Larry Cohen is running for a full elected term as San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Shirley Nakawatase is the other candidate in the nonpartisan race.

Asked why he is running, Cohen said in our candidate questionnaire: "I've spent the past year serving as your appointed Treasurer-Tax Collector and in that time, my office maintained the county's AAA credit rating for a 27th consecutive year, generated a record $591 million in extra investment income, and collected over $9 billion in property taxes at a 99% success rate." He added: "I want San Diego County residents to have a Treasurer-Tax Collector judged on results, not rhetoric, and I'm asking voters to let me finish the job I started."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Democrat."

Education: "I attended the International School of Manila while living overseas, then Southwestern College, before transferring to and graduating from UC San Diego with a BA in Political Science. I later earned my MBA from Strayer University in Virginia."

Family: "Married for 30 years to Laura and have three boys, 27, 25 and 21."

Experience and public service

Cohen said he "currently serve[s] as San Diego County's Treasurer-Tax Collector, overseeing a 125-person department, an $18 billion investment portfolio, and the collection of more than $9 billion in property taxes annually."

He described his prior career: "I spent five years as Chief of Staff to Congressman Juan Vargas, running both his district and Capitol Hill offices. Earlier, I spent 23 years in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, including managing an international sales team of up to 60 people at MilliporeSigma, while also starting, building, and selling businesses of my own."

Asked about previous public offices, Cohen said: "I currently hold the office of San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector, appointed by the Board of Supervisors in November 2025 after a competitive selection process … I have not previously held elected office. Prior public-sector appointments include Chief of Staff to Congressman Juan Vargas (2020–2025), member of the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (appointed by Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer), and staff to then-Councilmember Juan Vargas at San Diego City Hall (1993–1996)."

On the issues

Cohen said on his campaign website that he wants to finish rolling out an updated Internal Property Tax System. He said the upgrade would improve data accuracy and make property tax administration more transparent.

He also said he plans to expand online payment options, arguing that higher digital adoption cuts processing costs for taxpayers. Cohen said he wants to expand programs helping property owners in financial hardship through flexible payment plans and early outreach. He is also focused on protecting seniors and other vulnerable residents from financial scams, including AI-driven fraud.

Asked what sets him apart, Cohen said in our questionnaire: "I've spent the past year actually running this office, on top of 25 years managing large-scale public and private operations … This job calls for proven financial management experience, not on-the-job learning. I'm the only candidate in this race who has already done the job — and has the results to prove it."

The race is Nov. 3. Residents can track the office's performance through the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector website, which publishes investment reports and collection data.