Voter Guide: For county Board of Supervisors: three insiders; two outsiders Voter Guide: For county Board of Supervisors: three insiders; two outsiders (February 18, 2004)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

The three members of the San Mateo County Supervisors to be elected March 2 will face enormous challenges in the areas of health care, housing, transportation, public safety, parks, services to children and seniors, and budgets, budgets, budgets.

Starting next January, there will be at least one new face on the board to confront those issues. Daly City Councilwoman Adrienne Tissier is running unopposed to replace Supervisor Mike Nevin in District 5. Following the model set by supervisors Jerry Hill and Mark Church, Ms. Tissier lined up major support early enough to discourage challengers.

Ironically, the two incumbent supervisors face opponents, neither of whom has ever held public office. In the First District, businessman Taso Zografos of Millbrae is challenging Supervisor Church, an attorney and former councilman in Millbrae. In the Fourth District, neighborhood activist Stanley Buetens of North Fair Oaks is running against Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson of East Palo Alto.

The challengers' task is made more difficult because of San Mateo County's unusual election system where supervisors reside in a single district, but are elected at large by voters throughout the county.
District 1

The race in District 1 pits Supervisor Church, who is the current president of the board and also chair of the county's Transportation Authority, against Mr. Zografos, a consultant and transportation planner who has worked with federal, state and regional governments.

Mr. Church, a veteran of two years of county budget cuts, stresses his record in promoting the economy, public safety, child care, and programs for youth and seniors. He is a strong supporter of improving public transportation and providing more housing along transportation corridors.

"The core problem is the constant erosion of local control," Mr. Church said. He cited the loss of $700 million in property taxes to the state over 10 years and another $24 million next year, and promised to fight for adequate money to pay for county services.

While agreeing with Mr. Church on many issues such as building housing near transportation, Mr. Zografos argues that he will bring new ideas and expertise to county government. In a recent forum, he called for across-the-board cuts in county departments, and technical innovation. "We should invest in technology," he said. "We should make government function better and smarter."
District 4

Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, a former council member and community leader in East Palo Alto, is defending her seat against Mr. Buetens, a teacher and paralegal, who has a running feud with the county building department. Mr. Buetens has tried to get a seat on the Board of Supervisors three previous times.

Ms. Jacobs Gibson cites her record in promoting human services: affordable housing, expanding health care coverage, supporting youth and seniors, and fighting domestic violence.

She is also working to block the state from balancing its budget by taking property tax money away from counties and cities. "Reform is really the only answer. We can't do it alone," she said at last week's forum.

Mr. Buetens argued that the county and Ms. Jacobs Gibson were not responsive to the public. He picked out the building department, which he called a "citadel. It can take years to get a permit," he said.

Mr. Buetens disagreed with the other candidates on the need for housing. Calling the housing shortage a myth, he said, "Why live here if you can't afford it? Let business provide housing for their employees."
District 5

Supervisor-to-be Tissier has built a solid record in government and community service, both in Daly City and countywide. She has served on the county Planning Commission, and is now a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission. In 1998, she was named the state Legislature's "Woman of the Year" for the 19th Assembly District.

She is also a business leader and CEO of the firm, Bay Relations, which has worked for many local governments and major businesses.

Ms. Tissier agrees with the incumbents on the need for more affordable housing near transportation hubs. "If they live here, they won't be clogging up the roads," she said at the public forum, which will be broadcast on Peninsula TV.

Parks are another priority for Ms. Tissier. She warned of another 17 percent cut in funding, on top of $78 million needed for keeping up county parks, and called for finding a source of money dedicated specifically to parks.

Ms. Tissier called for innovative thinking to solve the county's budget problems. "We are going to have to collaborate more closely," she said. "We must look at how to leverage dollars in health care and housing issues."

E-mail a friend a link to this story.