Longtime San Jose mayoral chief of staff leaves for new role

In a San Jose City Hall shakeup, longtime mayoral chief of staff Jim Reed announced Thursday he is leaving to lead a statewide policy initiative launched by Mayor Matt Mahan earlier this year.

Reed has been a central figure in City Hall politics for more than a decade, having served as chief of staff for Mahan and his predecessor, Sam Liccardo. Now, Reed is set to lead a 501c4 political organization known as Back to Basics, which aims to build a statewide coalition in support of Mahan’s policy agenda focused on cost of living issues, housing, homelessness and public safety.

“There’s never been a more urgent need to extend San Jose’s recent successes throughout the Bay Area and to all of California, and I believe I’m in a unique position to provide real value to this worthy effort,” Reed told San José Spotlight. “We’ve got an A-plus team in the mayor’s office, myself excluded, and we need to start scaling that capacity outside the office.”

Reed is expected to leave the mayor’s office in early January. It is not yet clear who will replace him. News of Reed’s departure first broke in Politico.

Mahan has been extending his reach in state policy conversations, clashing with Gov. Gavin Newsom and courting candidates in next year’s gubernatorial election. As he has done so, Mahan has made the case that many of the most pressing problems faced by California cities will only be solved if the state can offer more effective support than it has in recent years.

Reed’s departure will end his 11-year run as chief of staff, which began on the first day Liccardo entered the mayor’s office. Considered by many to be Liccardo’s right-hand man, Reed also worked as an energetic fundraiser for causes and candidates favored by the former mayor turned congressman.

During the 2022 campaign season, Reed led an independent expenditure committee that raised $1.5 million, most of which went to support Mahan’s campaign as he faced off against former Santa Clara County District 2 Supervisor Cindy Chavez.

More recently, Reed took a brief leave of absence from his City Hall duties last year to support the campaign for Proposition 36, the successful statewide ballot measure that has increased California’s penalties for theft and drug crimes.

Proposition 36 is likely to remain one of Reed’s major focuses as he leads Back to Basics. Mahan has been critical of Newsom’s handling of the rollout of the tough on crime measure, urging the governor to provide cities with more funding to enact provisions intended to compel drug users into treatment.

“The fact that the governor and Legislature have short funded Proposition 36 implementation so egregiously, shows just how much more work there is to do,” Reed said.

Mahan praised his longtime chief of staff following Reed’s departure announcement.

“Jim Reed has been an exceptional thought partner, mentor and leader in the Mayor’s Office since he walked in the door 11 years ago. I know his impact will only expand as he takes on this new role,” Mahan told San José Spotlight.

Reed’s departure is sure to fuel speculation that Mahan is preparing for an eventual run for state office. Mahan has thrown cold water on such rumors, previously telling San José Spotlight he remains focused on his duties as mayor.

Reed also cast doubt on a 2026 gubernatorial campaign for Mahan.

“I’m certain that California needs Matt Mahan’s back to basics agenda in 2026, but sadly I don’t expect the mayor to be a candidate next year because I know how much he believes he has the best job in the state right now,” Reed told San José Spotlight.

Contact Keith Menconi at [email protected] or @KeithMenconi on X.