Professional Profile
You might say Steve Glazer started shaping California politics as a college student: In 1978, while attending San Diego State University, he helped organize a campus campaign to elect Jerry Brown as governor – the first of many years of work with Brown.
A communications consultant and political strategist by trade, Glazer’s first foray into lawmaking was after he was shot in the neck by a pellet rifle in 2003. The perpetrator was caught, but wasn’t charged because pellet guns were considered toys, not weapons. That prompted Glazer to work with his local legislator to write a bill establishing penalties for pellet-gun attacks.
He went on to serve on the city council and as mayor of the Bay Area city of Orinda from 2004 to 2015. Within that time, he also served as a political advisor to Brown in his second go-round for governor. Glazer ran for state Senate in a special election in 2015, and won a full four-year term in 2016. As a senator, he has authored bills that aim to address air and water pollution, gun control and predatory lending.
Experience
State senator
City council member and three-time mayor of Orinda
2004-2015
Led ballot measure campaigns to increase local taxes, including Orinda’s Measure E, approved by voters in June 2008.
As mayor, was a charter member of the national organization Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Senior political advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown
2009-2012
Served as a campaign advisor to help Brown win re-election.
Advised Brown in managing California’s finances during the recession – including leading the campaign to increase sales and income taxes.
California State University board of trustees
2011-2015
Appointed by Brown, Glazer worked to limit tuition increases and lower administrative costs throughout the Cal State system.
Video Interviews
“I want to be clear that I owe no favor and have no fear about accountability for everyone, including your elected leaders.”
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Here’s a look at where Steve Glazer stands on the most pressing issues he would face in office.
Where Steve Glazer Stands on the Issues
Which areas of the state budget would you focus on to make sure spending is effective?
Education, homelessness, mental health. “I look to where the impacts are great, the numbers are high and the impacts are great. Certainly the $20 billion-plus fraud at the Employment Development Department does attract one’s attention.”
What specific strategies would you employ to prevent waste and fraud?
“Making people be very clear that you’re not going to get away with it, that you have the office of the controller that’s going to be very diligent in tracking the expenditure, every public dollar, and we’re going to hold people accountable, small and large.”
Would you support another broad stimulus payment? What about the gas tax rebate?
Supports Senate Democratic plan for $200 per person rebates for families earning less than $250,000 a year. “I think that’s a prudent plan. It’s focused on those who are most needy and those in the middle class, excludes the very wealthy.”
Do you support any changes in income taxes or sales taxes to account for the shift to a service economy?
“I don’t think that’s a realistic path going forward because what happens is… you’re going to increase the tax burden on the low- and middle-income folks in our state to the benefit of the wealthy. And I think that’s a very tough sell.”
Do you support a “wealth tax” or increases on tax rates on upper-income residents? If so, what would the revenue be used for?
“We have a $68 billion surplus, okay. So what’s the reason that we should tax more? I don’t see a reason that we should be looking to tax more….I think we’re pretty well taxed in the state.”
How would you reduce the unfunded debts of CalPERS, CalSTRS and local governments?
Supports lowering rate of return and possibly benefits for new employees after a certain date. “It’s trying to not make worse an existing liability problem, and try to create a system that is actually sustainable for the employees and the employer going forward so that we don’t have this liability trap of billions that only the taxpayers have to cover.”
Do you think the state should divest from Russian companies or funds due to the Ukraine war?
“You would do an analysis to see whether or not that divestment would create any kind of financial shortfall for the fund in which you have a fiduciary to do that work. So that’s a calculation, versus a black and white.”
Would you change any specific investment policies of CalPERS or CalSTRS?
“I think we want a sustainable system so that we can provide the benefits for the retirees and to do it in a responsible way. That’s the frame in which I would enter that service.”
