New San Jose mayor: Matt Mahan looks to the future

San Jose has a new leader.

On Monday, NBC Bay Area’s Robert Handa met with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who wants to end the tough campaign and looks ahead.

“It’s hard work,” Mahan said.

Mahan figures out what it’s like to go from being a busy council member to an even busier new mayor.

“My wife and I have two small children. So I still plan to take them to school in the morning, which was our tradition, but maybe come home a little later,” he said.

Mahan’s day immediately began with a New Year’s Eve tour of the police department. He said his top priority was to address the shortage of officers and controllers through budget and recruitment.

“I plan to be personally involved in spreading the word in our local schools and getting young people to consider careers in the public service,” he said.

Mahan has promised more affordable and long-term temporary housing, but said the city can’t wait for these projects to address street homelessness.

“Well, by Wednesday we need to expand our night heating sites because we have another big system and the ground is already quite saturated. So we have to make sure we have more places for people to go,” he said.

Mahan also wants to introduce more technology.

“In terms of decline, I want to expand our 311 apps to bring more residents to this tool. That way they can tell us where they are seeing the decline and we will be more accountable for fixing that problem,” he said.

Responsibility is his theme.

Mahan said he also reached out to colleagues on the San Jose City Council because none of them supported his candidacy, but said he only hears support now.

“I think we will find ways to cooperate and get along and that will be very productive,” he said.

Mahan’s only supporter on the council during the campaign was his predecessor, Sam Licciardo, whom Mahan credits with resolving much of the budget crisis before he left office.

Council of the former mayor?

“Sam texted me just after midnight on New Year’s Eve and said, ‘Tag. You are. Don’t screw up,” he said.