San Mateo County Election Roundup 2009

San Mateo County Political Directory

The aftermath of the November 2009 local elections in San Mateo County yielded some surprises that, while not obvious as predictions, may have significance for the long term. Here are those that I expect to have the greatest long-term impact in the county:

Broadmoor

In what may have been the fiercest yet most ignored election in San Mateo County, upstart and recent transplant Hanley Chan was defeated in his bid to unseat one of two incumbents running for the Broadmoor Police Protection District Commission.

Outside of the small enclave of Broadmoor – an unincorporated patch surrounded by incorporated Daly City -- few county residents could even identify the district on a map. Nonetheless Broadmoor residents support a police district governed by a three-member commission.

Hanley Chan, a now suspended member of the San Francisco Patrol Special Police, a quasi police agency that dates back to the gold rush days, made an unsuccessful bid for one of the seats. Chan’s professional troubles and recent residence in Broadmoor attracted a great deal of derision in a community already known for its rancor.

At present, Chan is under suspension from the Patrol Special Police due to a variety of charges pending against him including wearing his Patrol Special Police uniform and badge at a Los Angeles firing range while Chan and some buddies were firing off rounds and demonstrating and talking about what is known as “bump firing” semi-automatic weapons. There are numerous other complaints against Chan locally as well for a variety of foolish infractions. Some of these charges have stemmed from complaints leveied against Chan in San Francisco but also by the Chief of the Broadmoor PD, Greg Love, Daly City Councilwoman Maggie Gomez and even employees and customers of a local shooting range.

Seems Chan just can’t go anywhere these days without drawing complaints or being accused of impersonating a police officer in a variety of different ways.

Chan’s bid for the Broadmoor Police Protection District Commission ended in a predictable defeat.

Brisbane

The City of Brisbane saw an upset with the victory of Planning Commissioner Cliff Lentz. On the losing end of the election was two term incumbent Michael Barnes. Brisbane has two major issues, the potential Baylands development which could – if it includes new housing which Barnes opposed – remake Brisbane. Lentz, in his campaign material indicated that he generally supports additional housing, at least somewhere in Brisbane.

Lentz states: “We need progressive leadership that will acknowledge Brisbane's responsibility to contribute to our region's sustainability -- while never losing focus on the importance of preserving our city's small-town character.”

While Lentz’s election does not necessarily mean that Brisbane voters have suddenly embraced big-time housing development, it does appear that representatives of the old guard may no longer have a lock on the Brisbane electorate and a new generation is moving in.

South San Francisco

All three incumbents in South City were reelected to the City Council. That outcome was never really in doubt. But what is more telling is that the now perennial candidate and local activist Kamala Wolfe has now lost three straight city council elections and actually earned fewer votes this time around despite the fact that she was running in a race with fewer candidates in the 2009 election than in 2007.

San Bruno

San Bruno Mayor Larry Franzella chose not to run for reelection this November, possibly in response to being found guilty of confict-of-interest by the California Fair Political Practices Commission regarding his real-estate holdings affected by votes he made in support of grade separation for BART through San Bruno.

This permitted longtime Councilman Jim Ruane to step up from this group of veteran council members as the mayoral candidate. Facing only one opponent, Miguel Araujo, Ruane garnered nearly three-quarters of vote, which caused there to be a vacant seat on the council. This means that either there will either be a special election or the Council will appoint someone early next year.

This could be an unusual turn of events for San Bruno, which has not had a vacant council seat in in decades. In fact the only change of face that San Bruno has seen in decades was when Rico Medina defeated long-time incumbent Chris Pallas in 2005.

Burlingame

The Burlingame City Council election produced the most dramatic results to in the county. Five term incumbent Rosalie O’Mahony lost her reelection bid, coming in fourth behind two-term incumbent Cathy Baylock but 111 votes and counting. O’Mahony’s departure marks a significant change for the City of Burlingame and represents another shift away from San Mateo County’s old guard politics.

But what has been little discussed outside of Burlingame is the surprising first place showing of planning commissioner and new candidate Michael Brownrigg. The newcomers’ vote topped that of incumbent Mayor Ann Keighran whose plans to run for the County Supervisor seat now occupied by Mark Church are well known.

Keighran, backed by her well-healed family’s development interests, is considered to be Burlingame’s political heavyweight. But Brownrigg’s big win has shaken up the order of things in Burlingame and a new political star may have been born. Moreover, Brownrigg won without the backing of the San Mateo County Central Labor Council, the Democratic Party or any of heavyweight elected officials with the notable exception of State Senator Leland Yee who did endorse Brownrigg in addition to Burlingame Councilwoman Terry Nagel and San Mateo Union High School District Trustee Dave Pine.

San Mateo

Newcomer David Lim rocketed to the top spot in the San Mateo City Council election as had been expected by almost everyone in San Mateo. But what was less obvious was the second place finisher Robert Ross, a former police lieutenant for the city who did not enjoy the backing of the local political class, although he was supported by the both the police and fire fighter unions.

Ross beat out two incumbents including Mayor Brandt Grotte who was seeking his second term. Ross’ victory also prevented appointed incumbent Fred Hansson from successfully winning a full term on the council making Hansson’s tenure on the council one of the shorter stints in San Mateo’s history.

But more significant is the fact that Ross was not the preferred candidate of the San Mateo political class and is again another example of the county’s political applecart being upset.

San Carlos

San Carlos voters proved once again unwilling to invest in their community by rejecting a 0.5-cent sales tax increase known as Measure I. For San Carlos, this has been a perennial problem as voters and even a member of the council have consistently opposed just about any increase in taxes for any reason – including additional funding for their public safety services.

The loss was particularly interesting as a variety of new taxes including a sales tax, hotel taxes, parcel taxes and utility taxes were approved by voters in eight other cities except Redwood City.

The New Demographics

Elections always have interesting consequences but the subtleties are sometimes lost. This year, the most significant story may be the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates who ran for local office.

Incumbents such as South San Francisco Mayor Karyl Matsumoto, Half Moon Bay Councilmember Naomi Patridge, and San Bruno Councilman Ken Ibarra all ran for reelection and easily won their respective seats.

But many newcomers such as David Lim of San Mateo and Jeff Gee of Redwood City won council seats in their respective cities and will serve as likely the first APIA council members in those communities.

In addition, newcomer Julie Chan won a seat on the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District Boars of Trustees.

In addition there were as many as six other APIA candidates who ran for local office and did not win but nonetheless represented the largest number of APIA community members running for local office at any one time in San Mateo County.

For those not paying attention this means that the APIA vote is growing, members of those communities will run for office and many will win and further change the face of San Mateo County.

Contact Bruce Balshone at bruce.examiner@gmail.com

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