Questions Raised Over Mayor’s Work And Pay

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is campaigning across California for governor while continuing to collect the pay and benefits of his city job, according to reporting published May 21 and public compensation records. Bay Area News Group reported that Mahan has missed more than a third of City Council meetings during roughly 3 1/2 months on the campaign trail. Public salary data reviewed by outside transparency sites and cited in recent reporting put his mayoral salary at about $226,000, with total pay and benefits above that figure. Matt Mahan, a Democrat who launched his gubernatorial bid in late January, has said he still treats City Hall as his primary job. KQED reported on Jan. 30 that Mahan entered the race as San Jose faced fiscal pressure and a budget season that overlaps with the June 2 gubernatorial primary. In that interview, Mahan said, “I still wake up every day thinking about my primary job, which is being mayor.” (mercurynews.com) ### How much is Mahan paid while he runs for governor? Public payroll data for 2024 lists Matt Mahan’s regular pay at $220,479.48 and total pay and benefits at $250,443.95, according to Transparent California, which compiles government compensation records. CalMatters reported in March that Mahan’s 2025 income included a San Jose mayoral salary of about $226,000. Bay Area News Group described that compensation as the region’s second-most expensive salary for a mayoral day job. (kqed.org) The City of San Jose says its compensation package for eligible employees includes health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, 15 paid holidays and sick leave. The city’s public compensation page describes those benefits as part of total compensation, though it does not by itself resolve how mayoral benefits compare with those of rank-and-file employees. (transparentcalifornia.com) ### How often has he been absent from council meetings? Bay Area News Group reported that Mahan missed seven of 19 City Council meetings and study sessions while running for governor. The newspaper said more than half of those absences coincided with campaign events or debates. A separate Bay Area News Group report said he had missed more than a third of council meetings while still drawing full pay. (sanjoseca.gov) The attendance issue has become more pointed because the campaign overlaps with San Jose’s annual budget cycle. KQED reported that the city manager’s office projected a budget shortfall of $55 million to $65 million in December, and later described a $56 million shortfall as Mahan released his March spending plan. (mercurynews.com) ### Why is the budget calendar part of this story? San Jose’s official budget pages show Mahan’s March budget message for fiscal 2026-27 went to the council on March 17, 2026. The city also says his June budget message will be published June 1 and come before the council June 9, dates that fall days after the June 2 primary. (kqed.org) KQED reported on March 10 that Mahan called for belt-tightening while preserving spending on homelessness, public safety, housing production, neighborhood cleanup and economic growth. The outlet said San Jose’s weak-mayor system leaves the city manager to draft the detailed budget, but the mayor’s message sets the policy direction for months of hearings and negotiations. (sanjoseca.gov) ### What are critics and allies saying at City Hall? Councilmember Pamela Campos told KQED in January that Mahan has used city communications to his political advantage and that decisions driven by what “sounds good” are not always best for residents. KQED also reported that Mahan’s allies and critics were split over whether the gubernatorial campaign was a distraction or an opportunity for San Jose. (kqed.org) John Tucker of AFSCME Local 101 told KQED in March that city workers were worried about layoffs as budget pressure mounted. Tucker said San Jose already operates with a lean workforce and that cuts can show up as reduced library hours and slower service. ### What happens next? June 1 is the next dated milestone in San Jose’s official budget calendar, when Mahan’s June budget message is scheduled for publication. (kqed.org) June 2 is the California gubernatorial primary, and June 9 is when the city says the mayor’s June message goes before the council. (sanjoseca.gov) (kqed.org)