With slightly more than a month until Election Day, San Jose voters Saturday morning got a chance to hear from both mayoral candidates.
NBC Bay Area's Robert Handa moderated the debate at Mitty High School featuring Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese and San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo.
One key issue facing the next mayor: public safety and retaining police officers.
Each candidate said the issue is especially timely in the wake of the passing of former Police Chief Joe McNamara.
"Joe McNamara's leadership was critical in showing us how to build bonds between community and police officers," Liccardo said. "An approach that doesn't require us to spend more but rather to think differently about how we engage with the community."
"Over the past five years over, 400 cops have left the department, mostly by resignation, and it's created a huge public safety problem," Cortese said. "The crime rate is higher than the state-wide average."
Another divisive issue was pension reform.
Cortese argued it caused a wave of departures in San Jose.
Liccardo said restoring pay and benefits ultimately helps recruitment.
