{"id":561,"date":"2026-05-26T20:10:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T20:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=561"},"modified":"2026-05-26T20:10:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T20:10:59","slug":"scott-hughes-candidate-for-san-jose-city-council-district-9-answers-the-mercury-news-primary-questionnaire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=561","title":{"rendered":"Scott Hughes, candidate for San Jose City Council District 9, answers the Mercury News primary questionnaire"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ahead of the June primary election, the Bay Area News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates for California\u2019s 14th Congressional District. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and clarity.<\/p>\n

Read more Anne Kepner, state senatorial candidate, answers Bay Area News Group\u2019s primary questionnaire<\/a><\/p>\n

To read our endorsements for other important Bay Area races click here.<\/p>\n

Name: Scott Hughes
\nCurrent job title: Chief for City of San Jose Vice Mayor Pam Foley
\nDate of birth: November 8, 1966<\/p>\n

Other political positions held: None
\nDistrict where you reside: Branham-Kirk<\/p>\n

What are the top three problems you\u2019re seeking to solve if elected to represent this district?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Housing and the affordability of San Jose, reducing unsheltered homelessness and safe and clean neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Why are you uniquely qualified to address the three problems you\u2019ve identified above?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was instrumental to the development of the Cherry Avenue Emergency Interim Housing, running point for our office as we worked with Valley Water and the adjacent neighborhood. Additionally, I took the lead when we were offered the opportunity to lease out the Bristol Hotel for older women and those with kids coming from the streets of Columbus Park. I have also been the primary point of contact for the adjacent neighborhood when concerns have been raised. I have also been the liaison for our neighborhoods and neighborhood associations, organizing multiple beautification projects utilizing hundreds of volunteers.<\/p>\n

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How do this district\u2019s challenges differ in degree or kind from the rest of the city\u2019s, if at all?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The residents of District 9 face similar challenges to those of the rest of the city. However, due to the existing infrastructure, our district has a greater degree of difficulty building housing compared to those districts living on the edge of the city limits. Almost all projects must be infill, and many residents are resistant to the change. Additionally, since it is very \u201cbuilt-out,\u201d homelessness stands out and becomes much more noticeable and is generally closer to residential neighborhoods than other areas of the city.<\/p>\n

What differentiates you from your most serious competitors for this seat?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being a chief of staff for over seven years and now for the vice mayor has provided me with a level of experience not available to others. For more than 12 years, I have had the honor to serve the residents of City Council District 9 and the City of San Jose. I have had the opportunity to be involved with almost every big policy decision during that time. My time serving the city and the depth of my knowledge of the district are unparalleled and differentiate me from the rest of the field.<\/p>\n

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What committee or board would you most like to lead, if given the opportunity? And how would that position serve your constituents?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee. The CED Committee would allow me to drive change on items being referred to the City Council regarding housing production, creating safe and vibrant neighborhoods and overseeing economic development strategies. It benefits residents by supporting job creation, enhancing public spaces, promoting art and culture and ensuring a diverse and thriving community. All of these are important to my campaign and to the success of our city.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re running to be a lawmaker. If you were going to be remembered for writing and passing one law, what would it be?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I were to dream big, it would create a law that would help us solve our housing crisis. I would work to provide code enforcement with the tools to be more effective. Our code enforcement system is broken, and it takes too long to resolve simple, common infractions of our Municipal Code. We have to spend too much time and too many taxpayer dollars to resolve issues that impact our residents\u2019 everyday quality of life.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re running to replace Vice Mayor Pam Foley. What has Foley done right while representing this district?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I believe the vice mayor has moved city hall closer to District 9, making it more responsive, more accountable and more accessible to District 9 residents. Our office consistently receives more communication from our residents than most other districts. We respond quickly and have been accountable to our residents. During the pandemic, we were the first office to offer our residents city communication and updates using technology like Zoom and Facebook Live, and hosting community meetings outdoors to keep everyone safe.<\/p>\n

How has Vice Mayor Foley failed her constituents? What would you do differently if elected?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would have wished for a stronger partnership and collaboration between the city and the county to assist in solving our homelessness crisis. I will work to build that bridge to work towards ending homelessness. While we are improving, the timing wasn\u2019t there for Vice Mayor Foley, and I believe more progress is on the horizon.<\/p>\n

San Jose is now close to finalizing its third four-year review of its Envision 2040 General Plan, the details of which will shape the city\u2019s future development path. What priorities would you like to see in this revised general plan?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope to see recommendations that would encourage the production of homes of all types, and a land-use policy that creates diverse, affordable housing options in every neighborhood to prevent displacement. I\u2019d also like to see economic development throughout our city, with a focus on our downtown core.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d also like to see the prioritizing of infill projects to help revitalize worn down neighborhoods with new, vibrant development.<\/p>\n

I would also like to see less focus on the many urban villages that have not been master-planned, even removing some of the urban villages whose horizon is far away.<\/p>\n

What solutions would you support to reduce housing costs in San Jose? Explain the policies and clarify how they differ from previous attempts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The easy response is to increase the supply of all types of housing, then the demand and cost will lessen. We\u2019ll need to address density and land-use designation to really impact housing production.<\/p>\n

We also need to streamline the permitting process and implement guaranteed timelines that developers can bank on (new).<\/p>\n

We should utilize incentives to invest in older existing housing stock and multifamily developments. Most of these have been implemented to a degree, but time will tell us about some of the more recent changes. If necessary, we will likely pull some of these levers harder.<\/p>\n

San Jose has placed a 2% hotel tax increase on the June ballot. Do you support that tax? Why or why not?<\/p>\n

I support the 2% hotel tax, which should generate around $10 million annually. This type of tax does not burden our residents. It will help us improve the health of our General Fund and close gaps if our sales tax or property tax does not keep up with the cost of living.<\/p>\n

These funds could help us continue to adequately fund our core city services at a level our residents expect and deserve, including emergency services, street paving, park maintenance and other essential infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Why should renters in your district vote for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being a renter myself, I\u2019ve put housing at the top of my priority list. Housing is the keystone that impacts multiple issues most important to San Jose\u2019s residents. We need housing of all types, but particularly affordable housing. Housing for those employed residents of our interim housing developments. Housing for our teachers, service workers and first responders, and housing for our young families and older adults. When people are housed, it creates stability, a healthier economy and clean, safe and vibrant neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Is PG&E serving San Jose residents well? If not, explain what actions you would take to lower energy costs for San Jose ratepayers.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel PG&E has neglected its responsibilities in the past, and the consumers are paying now for their lack of attention. However, San Jose has been working to leverage our buying power to negotiate improved infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, San Jose Clean Energy has been offered a slight discount from that of PG&E. I would look to explore deeper discounts for our clean energy users.<\/p>\n

Read more Kurtenbach: Brock Purdy might be the NFL\u2019s most disrespected MVP candidate<\/a><\/p>\n

Additionally, we could again explore investing in a municipal power source, similar to other nearby cities. Anytime there are options, prices usually become more competitive.<\/p>\n

What actions would you take to tackle homelessness? How are your policy prescriptions different from what\u2019s already been done?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that we have built enough shelter beds, we need to address the next step in the crisis: mental health.<\/p>\n

The city cannot continue to make progress on this next step without the help of the county, state and even the federal government. The management of our shelters is quickly becoming too costly for San Jose. They should be operated by those who can provide the services necessary to ensure their success.<\/p>\n

We need to create affordable housing opportunities for graduates of our shelter system, so they can continue moving forward and contributing as productive members of our community.<\/p>\n

Why should your district\u2019s commuters vote for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have commuted for long periods of time on my bicycle and by public transit.<\/p>\n

As the City Council office that chaired the Vision Zero Task Force, our top priority has been safety along our roadways. The number of deaths has steadily declined due to much of that work. I will continue to advocate for roadway safety, coupled with efficiency, to create a better experience for those commuting to work.<\/p>\n

Lastly, we should develop more housing along transit corridors and near public transit to increase carpooling and ridership. We can also look for opportunities to incentivize public transit.<\/p>\n

San Jose is facing a $56 million budget shortfall. With property and sales tax revenue growth slowing and labor costs rising, how should the city balance its budget? What specific programs or services would you cut? What contracts, if any, would you renegotiate?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The budget is an unwieldy document, and I think it could pay off to look at all of our programs\/contracts to ensure the programs are essential to the operation of our city and our residents. There may also be one-time funded programs getting continually funded that could be renegotiated or eliminated entirely. We should also look at programs and services that are duplicative, or offered by some of our community business organizations \u2014 are there any that could be reduced without harming communities? With a shortfall, we must protect city staff, even if some positions need to be reallocated.<\/p>\n

The San Jose Police Department spent more than $71 million in overtime last year. This year, it is on track to surpass its personnel services budget once again. What financial cuts or reforms will you demand of SJPD, if any?<\/p>\n

Our San Jose PD has approximately 1,000 street-ready officers for a population of one million. The City of Denver has 2,000 officers for a population of less than 720,000. With a small police department, overtime is necessary to keep our residents and officers safe. I do agree with the steps taken earlier this year to analyze and appropriate overtime effectively to align SJPD\u2019s budget with our fiscal situation.<\/p>\n

SJPD has an exceptional record closing murder cases, and the city has a low violent crime rate relative to many other big U.S. cities. But in what ways could SJPD better serve your district?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

San Jose PD has served our community extremely well. They have made themselves available and communicated with our residents. They have been available by phone, email and attend our neighborhood meetings, National Night Out and Community Meeting when invited.<\/p>\n

The only request I have would be to allow the \u201cteam\u201d to remain in place long enough to build relationships within the District 9 community.<\/p>\n

Do you support San Jose\u2019s policy to cite and arrest homeless residents who repeatedly refuse shelter?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those who refuse shelter cannot continue to live outdoors on our streets. The only thing the city can offer them is shelter; the other forms of assistance \u2014 drug treatment, counseling, medical attention \u2014 must come from other organizations. If we cannot get them to come indoors, where these other services are more available, we are leaving them outside to die. \u201cCite and arrest\u201d may sound harsh, but if the other mechanisms were in place, it wouldn\u2019t be needed.<\/p>\n

Homelessness can be resolved, but it will take a team effort, working towards a common goal.<\/p>\n

Explain your position on San Jose\u2019s use of Flock license plate cameras.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am in favor of the use of the Automated License Plate Reader system utilized by the San Jose PD. I am proud of the San Jose PD\u2019s proactive approach to improving and constructing guardrails that our residents can accept without hindering the ALPR program. We need to continue to evaluate and monitor the systems in place to ensure privacy concerns are addressed, and the implementation of public-facing protocols will continue to build the trust of our residents.<\/p>\n

If you were elected, would you be in favor of more data centers in the city? Why or why not?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would be in favor of more data centers, but only if the location is appropriate. The data centers could help us bridge some of the gaps we face each year during our budget process. These centers must be placed in the areas that won\u2019t attract blight or reduce areas where vibrancy is needed for economic development. I also hope that with the development of these data centers, we will continue to see improvement from PG&E\u2019s infrastructure and a reduction in rates for our residents.<\/p>\n

The San Jose office vacancy rate remains stubbornly high post-pandemic. In downtown, offices sit empty and countless retail storefronts are boarded up. What policies would you support to revitalize the city\u2019s downtown core?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bank of America building is a prime example of transitioning from office to residential. We must continue to offer incentives for downtown development. We must continue to develop the experience for those working in our city, or for those startup businesses or existing businesses looking to relocate. This can be done by stitching entertainment areas together with entertainment zones.<\/p>\n

Our partnership with San Jose State University is valuable and lucrative to both the city and the university. We need to continue to pursue major events in San Jose and invest in the \u201cexperience\u201d for those visiting our downtown.<\/p>\n

San Jose is attracting a fraction of Bay Area venture capital. And the city, relative to San Francisco, is weak in attracting seed- and early-stage startups, per overwhelming VC data reports. What should San Jose be doing to attract tech firms, if anything at all?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to my previous response, we should be looking at what incentives could be offered to bring businesses to San Jose. Some of these could include free parking, transit passes and free or reduced park and facility rentals for corporate gatherings.<\/p>\n

What do the biggest contributors to your campaign expect from you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My campaign has been powered by people and not special interest groups. Boldly stated, I am beholden to no one but the residents of District 9 and the City of San Jose. My support comes from family, District 9 friends and neighbors. These are people who have invested in our campaign because they trust me and my community-first north star.<\/p>\n

What more should we know about you that might inform our board\u2019s judgment of your capacity to serve this district\u2019s constituents?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has truly been an honor to serve the residents of District 9 and San Jose. It has been an opportunity of a lifetime and a job I have enjoyed showing up for every day.<\/p>\n

My knowledge of the district and San Jose and more than a decade of experience would be a benefit to my community, my city and my city council.<\/p>\n

Lastly, I have earned the endorsement of Vice Mayor Pam Foley, Councilmember George Casey and Former Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, along with other notable, well-respected and pragmatic leaders around San Jose.<\/p>\n

Read more Review: \u2018Pressure\u2019 goes behind the scenes of D-Day invasion<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hughes: ‘Being a chief of staff for over seven years and now for the vice mayor has provided me with a level of experience not available to others.’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\nScott Hughes, candidate for San Jose City Council District 9, answers the Mercury News primary questionnaire - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=561\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Scott Hughes, candidate for San Jose City Council District 9, answers the Mercury News primary questionnaire - 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