A correction to an earlier version of this article has been appended to the end of the article.
HAYWARD — Mayor Mark Salinas will face off against Republican political newcomer Tom Wong in the Nov. 3 election, pitting several years of city leadership under a Democrat against a conservative challenger.
Salinas is seeking reelection to a second term, after he first won the mayor’s office in 2022. He also served as a councilmember in 2010 and won reelection in 2016 and 2020.
Wong is an Alameda County Republican Party chairperson who has worked in private security for nearly 30 years. He said he moved to Hayward about three years ago.
“For me, the budget is top priority and it’s making sure that we get out of this deficit that we’re in now,” Salinas told Bay Area News Group.
Hayward, the Bay Area’s fifth-largest city, with a population of over 162,000 people, faces a $26 million budget deficit this year due to about $30 million in previous overspending that drained the city’s financial reserves. The fiscal crisis has been compounded by major spending on police overtime.
To close the gap, city employees agreed earlier this year to forego 4% cost of living adjustments until the 2027 fiscal year. The city council, mayor, city attorney and clerk all also agreed to pause modest salary raises this year. All together, those concessions saved the city $7.5 million.
Still, residents suffered cuts to library hours and some reductions in services at the city’s animal shelter.
This year, the council agreed to put a business license tax on the Nov. 3 ballot to generate some new revenue, which Salinas supports.
Measure CC asks residents to approve a “minimum tax rate of $60 and rates from $.30 to $3.75 per $1,000 of gross receipts” on Hayward businesses in order to generate an estimated $12 million annually “until repealed,” according to the ballot language.
Salinas said that, despite the city’s budget problems, Hayward has improved under his leadership. The incumbent mayor pointed to a low vacancy rate in the city’s industrial zone, the recent reductions to police overtime and improvements to the city’s downtown, as evidence of his success.
“I’m not done with downtown. Downtown still needs buildings filled…We need to see the business owners to see what we’re building downtown and get ready to lease their properties,” Salinas said.
“My job as mayor is to make sure that when people plan an evening, or when they plan to go shopping, they choose Hayward first. I am very clear about that mission.”
To weather the city’s ongoing financial problems, Salinas said voters should choose him over Wong.
“I have a clear, proven record and I have a clear understanding of what it takes to pull people together, get things accomplished and accomplish things that lift an entire city,” Salinas said.
“Especially in today’s political economy, this is not the time for somebody without a record of service, without a record of working on policy for the city…who just comes in, puts his name on the ballot and hopes to see what happens.”
While Salinas brings a total of 16 years of elected public service experience to the race, Wong said he represents a more “Constitutional Republican” perspective.
“I’m looking at common sense, I’m looking at family values,” Wong told Bay Area News Group.
If elected, he said he plans to focus on bolstering the city’s police force and saving the city money by proposing a “Merchant Police” program for local businesses to volunteer to pay for Hayward Police officers’ salaries and benefits in exchange for their services.
He called this a “force multiplier,” and a potentially beneficial program for businesses such as local home owners’ associations or golf courses.
Also, to hire more cops, Wong said “we’re going to start advertising throughout the state of California and other states.”
Once in office, Wong said he would consult with Hayward Police Chief Bryan Matthews and other police officials to identify ways to increase incentives for hiring and determine problems with retention.
“Until I’ve figured that out, then we can tackle the issue. I can’t solve problems if I don’t know what the issues are,” Wong said.
When asked how he would address Hayward’s ongoing financial issues and budget deficit, Wong said: “I need more details from the budget.”
While he lacks experience in any formal political office, Wong said voters should pick him because “you’ll finally have a mayor that represents the community.”
“I’m listening to the community. I’m hearing that ‘the cost of living is too high. I can’t afford a home.’” Wong said.
“The workers in this city are saying we don’t want to be laid off, we want fair pay. We don’t want our wages to be cut. We don’t want our benefits to be cut. Right now the current mayor’s not listening.”
Correction: October 8, 2026 An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Tom Wong is a first-time political candidate. He has unsuccessfully run for various political offices multiple times.
