In an exclusive interview conducted less than two weeks before the election on November 5, Sam Liccardo, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in California’s 16th District and former mayor of San Jose, shared insights about his recently penned book titled “Let’s Get it Done.” He emphasized that his campaign is about action rather than self-promotion.

In the 130-page book, Liccardo elaborates on his perspectives regarding critical issues such as housing affordability, cost of living, homelessness, crime, environmental concerns, reproductive rights, democracy, education, innovation, and workforce development, while also proposing tangible solutions.

Liccardo began writing the book after the announcement of Anna Eshoo’s retirement from Congress, after serving as a representative for 32 years. At that time, he had only recently completed two terms as mayor and had yet to decide on his candidacy.

Reflecting on his experience as mayor, Liccardo noted, “I felt we made significant progress in San Jose. A mayor can accomplish many things.” In contrast, he described Congress as a different beast entirely: “The House has 454 colleagues, and working with them means everything moves much slower, with results often taking months or even years to materialize. Especially now, with Congress being so divided, it has become the least efficient it’s been in half a century.”

He revealed that his motivation for writing the book was to instill belief in the idea that “Congress can achieve results.” In the process, he recognized that this venture also helped clarify his stance on key issues and sent a crucial message: “Voters need to be treated like adults.”

Liccardo articulated a frustration he feels has been prevalent among politicians over the years: “For too long, politicos have treated voters immaturely, throwing slogans at them rather than presenting real solutions. Voters are tired of that—particularly in this district, where over two-thirds of adult voters are college-educated.” He pointed out how candidates often brush over their proposals with brief bullet points, failing to provide any real help.

While aware of the risks associated with discussing complex issues in a campaign—where opponents could seize on any detail for criticism—Liccardo remains optimistic. He believes that educated and discerning voters can judge the merits of his policy proposals when given sufficient information.

In his book, Liccardo expresses hope for changing the political dialogue in the country. He observed that the blame-game between parties regarding social issues leads to stagnation and deepening divides. Drawing from his experience as mayor, he found that when conversations shifted from assigning blame to seeking solutions, the tone often softened, allowing for more constructive discussions.

“You may still disagree with the solutions offered, but you can disagree in a more constructive way,” Liccardo remarked. “We are starting from this small corner of Silicon Valley, where many great ideas emerge and spread nationwide. We hope to inspire others to engage in productive dialogue and solutions as well.”

Liccardo admitted that not all the ideas in his book are solely his own; much of his understanding came from conversations with community members, policymakers, industry experts, and advocates. He relishes the moments spent door-knocking in the community during the campaign, insisting, “You learn so much from those interactions.” In the final days of the election push, he aims to continue gauging what issues voters want Congress to tackle and discussing potential solutions with them: “I’m running for Congress not to become someone, but to make a difference.”

Throughout his campaign, Liccardo has garnered support from numerous Asian American officials and community leaders, including San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, Vice Mayor Dr. Yang Shao, and former California Assemblymember Kansen Chu, among others.