San Diego Mayor: One-Party Rule Isn’t Serving Our State Well

My latest interview at Townhall.com

Unlike Democrat-run cities, San Diego stands out from the pack with Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer at the helm.  

A former San Diego City Council member, he was elected in 2014 after Bob Filner resigned in disgrace eight months into the job. In 2016, Faulconer won a full term to office. 

The city’s 36th mayor has prioritized fiscal conservatism throughout his tenure—a focus that’s won him immense praise in deep-blue California. 

Now term-limited, Faulconer is leaving his post in January and a new mayor, Democrat Todd Gloria, will succeed him. 

The mayor spoke to Town Hall about his accomplishments, his balanced approach to COVID management, and how to challenge Democrat dominance in California. 

Tackling Difficult Problems Head-On

Throughout his time in office, Faulconer has aspired to be action-oriented and pragmatic. 

Chief among his goals was to address homelessness. 

“We're the only major urban county in California where homelessness has gone down over the last two years [by] double digits,” Faulconer expressed to me. “I've made a real significant effort on working to get folks...off the streets. Not just for a night, but for good.”

He also pursued infrastructure projects without raising taxes on residents. 

“I've really focused on infrastructure since I've been there,” he added. “We just hit a milestone: we paved half of the streets in the entire city since I've been mayor. That is in marked contrast to past administrations. And... we did this without raising taxes.”

In contrast to other big-city mayors, Faulconer loudly rejected calls to defund the police.

“I did not defund the police department in San Diego,” noted the two-term mayor. “We actually increased the budget, because you want the best and brightest men and women out there helping to protect you.”

Continue reading at Townhall.com

Watch/listen to our extended interview on YouTube below.