Incumbents vs. Outsiders

Inside out: There have been several responses and updates to last week's column, Can an Outsider Win (a seat on the Board of Supervisors). Joe Galligan called to inform me that he plans to run for county tax collector/treasurer, a position now held by Lee Buffington. Buffington's term is up in 2010 and he may choose not to run again. Galligan is a former mayor and councilman of Burlingame. He is a certified public accountant and has run his own tax practice for the past 30 years. He was also the director of a local bank. He is actively campaigning for the position and is already lining up endorsements. Mark Church, who I reported might also be interested in the post, says for now he is concentrating on the big job of board president and is keeping options open for the future. He has a degree in business administration. Meanwhile John Ward shared some history: In June 1974, in their first runs for public office, two outsiders unseated incumbents on the Board of Supervisors. A high school teacher named John Ward defeated two-term incumbent Bob St. Clair of 49ers football fame and the late Ed Bacciocco ousted incumbent Gerald Ged? Day. To my knowledge, it was the first time in the history of San Mateo County supervisor elections that two incumbents were defeated in the same election.?

(source: Sue Lempert, Daily Journal) *** Burlingame has three council seats open for the next election and I hope that there will be some "outsiders" who will come forward - we need you!

- Written by Fiona

Comments

[Fiona]

According to the Daily Journal today:

***

Burlingame Planning Commissioner Michael Brownrigg picked up a candidate binder to run for City Council Monday.

Burlingame-based insurance agent Kevin Osborne previously picked up a binder. All three incumbents — Mayor Ann Keighran, Vice Mayor Cathy Baylock and Councilwoman Rosalie O’Mahony — previously pulled papers. No one has filed papers as of yet.

***

With one incumbent being "vulnerable" (not my word) it looks like the Burlingame City Council election in November will be alot more interesting if Michael and/or Kevin file papers and run for City Council.

[Holy Roller]

I think it is a great time for O'Mahoney to leave.
She has given her "all" to make the City of Burlingame the "Gem of the Penninsula".
Happy Trails Elder O'Mahoney!

[Holy Roller]

Does any one know how "Broadway Joe Galligan" developed such a large CPA practice?

[Fiona]

Now with Gene Condon pulling papers, the election gets more and more interesting by the day and I can't wait to see who actually files papers and is a serious contender.

Will all the three incumbents run and will all three contenders run?

The mystery continues ....

[Fiona]

Burlingame council race now official
August 05, 2009, 09:43 PM By Heather Murtagh (Daily Journal)

Burlingame Planning Commissioner Michael Brownrigg’s announcement yesterday that he will run for City Council makes the race for three seats — currently held by Mayor Ann Keighran, Vice Mayor Cathy Baylock and Councilwoman Rosalie O’Mahony — a contested one.

The announcement may not be the final lineup on November’s ballots. Candidates have until Friday to file. Former Traffic, Safety and Parking commissioner Gene Condon is currently gathering signatures with plans to file by the Friday deadline. Burlingame-based insurance agent Kevin Osborne previously picked up a candidate binder but could not be reached for comment about his intentions.

Brownrigg, 47, announced his intentions to run for City Council via e-mail yesterday morning noting concerns over city finances and leadership. He lives in Burlingame with his wife Marty and their four children, ages 5 to 16, and has been active in the Burlingame community for more than 12 years.

Brownrigg served for eight years on the Planning Commission, including work on the Safeway Working Group. He worked on the city’s Green Ribbon Task Force, coached youth baseball and soccer over the years and serves on the Foundation for College Education board.

Brownrigg is challenging all three incumbents. Unseating an incumbent is not unheard of in Burlingame. In 2007, Jerry Deal joined the council after generating 23 percent of the vote compared to 22.2 percent generated by then councilman Russ Cohen who was ending a two-year term. Councilwoman Terry Nagel was the last person to unseat a councilmember who served a full term. Nagel joined the council in 2003 as a grassroots outsider beating Mary Janney, who had more than 20 years of experience.

There is still time for a couple of names to be added to the ballot.

Condon is still collecting signatures, but said yesterday he plans to file by Friday. This would be the third attempt by the Burlingame native to join the council. Condon, who is married with three children, spent a lot of cash in 2005 in an unsuccessful attempt to join the council. His campaign made headlines in 2007 when others were caught stealing lawn signs supporting Condon, an act that led to two petty theft infractions for local radio personality Joe McConnell. Condon owns a lumber business in San Mateo.

Osborne — a Burlingame-based insurance agent and former co-chair of Help Protect Burlingame, which supported the recent successful storm drain fee measure — previously picked up a candidate binder for the upcoming race, but could not be reached for comment.

***
Great news that Mr. Brownrigg will run. As a respected planning commissioner he will bring less of the histrionic and the hysterical and more intelligent and reasoned thinking to our council.

[Mr. Slate]

Don't lose Rosalie O'Mahony in this difficult time. We need her to help us navigate these rough seas. In a time when we need to tighten our belts and figure out how to fill some of these empty storefronts, we need someone who has been a friend of Burlingame business for many years. Who better than Rosalie? Not agood time to introduce expensive government programs and mandates to force more local businesses to move.

Burlingame United for a Stronger Tax-base (BUST)

[JROC]

histrionics - a deliberate display of emotion for effect display - behavior that makes your feelings public; "a display of emotion"

hysterical Adjective
1. in a state of uncontrolled panic, anger, or excitement: a crazy hysterical adolescent

Someone in City Council gets emotional??? Who could be the subject of Mrs. Hamilton's comments? Will this be the "hardest working" male on the Council?

Themain issues from Mr. Browrigg's site:

1. Safeway: Did the working group really achieve anything? Safeway walked away and came up with thier own design once they found that they didn't need City parking.

2. City Finances: He wants to "think ahead" and attract business to Burlingame. Hardly a novel idea. If we look at campaign literature from 10 years ago, it will say the same. No specifics. What exactly are you going to do different than has been done to attract businesses? Our retail tax base is hurting badly with many empty storefronts on the Avenue. What is your plan to revitalize the downtown?

3.High Speed Rail-He suggests that we band together with other Cities in the Peninsula. Didn't we already do that? Did he make any statements raising questions about the HSR from his seat in the Planning Comission? This one REALLY needs new ideas!!!

4.Environment: Great ideas. Truly, I agree with his recommendations and one day when we have the funds for new programs, it will be great to implement them.

5. Neighborhoods: Once again, affordable housing is a big issue in Burlingame. We have been talking about it for years. The sad reality is that young City workers do not buy homes in Burlingame. Heck, many of my neighbors couldn't afford to buy in Burlingame today. Allowing huge condominium towers will not make our City more affordable.

6. Scools: I am not sure why this is an issue for the City's race. I did not read about his activities in support for Measure A or BCE which raised funds for the Schools. What is his track record on this?

[Fiona]

May I humbly suggest that you go to the other candidates websites for their insights on the issues in our town. The silence is deafening!

http://www.annkeighran.com/
http://www.baylock.com/
http://www.rosalieomahony.com/
(in order of updated content on issues)

I look forward to the debates where the candidates will show us which ones know the issues, which ones care about the issues and which ones will work hard on those issues.

Sincerely, Mrs. Hamilton

[Fiona]

Apologize to Mr. Brownrigg for not including his website address with the other three candidates:

www.mbrownrigg.com

[Fiona]

Rosalie's website is now up and running and very informative especially about the numerous committees she has been a member of and her opinion about the issues:

http://www.rosalieomahony.com/issues.html

No news on Baylock's site about her opinion on high speed rail though her burning "issues" listed are crossing guards, BART and the SFO runway expansion!

Ann's website is up to date and informative including about high speed rail - http://annkeighran.com/main/About_Ann/_page8.htm

Thanks Rosalie and Ann.

[Black Kettle]

This Incumbents vs. Outsiders blog is 6 months old. You seem to like old stuff. Except JROCs week old questions haven't been answered yet.

[Fiona]

Kettle calling the kettle black - I would love to start a new thread on this one but the Fuchensian editors have not given me that capability.

So I apologize for a 6-month old "old" blog but it is still relevant now as it was six months ago and probably more so as we have a "vulnerable" (not my word) candidate and a just announced "outsider". Something even kettles should appreciate!