Assembly candidate Carol\u00a0Pefley calls out the cynicism\u00a0of many SJ City Council Democrats (like Mayor Mahan) who campaigned on platforms of fiscal responsibility, only to turn into tax-and-spend liberals, as evidenced by their\u00a0June 16 vote to oppose the Save Prop 13 initiative.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On June\u00a016, 2026, the San Jose City Council voted\u00a0(9-2) to oppose the Protect Prop 13 Initiative,\u00a0which will be on the November ballot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Initiative was powered by thousands of volunteers who spent countless hours gathering signatures to get it on the ballot.<\/p>\n
We applaud the principled stance of Councilmembers Casey and Doan. They continue to carry the now-flickering candle of fiscal responsibility\u00a0on the Council, by standing athwart their colleagues’ ongoing efforts to gut Proposition 13’s taxpayer protections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Protect Prop 13 would close the bizarre loopholes that cities use that make it increasingly easy to squeeze taxpayers for more funds without broad voter support.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For many local Republicans, the actions of the majority make this moment feel\u00a0like a cowardly act of betrayal;\u00a0 a slap in the face to the very people who worked tirelessly to give voters a voice.<\/p>\n
Mahan, Mulcahy, Foley–in particular: these \u201cleaders\u201d present themselves as champions of responsible budgeting and conservative-leaning stewardship. Yet their stance on the Save Prop 13 Act and a parade of other tax measures shows why many residents feel burned by their\u00a0promises.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Attitudes toward taxation are foundational. They define the relationship between citizens and their elected leaders. When politicians bait and switch, when they say one thing about their fiscal philosophy to get your vote and then govern in the opposite direction, it\u2019s not just disappointing. It\u2019s disqualifying.<\/p>\n
To Mahan, Foley, and Mulcahy: don\u2019t think people aren\u2019t noticing. Mayor Mahan has already experienced this in his humiliating gubernatorial campaign. The results reveal what happens to a politician who assumes GOP votes, then loses that support:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Republicans in Silicon Valley know we\u2019re a minority, and we understand that local offices are nonpartisan. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve often crossed the aisle to support NPPs and moderate Democrats who promised responsible governance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve done so in good faith for the good of our cities, our county, and our shared future. But this isn\u2019t the first time we\u2019ve been betrayed.\u00a0 When the San Jos\u00e9 City Council voted unanimously to support Prop 50, \u00a0Republicans saw it as yet another example of leaders who are more than willing to bite the hand that feeds them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Enough is enough. There comes a point when voters refuse to be taken for granted.<\/p>\n
That point has arrived. Recent results have already shown what happens when leaders assume GOP votes will simply materialize.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The message from the grassroots is clear: Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice\u2026 we won\u2019t be fooled again.<\/p>\n
–Carol Pefley, candidate for State Assembly 28<\/p>\n
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