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Candidate forums for June primary election
With the June primary election just around the corner, local organizations and community groups are helping educate voters about San Mateo County’s candidates and their platforms through a series of forums.
The Redwood City Woman’s Club together with the League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County is hosting a San Mateo County Sheriff candidate forum on April 27 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Woman’s Club at 149 Clinton St. in Redwood City and can also be viewed online here. Christina Corpus, captain and chief of police services for the City of Millbrae, is running against incumbent Sheriff Carlos Bolanos.
Thrive will co-host a forum for State Assembly District 21 candidates on Thursday, May 4, from 2-3:30 p.m. Redwood City Mayor Giselle Hale joins James Coleman, Mark Gilham, Maurice Goodman, Alison Madden, Diane Papan and Tania SolÈ in campaigning for California’s 21st district, whose cities are currently represented by Assembly members Kevin Mullin and Marc Berman.
Thrive Alliance and Choose Children 2022, a project of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, will host a forum for candidates for Board of Supervisors Districts 2 and 3 to discuss critical children’s issues on Thursday, May 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. The candidates Virginia Chang Kiraly, Noelia Corzo, Ray Mueller, Laura Parmer-Lohan and Charles Stone are running to replace outgoing supervisors Don Horsley, D-3, and Carole Groom, D-2.
Thrive will co-host the San Mateo County Sheriff candidates, Sheriff Carlos Bolanos and Sheriff’s Captain Christina Corpus, in a forum on Thursday, May 12. from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Most Thrive-hosted forums will take place virtually via Zoom and those with an in-person option will also have a virtual viewing option. Information on Thrive-sponsored forums are at thrivealliance.org.
The Statewide Direct Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, June 7. Vote by mail ballots for the election will be mailed out starting the week of May 9, according to the San Mateo County elections office. Residents have until May 31 to submit their application for a Vote by Mail ballot. For more information on registering to vote and different methods of submitting your ballot, visit smcvote.org.
– Leah Worthington
Menlo Park hosts park cleanup for Earth Day
Menlo Park’s Youth Advisory Committee is inviting community members for a cleanup day at Bedwell Bayfront Park on Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m, in recognition of Earth Day.
Volunteers under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Interested participants can sign up online at bit.ly/3K3qYAO.
Cañada College appoints new president
Kim Lopez, a former assistant dean of students at University of California, San Diego, and former interim president of College of San Mateo, will head Cañada College as its new president.
San Mateo County Community College District Chancellor Michael Claire announced the news on Tuesday, April 19.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Kim Lopez for several years and in several capacities,” Claire said in a press release. “I know her to be a leader of integrity and compassion with values that align to put students first and create a college environment that is equitable, diverse, inclusive and anti-racist. I am confident that she will lead Cañada College into a new era of success and commitment to the community.”
Lopez has been the interim president of Cañada College since Aug. 1, 2021, the news release stated. Before that, she held several roles at the college and the district, including as dean of enrollment services and counseling at Cañada and as vice president of student services at College of San Mateo.
Lopez will start her new role on July 1. The college district’s board of trustees is expected to formally approve Lopez’s appointment during its public May 11 meeting.
Menlo Park Rotary Club donates $41,000 in grants
The Rotary Club of Menlo Park donated a total of $41,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations this year, according to an April 14 press release from the organization.
The club focused on supporting nonprofits that provide food, shelter or educational support to youth and families impacted by COVID-19, the release stated. Eleven nonprofits received grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. Organizations included Ecumenical Hunger Program, Ravenswood Education Foundation, Menlo College Student Pantry, Nuestra Casa de East Palo Alto, Menlo-Atherton High School Learning Center and Live in Peace, among others. Half of the nonprofits were new recipients. They were honored on April 13 at the Allied Arts Guild.
In addition, the club donated $10,000 to the Almanac’s Holiday Fund, an annual donation drive that supports local nonprofits.
– Lloyd Lee
