Mike Nevin keeps feet on the political stage Mike Nevin keeps feet on the political stage (January 12, 2005)

** Former supervisor holds key transportation seats; Tissier joins SamTrans Board on 3-2 vote.

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Mike Nevin may have left the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors after three terms, but he will continue to maintain a high profile as he campaigns to replace Sen. Jackie Speier when she leaves the state Senate in 2006.

Mr. Nevin, the board's top expert in the Byzantine world of transportation, will still be serving on five agencies that plan transportation for the county and the Bay Area.

Last week, he was elected president of the Peninsula Joint Powers Board (JPB), the three-county agency that runs Caltrain.

A few weeks earlier, Mr. Nevin's appointment as a public member of the nine-member board that runs SamTrans, the county's bus agency, stirred charges of cronyism.

When Mr. Nevin lost his supervisor's seat on the SamTrans board, he was appointed to a public member's seat previously held by Al Teglia, also of Daly City, for 20 years. In order to continue serving on the JPB, Mr. Nevin has to be a member of the SamTrans board.

"Transportation is a very complex and expensive issue. It takes time to build expertise," Mr. Nevin told the Almanac. He has served on these boards ever since he became a supervisor 12 years ago.

Mr. Nevin also serves on the Joint Powers Board planning a new Trans-Bay Terminal in downtown San Francisco to connect Caltrain with other regional bus and train lines. In addition, he holds one of the San Mateo County's two seats on the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and chairs its Bay Area Toll Authority. "If ever there's a regional issue, it's transportation," he said.

Also running for Sen. Speier's seat is Assemblyman Leland Yee, D. San Francisco, and -- possibly -- former Assemblyman Lou Papan. Sen. Speier is running for lieutenant governor.
Tissier to SamTrans: 3-2

The flap over Mr. Nevin's appointment to SamTrans spilled over to the Board of Supervisors first meeting of the year, January 4, and led to its first split vote.

New Supervisor Adrienne Tissier, who succeeded Mr. Nevin as supervisor, also expected to succeed him on the SamTrans Board.

Supervisor Rich Gordon, the new board president, challenged the appointment and nominated himself to the SamTrans post. He worried about having four members of the SamTrans board from a single city, Daly City, and called for greater representation from throughout the county. "Some newspapers have charged cronyism, and I tend to agree," he said.

The vote was 3-2 to appoint Supervisor Tissier, a former mayor of Daly City, to the SamTrans board. Supervisor Mark Church joined Supervisor Gordon, while Supervisors Jerry Hill and Rose Jacobs Gibson joined Supervisor Tissier.

"Residency has never played a role in decision-making," said Supervisor Hill. "We (supervisors) are elected at large and represent citizens throughout the county."

The SamTrans board is made up of two supervisors; three city council members from north, central and south county; two public members; and a transit expert. He is Art Lloyd of Portola Valley.

The Daly City members are now Daly City Councilman Mike Guingona, public members Mike Nevin and Shirley Harris, and Supervisor Tissier.

Supervisor Tissier, CEO of Bay Relations, argued that she has more than 20 years of private-sector experience creating transportation and housing. "I think I'd bring a fresh perspective which the board hasn't had," she said.

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