Ahead of the June primary election, the Bay Area News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates for California’s 14th Congressional District. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and clarity.
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Name: Mike Hennessy
Current job title: Owner, Hennessy Automotive
Date of birth: Prefer not to answer
Other political positions held: None
District where you reside: Cambrian area of District 9
What are the top three problems you’re seeking to solve if elected to represent this district?
Public safety, homelessness and addressing the rising cost of living.
Why are you uniquely qualified to address the three problems you’ve identified above?
I bring more than 40 years of real-world experience running a business, managing employees, meeting payroll and making tough financial decisions. I have lived accountability and understand how to identify problems, fix them at the root and deliver results.
I also bring the ability to bridge business and labor. They need to work together to succeed. As a business owner who operated a union shop, I understand both perspectives.
That is why I have earned the support of working men and women, including local firefighters and the South Bay Labor Council.
How do this district’s challenges differ in degree or kind from the rest of the city’s, if at all?
We have projects that have taken longer than expected to move forward, like the site at Camden and Union, where no development has been delivered and the property may now be sold. At the same time, existing resources are not always being fully utilized, such as the Bristol Hotel, which has had 18 units offline for months.
For District 9 residents, especially seniors on fixed incomes, veterans and working families, these issues affect quality of life, affordability and neighborhood stability.
What this district needs is consistent attention, strong advocacy and a focus on ensuring that commitments translate into real outcomes.
What differentiates you from your most serious competitors for this seat?
I am the only candidate with decades of private-sector experience running a successful business and operating a union shop, and the only candidate in this race with the endorsement of the South Bay Labor Council.
I have managed employees, met payroll, balanced budgets and worked through the realities of city permits and regulations. I have also organized large community events, worked with city departments and built the relationships needed to get things done. Over the years, I have become a go-to resource for solving problems and navigating challenges in our community.
What committee or board would you most like to lead, if given the opportunity? And how would that position serve your constituents?
Public Safety or Finance. These committees directly impact response times, neighborhood safety and how taxpayer dollars are spent. My background allows me to improve efficiency, accountability and outcomes in both areas.
I would also work to carry forward the spirit of the Vision Zero Task Force, which has delivered meaningful safety improvements in our city, and ensure that focus continues even as the task force sunsets. In addition, I would explore establishing a Seniors and Disabled Persons Commission to ensure these residents have a stronger voice in city decision-making and that policies reflect their needs.
You’re running to be a lawmaker. If you were going to be remembered for writing and passing one law, what would it be?
A citywide accountability and performance ordinance that enforces timelines for permitting and service delivery, ties funding to measurable results and narrows the scope of the city government to operate within its charter and achieve cost recovery for services performed outside of it. Government must be held accountable for performance.
You’re running to replace Vice Mayor Pam Foley. What has Foley done right while representing this district?
Vice Mayor Foley has been accessible to constituents and engaged on neighborhood concerns. She has maintained strong community connections and has been responsive on individual issues brought to her office. She has been a strong champion of Vision Zero and helped our community address safety concerns along Hillsdale, bringing thoughtful and meaningful safety improvements along that stretch.
How has Vice Mayor Foley failed her constituents? What would you do differently if elected?
I would not say that Vice Mayor Foley has failed her constituents. The issue is not effort, it is results. We are still seeing rising homelessness, delays in basic services, a lack of follow-through on key projects and we are in a financial deficit. An example I would highlight is the continued lack of plan and development at Cambrian Park Plaza.
I would focus on measurable outcomes, stronger oversight of city departments, better fiscal planning and ensuring that commitments are actually delivered. Residents deserve results, not just good intentions.
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’s future development path. What priorities would you like to see in this revised general plan?
Streamlined permitting, predictable timelines, housing aligned with jobs and transit, infrastructure that supports growth, accountability for implementation and a stronger push to retain local control.
What solutions would you support to reduce housing costs in San Jose? Explain the policies and clarify how they differ from previous attempts.
We need to increase housing supply by fixing the permitting process, reducing unnecessary fees and eliminating delays. Past efforts have failed because they focused on regulation without addressing cost drivers. We need to make it possible to build again.
San Jose has placed a 2% hotel tax increase on the June ballot. Do you support that tax? Why or why not?
I am cautious about new taxes, including ones asked of visitors to our city. Before asking residents and businesses to pay more, the city must demonstrate it is using existing funds efficiently and responsibly. We need to increase tourism, not build barriers to it, and this tax may have negative consequences on tourist dollars if they choose to stay in other cities.
Why should renters in your district vote for you?
Because I am focused on lowering costs, increasing housing supply and making government more efficient. I will also fight to protect and preserve existing rent control laws. When property taxes and operating costs rise, those increases are often passed on to renters. Renters are being hit the hardest, and they need real solutions that address the root causes, not just short-term fixes. I will work to reduce the cost of building housing, streamline approvals and ensure the city operates efficiently so we can bring down overall housing costs while protecting current tenants.
Is PG&E serving San Jose residents well? If not, explain what actions you would take to lower energy costs for San Jose ratepayers.
No. Rates continue to rise while reliability remains a concern. We need stronger oversight and more local control to reduce costs for ratepayers.
What actions would you take to tackle homelessness? How are your policy prescriptions different from what’s already been done?
My approach starts with fully utilizing what we already have by ensuring existing housing and shelter programs are operational, properly maintained and delivering results. We must deploy interim and modular housing faster, cut through delays and hold departments and partners accountable for timelines and performance.
I also support a campus-style approach to homelessness, developing modern, cost-effective shelter at locations that can support and sustain larger populations, such as the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.
We also need stronger coordination with the county to ensure mental health, addiction and supportive services are consistently available.
Why should your district’s commuters vote for you?
I’m a car guy, and I support better planning, reducing congestion, lowering emissions and aligning housing with jobs so people can spend less time commuting and more time with their families. I support Vision Zero and will continue to advocate for safer streets as Councilmember Foley has done. I have also worked alongside Jay Leno in support of Leno’s Law to help reduce vehicle emissions, showing that we can protect the environment while still supporting car enthusiasts and practical transportation solutions.
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?
We must prioritize core services, audit programs, eliminate waste and renegotiate contracts where necessary. The city must operate with discipline and efficiency, just like any responsible business, and ensure that we are prioritizing chartered services and programs first, not acting outside of our tax structure. It must also develop improved relationships with partner jurisdictions to improve efficiency and neatly label ownership for cost recovery.
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?
SJPD and the San Jose Fire Department should not receive any financial cuts. We need better staffing levels, improved scheduling, stronger oversight and enhanced tools such as AI-assisted report writing to reduce reliance on overtime while improving service levels.
My hat is off to our first responders who take time away from their families every day to serve and protect our community. We should be doing more to support them, not less. That means giving them the resources, staffing and tools they need to do their jobs effectively and safely.
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?
This starts with staffing. We need more officers in District 9 to improve response times, increase visibility in our neighborhoods and ensure consistent enforcement of quality-of-life issues.
We need to modernize how residents interact with SJPD by expanding and simplifying online reporting, reducing barriers to filing reports and using technology, including AI where appropriate, to improve efficiency. If we want safer neighborhoods, we need a system that is responsive, accessible and works for everyone.
Do you support San Jose’s policy to cite and arrest homeless residents who repeatedly refuse shelter?
Yes, when shelter and services are available. Compassion must be paired with accountability.
Explain your position on San Jose’s use of Flock license plate cameras.
I support their use, especially in San Jose, where we have already ensured appropriate oversight and privacy protections. They are an effective and necessary tool for solving crimes and improving public safety.
If you were elected, would you be in favor of more data centers in the city? Why or why not?
Only if they provide clear economic benefit, including jobs and revenue, without placing undue strain on infrastructure.
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’s downtown core?
Reduce red tape, improve safety, activate vacant storefronts and create an environment where businesses want to invest and workers are compensated fairly.
At the same time, we need to take a more balanced approach to how the city allocates resources. Downtown has received significant investment, but the results have not met expectations. We must ensure that other districts are not overlooked and that funding is distributed in a way that supports neighborhood-based economic activity across the entire city. A strong San Jose depends on strong neighborhoods, not just a strong downtown.
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?
We need to make it easier to do business by streamlining approvals, reducing costs and creating a predictable regulatory environment.
The city must focus on reducing barriers to building housing, lowering development costs and aligning jobs with housing so we can retain and attract talent.
Finally, we should focus on supporting a diverse economy that includes both high-wage tech jobs and the small businesses that support them. That means faster permitting, flexible zoning where appropriate and a City Hall that acts as a partner, not a barrier, to innovation and investment.
What do the biggest contributors to your campaign expect from you?
They expect me to represent residents fairly, independently, be well researched on the issues, show up to community meetings and lead with integrity. My responsibility is to the people of District 9.
What more should we know about you that might inform our board’s judgment of your capacity to serve this district’s constituents?
I have lived in District 9 for 26 years and am deeply invested in this community. I come from a blue-collar background, learned the trades and built a business from the ground up. I have employed hundreds of people, met payroll and made tough decisions.
I bring a perspective that is missing at City Hall — the ability to bridge business and labor. I am not running to talk about problems. I am running to fix them. District 9 deserves leadership that delivers results, restores accountability and puts residents first.