Gubernatorial candidate Betty Yee swings by Sonoma

After serving as California’s controller from 2014 through January, San Francisco-native Betty Yee is running for the state’s highest office. She’s starting early in her campaign for governor — the election is set for November 2026. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and FFA Secretary Jesse Perez have also announced their intentions to fill the office when Gov. Gavin Newsom terms out.

Sonoma Mayor Sandra Lowe, a longtime friend of Yee, is also a member of her campaign team and invited the candidate to a meet-and-greet with community leaders at her west side home on Wednesday morning. The Index-Tribune was able to sit down with Yee to discuss her campaign and political ambition.

1) How will your past as state controller influence you perspective on the role of governor?

I say I have a unique approach serving as the CFO for the state of California, and seeing how the body of government has worked — or not worked — well. I’m also looking at the performance of our economy and where it has worked — and not worked — well. Marrying those two really helps me think about the policy we should be pursuing. I have a three-pronged strategy of the economy, education and climate as the real opportunity areas.

It’s more than just putting out dollars. It’s about what we can do for communities so they can envision themselves as part of this transition as well, and I think we’ve left a lot of communities behind that I hope can be touched.

2) Are there things that people aren’t talking about that you think they should be?

What I really hope to do is bring a more sharper focus on the government and accountability. I know that sounds really pedestrian to some. When you don’t have that, it makes for a lot of policies that don’t see the light of day.

I think what we don’t address is the vast amount of trauma that surrounds us. Californians are hurting, for a lot of different reasons. It’s not a one-sized fits all approach. It could be from the macro level of the heightened focus on systemic racism and Californians feeling the burden from generations of being on the receiving end of that. All the way down to the micro level with the trauma of certainty. There’s nothing certain about our future anymore. The pandemic upending things in such quick order that I think people are feeling unsettled by that.

How do we address that?

The policies we have need to be somewhat trauma-informed to be successful policies. Let’s bring those voices to the table.

3) In such a big state, that is so diverse, how do you balance all the needs? And how could you as governor support small towns like Sonoma?

Housing affordability is a crisis everywhere. We need a lot of housing to meet the demand. The question is: What should our relationship be with local government, who really have on the ground responsibility for housing construction? We’ve seen a lot of “sticks” approach in the relationship between state and local government. I think we need to balance it with more “carrots.” I think we can be a better partner when it comes to ways we can reduce costs of housing construction. I think California can also do better in terms of streamlining our own approval processes, I think we can cut time to break ground for construction.

Housing is not a revenue generator for communities. But I think there’s ways to think about it where housing can be used as a revenue generator. So how do we rethink housing so we also look at the future economic development that can happen along with that housing.

We’re here in Sonoma, which I love, we all love Sonoma — most people love the wine. But what’s unique about Sonoma, you see less of the plight of urban issues, but also you have an agricultural community, you have a community that’s very dependent on tourism, and just the location, the climate. When I look at all this, this is a wonderful place to be that has not fully seen its ambition. I think this could be really a wonderful home for what I would call a center for excellence for climate sustainability. Particularly with ag.

4) California is one of a few states to never have a woman leader. What is it like to campaign as a woman for this top office?

I am thrilled to say that although I am only the 10th woman ever elected to statewide office, since statehood, that is changing. I think campaigning as a woman is, you know, challenging. Fundraising is always challenging for women. I think there are many woman who are thinking about running for office — any office at this point — but there are a lot of considerations. We play a lot of roles. You think about all these roles that are normally performed by women (child care, teaching, elder care). But I think its that very experience that really informs policy. I am thrilled to see the number of women on ballots these days.

5) When it comes to homelessness — we seem to keep throwing money at this issue without making much progress — what would be your approach to this complex problem?

The metrics by which we have to measure progress on reducing homelessness on is not money. It’s about how we get people into safe long-term housing. So housing is obviously part of the solution. I will be bold enough to say we may never fully solve the homelessness crisis.

Really, for long-term sustainable services, they need a case manager. To know, if they have a case manager, someone who is reaching out to this person and their family, they’re being cared for. I like to think we still live in a state where Californians are compassionate. It’s become what I believe to be the biggest humanitarian crisis in California because it intersects with so many different areas of human life. Unfortunately I believe people respond from a place of fear rather than strength in terms of how we can look at a community who can also be inclusive of those who are unsheltered.

6) What are you most excited if elected to governor?

I am excited, on a personal level, to have the opportunity to give back to a state that has been very kind to me and my family. I am the daughter of immigrant, my mother just turned 100 in April. Who would have thought as a little girl in China she would see her daughter not just serve as the CFO of California but being a candidate for governor? I think what I am most excited about is just being able to lean in on the talent we have here in California and all of the assets we have here — how do we really put those to work to create a better future for every Californian to envision themselves in it and thrive.

Where’s your favorite place to visit in Sonoma?

Mayor Lowe’s house!

This interview was edited lightly for clarity and brevity.

Contact editor/publisher Emily Charrier at emily.charrier@sonomanews.com.