SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Who will be the next Mayor of Sacramento? Dr. Flojaune ‘Flo’ Cofer and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty clashed in their first debate since advancing from the Primary Election.
At Tahoe Elementary School, both candidates tried to separate themselves from each other. Both candidates said they can work under the City Council-City Manager form of government and agree on tackling issues such as homelessness and public safety. But they differ on how.
“I support properly funding our police department,” Assemblymember McCarty said. “I oppose some of the cuts and shifting money from public safety. We have fewer officers today than when I was on the City Council in 2014, and we have way more people.”
“My proposal to shift dollars was not about cutting any officers. That is a lie,” Dr. Cofer said. “My proposal was shifting the vacancies over, so we can have 24-hour response from the Department of Community Response and Code Enforcement which is not the police’s responsibility.”
The debate comes roughly 60 days until Election Day. Both candidates are looking to replace current Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who chose not to run for a third term.
Hosted by Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association and moderated by Dr. Robert Wassmer, a Public Policyprofessor at Sacramento State University, and former Assemblymember Lloyd Levine.
On homelessness, Dr. Cofer disagreed with the city’s handling of Camp Resolution, a self-governed homeless camp, and said the city needs to think creatively.
“Portland, Oregon has done just that with Safe Rest Villages. They have created places, outdoor spaces, where people can come and have their basic needs met. When we seize someone in a place where they cannot stay permanently, we do not sweep them along from your house to your neighbor’s house,” Dr. Cofer said.
McCarty said if elected he wants an audit done on homeless spending in the city and he will enforce the no camping ban.
“If the other cities are saying no camping and we are not enforcing no camping, we are going to have a worse problem. We need to enforce the law, no camping,” McCarty said.
With roughly two months left in the election season, the candidates are hoping to win over voters to help lead the city in their visions.
“I am not going to write checks that we cannot cash,” McCarty said.
“We need to make Sacramento a place that works for all of us,” Dr. Cofer said.
The moderators asked the candidates their thoughts on Proposition 33, which is a rent control measure. McCarty said he does not support it, while Dr. Cofer said she does.
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