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Menlo Park Council member Maria Doerr won’t be on the ballot this fall. She’s opted not to seek reelection for her District 5 seat because of a move out of the area, according to a Tuesday, May 28, blog post.
In her post, Doerr explains that next summer, following the conclusion of her current council term, she will leave the city because of both work and personal circumstances. The council appointed Doerr to the seat in January 2023. She replaced former Council member Ray Mueller, who left the council to serve on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
“Serving on the Menlo Park City Council has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Doerr said in the blog post. “I have been privileged to work alongside dedicated colleagues, passionate residents, and caring staff who are committed to the betterment of our city. … To the people of Menlo Park, and especially to those in District 5, thank you for your openness and support.”
So far, no one has thrown their hat in the ring for the District 5 seat, which will be on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot.
Doerr said that serving on the council reinforced the importance of local government in “making meaningful changes that have both local and national impacts.” She also saw how vital local advocates and grassroots organizations are in creating change.
“Being the youngest City Council member in Menlo Park’s history and the first renter to represent District 5 meant I had different perspectives to contribute to the council,” she said. “It’s affirmed to me that who represents us matters and that the perspectives of diverse local leaders are critical to ensuring a representative democracy. I am confident that my public service journey will continue after I leave Menlo Park.”
‘Being the youngest City Council member in Menlo Park’s history and the first renter to represent District 5 meant I had different perspectives to contribute to the council.’
menlo park council member maria doerr
Doerr said one of the highlights of her tenure has been engaging with residents.
“Whether through my office hours at Woodside Bakery, visits with school classrooms and Scout troops, canvassing door-to-door on local issues, or participating in community events, I have cherished every opportunity to connect with Menlo Park neighbors to listen, learn, and share how folks can make a difference locally,” she said. “I’m eager to continue engaging with residents of all ages in the coming months.”
For the remaining months of her term, Doerr will focus on addressing the community’s priorities, especially improving street safety, advancing sustainability and climate action, and making the city a vibrant, healthy and inclusive place for all residents, she said.
She also invited residents to contact her if they are interested in running for the District 5 seat to offer insights and answer questions.Read her full post on her website, mariadoerr.com.
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She accomplished what she came to do.
It’s worth noting that the way city council members are treated in places like these online forums dissuade many reasonable people from running for office. It’s sad to me that we applaud active citizens and then ascribe nefarious intentions to them when they are in office. I may not agree with every vote that every council member takes, but I don’t think any of them are doing it for developer kickbacks and we should stop leveling that accusation. Of course we can disagree and we should speak up about the issues we care about. We should also appreciate that they are donating (voluntarily) hundreds and hundreds of hours to helping make our city better.