New challenges for head of county Board of Supervisors New challenges for head of county Board of Supervisors (January 28, 2004)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Heading into 2004, Mark Church, the new president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, faces a tough challenge: to save county services from the state budget ax, while promoting an ambitious agenda to improve transportation, housing, health care, child care and education.

Supervisor Church assumed his new position from outgoing president Rose Jacobs Gibson at a ceremony January 7 at Jordan Middle School in Millbrae, which he had attended.

Mr. Church sounded a note of hope that the economy is turning around. "Traffic has increased at the airport, which is always a good indicator," he said.

Among this year's priorities, Mr. Church listed:

** Reauthorizing the Measure A transportation sales tax that has pumped $800 million into transportation projects in the county. Reauthorization is scheduled to be on the November ballot.

** Promoting affordable workforce housing along the Caltrain corridor.

** Promoting comprehensive health care through development of a new birthing center and a Geriatric Assessment Center at the San Mateo Medical Center.

** Pushing for more affordable child care and universal pre-school.

** Building a strategy to attract and maintain bio-science and medical technology industries, including educational programs.

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