"He's used the role of San Francisco mayor not just in the traditional way, making sure Muni buses arrive on time, but to pursue innovative policies on a number of national issues," said Corey Cook, an assistant professor of politics at the University of San Francisco.
As governor, Newsom said, he would have three priorities: reducing poverty, providing universal access to healthcare and improving the state's education system. Boosting student test scores and reducing class sizes would be two measurements of success, he said, but only part of a change that would urge closer collaboration between Sacramento and local governments. "It's not just funding everything at a higher level," Newsom said of his goal for schools.
