By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
In November, former California Assemblymember Kevin McCarty was elected Mayor of Sacramento.
He was sworn into this new role on Dec. 10.
Before becoming Mayor, McCarty represented the 6th Assembly District for 10 years. This district includes most of Sacramento and parts of Sacramento County.
During his time in the Assembly, McCarty authored over 90 measures that became law including the Universal Preschool Act, the American River Parkway Conservancy Act, Independent Investigations in Police Shootings, among others.
McCarty and his wife Leticia have twin daughters, Victoria and Barbara.
California Black Media (CBM) spoke with McCarty as he concludes his term in the Legislature to reflect on his accomplishments this year as he enters his new role as Mayor.
Looking back at 2024, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why?
I had a bill that was an urgency measure that was signed in June. It creates a new class for high school students to learn about financial literacy; to learn about dollars and cents and what it means to be a young person today as far as credit cards, student debt, buying a house and all the things that come that come with being an adult. I’m excited that my bill became law.
How did your leadership and investments contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians?
Black Californians are certainly a part of my legislative agenda. My Assembly district was very similar to California, way less than 10% Black population. But the issue is that education and health care and housing and poverty loom large — how they impact Black Californians.
What frustrated you the most over the last year?
We are in a downturn in our economy with our state budget. So, I wasn’t able to score some final victories on some of my top priorities like the middle-class scholarship to make college debt-free.
What inspired you the most over the last year?
There’s so much work to be done and this was my final year in the Legislature. So, looking at all of our successes and trying to be able to make a difference and help change people’s lives throughout California.
What is one lesson you learned in 2024 that will inform your decision-making next year?
It takes time. This work is not easy. Look at this firestorm we’re in right now about reparations and what we did and didn’t do. This work is not easy. If it was easy, we would have done it a long time ago.
But it’s our job to continue to fight, push forward and keep at it.
In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?
Patience.
You know, we want some of these reparations policies to happen now. So, it’s hard to be patient. We want to see change now and so we just have to keep plugging along.
What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2025?
I won the race for Mayor here in my hometown, Sacramento.
So, I will continue work in public service, serving people and making a difference in people’s lives. Just a different vantage point being a Mayor versus an Assemblymember. But it’s always the same thing. It’s helping people, public service, making a difference, and remembering those who don’t always have government on their side.
