keep high-wage jobs in San Jose. And he will promote small businesses to give every family a chance to succeed.

Michael will apply his management experience to reduce waste in city government so we can afford more services for our neighborhoods. He knows that many of the deals struck by the current city council left us with inflated bills. He will put his negotiation skills to work driving a harder bargain to save money for the people of San Jose.

Michael will tackle the traffic mess with proven solutions because he knows we need relief now, not twenty years from now. He will fight to bring BART to San Jose. But he will also work to upgrade transit lines that will make a difference quickly, like CalTrain and existing bus lines.

Michael knows it takes forging a strong partnership with our schools and colleges to keep children and adults successful, lifelong learners.

And he will make safety a priority, using proven technology like crime monitoring cameras to protect our neighborhoods.

Michael's plan is direct:

First, end the culture of secrecy at City Hall with new sunshine laws that make sure decisions that affect the public are made in public.

Second, break the power of lobbyists and political consultants. He will pass a law that keeps political consultants from lobbying. And he's the first major candidate to not accept contributions from registered lobbyists.

Third, require competitive bidding of all city contracts so we make sure we're getting the best price.

And fourth, conduct a performance and financial audit of every city department so we can make sure city government is working hard and working smart.

There are solutions, we just need leaders willing to fight for them.

Born and raised in San Jose, Michael has been a commerical real estate professional, community leader and non-profit executive director over the last 20 years. He is the former executive director of Children's Musical Theater San Jose, a public benefit corporation he helped grow into one of Silicon Valley's most effective programs serving youth and families. The organization is nationally recognized for its unique use of an arts-based curriculum to teach life skills, teamwork and responsibility to youth.

Michael is now managing partner of SDS NexGen Partners LP, a San Jose-based real estate and investment firm. He understands what it is like to be a customer of the city, the pitfalls for business owners navigating the process-driven city hall. As a consumer of city services, he knows first-hand how the city can improve.

Michael is an active community resident and has been a co-chair of the Greater Downtown Development Strategy Task Force, a board member of the San Jose Convention and Visitor's Bureau. He currently serves on the boards of Team San Jose, Willow Glen Business Association and the American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley.

Michael lives in Willow Glen with his wife, Kimberly, and their three daughters. Kimberly was a policy analyst to former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer.

To join Michael's campaign for solutions, or to learn more, please visit http://www.solutionsforsanjose.com.