County Supe Race - June 5th primary

Given how intertwined B'game is with San Mateo County's finances, we should pay a bit of attention to the other district Supes beyond our own (which is Dave Pine).  At the moment there are five candidates and local pundit Bruce Balshone has handicapped them by race and gender here.  The Daily Post handicapped them by money yesterday which was written before the fifth candidate announced:

Memo Morantes of Menlo Park has raised $37,329 for his bid for San Mateo County supervisor, leading a field of four candidates who hope to replace Rose Jacobs Gibson of East Palo Alto.  But his total includes a $25,000 loan he made to himself...In second place is Redwood City school board member Shelly Masur with $28,202.  She did not loan herself any money.

It sure looks cheaper to run in the southern end of the county than in the northern end, but check books are still opening.  Also according to the Post, Masur's donors include

Additionally, Karen Ross, California High-Speed Rail Authority deputy director, gave $300...

Soon it will be time to get past race, gender and cash to the issues.  To be continued. 

Comments

[Joe]

Here's another update from Bruce Balshone's blog:

A sixth candidate has entered the race to replace terming out Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson. Newly installed Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith has taken out the necessary paperwork with theSan Mateo County Elections Office to run for the seat.

Keith is a relatively new name on the county political scene having only been elected to the Menlo Park City Council for the first time in November of 2010. But apparently 14 months into her first elective office is enough to consider the next jump.

[Joe]

Here's John Horgan keeping a close eye on our Supes:

A majority on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors continues to be tone-deaf when it comes to the perception that the governing body operates in a kind of semiprivate, hermetically sealed environment.

Another reason for this persistent belief occurred earlier this month when the supervisors voted 3-2 to appoint Bob Adler as county controller to replace the retiring Tom Huening. Voting in favor were Adrienne Tissier, Don Horsley and Rose Jacobs Gibson. Voting against were Dave Pine and Carole Groom.

Adler has been the assistant controller. There was no public process in the selection of the new controller. That was the primary given reason why Pine and Groom voted no.

Adler, while apparently well-qualified for the position, could have been named to the top job on an interim basis with an option to check out other worthy candidates, even some from outside the county's familiar confines. But no. There wasn't even a modest nod in the direction of transparency.

It follows a disturbing pattern of insider personnel moves at the county level dating back many years. And there's more.

Presently, the controller's post is an elected one. The board is considering making it an appointed position, another indication of a habit that shows few signs of abating.

Huening will leave his office officially at the end of the month.

[Joe]

Good stuff coming from the Daily Journal:

Editor's note: Beginning this week, the Daily Journal will be profiling the eight candidates for the District Four supervisor election June 5. The candidates will be profiled in alphabetical order.

The first one is at:
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=232077&title=A long road to supervisor candidacy

[hillsider]

A Memo Morantes direct mail piece landed in my box today. He seems to be all about the money which I suppose is a good thing but he is also talking about consolidating services from the small cities to the county. I'm not so sure about that since it feels like the bigger cities doing the paying.