With an all-too-rare open seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, residents of District 3, which ranges from the western half of south county cities to rural coastside communities and large swaths of open space lands, and includes Atherton, Portola Valley, Woodside and west Menlo Park, have two strong candidates to choose from when voting for their next representative.
Both are popular elected officials in their communities. Small business owner Laura Parmer-Lohan has served one, four-year term on the San Carlos City Council and attorney Ray Mueller has served on the Menlo Park City Council for 10 years. Each enjoys support from diverse local elected officials and community leaders. Mueller's previous experience as chief of staff for Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian helped him secure support from regional and state officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.
As far as their positions on the top issues go, the two have a great deal in common, from a commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change to protecting reproductive rights and supporting the county's agricultural economy that's been badly hurt by drought and housing shortages. Both oppose Menlo Park's Measure V, and both speak knowledgeably about wildfire risks, the county's lack of affordable child care and strategies for managing the ongoing risks of COVID-19.
One of the key differences in the two is in their lived experiences. The board of supervisors has been the exclusive province of White men for much of its history, and the addition of Parmer-Lohan, a member of the LGBTQ community, would add welcomed diversity.
However, we were impressed with Mueller's specificity in outlining ideas for tackling problems, such as increasing equity in local education funding by creating a joint powers agreement benefitting the neediest school districts, expanding the county's medical and other services on the coast and cleaning up processes in the county planning department to make outcomes fairer and more predictable.
He's intimately familiar with the needs of Menlo Park and surrounding south county towns, but he's also demonstrated an impressive grasp of Coastside issues, which are mostly the purview of county government, and we applaud his commitment to opening an office there to provide the kind of in-person attention those unincorporated areas deserve.
Both candidates have what it takes to serve on the Board of Supervisors, but we find Mueller, with his depth of experience and large network of elected officials, has the edge over Parmer-Lohan and is the best equipped to take on the challenges of this large and diverse part of San Mateo County.
Comments
Registered user
Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Oct 23, 2022 at 6:21 pm
Registered user
on Oct 23, 2022 at 6:21 pm
Not sure what you mean by large network of elected officials, but often that is not a good thing. For example, I was greatly disappointed to find out that Mr. Mueller has received $95,000 from the oil companies. You can't say you are for green energy and represent our coast when you receive this sort of support.
496 Independent Expenditure Report showing the funding by Committee for Jobs and the Economy, Sponsored by Energy Companies and Building Trades Unions Representing Working Men and Women @ Web Link
410 form (the last one which indicates "paper") showing the oil companies contributing to the, per usual, misleading name, Committee for Jobs and the Economy, Sponsored by Energy Companies and Building Trades Unions Representing Working Men and Women @ Web Link
Registered user
Menlo Park: University Heights
on Oct 23, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Registered user
on Oct 23, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Unfortunately, what SoodyQ just posted is not true.
Both I and my campaign have not received any money from oil companies. It's unfortunate my opponent is misleading people this way. On Thursday this week campaign finance documents will be reported from my campaign, on the normal schedule, proving this fact.
First, there are campaign contribution limits of $1000 in the General Election in the Supervisor race, so it would be illegal for my campaign to even accept such a contribution.
What did happen in this race, as far I can tell, is that an Independent Expediture Committee opened an account and chose to run it's own ads to support the candidate it preferred. This is an entity completely separate from my campaign. It has it's own First Amendment right to do what it wants separate from me.
My guess is this entity chose to support my campaign, because my opponent supported a measure that would raise taxes in the primary, and the economy is in bad shape right now. I opposed that measure because I was concerned it would hurt working families and fixed income seniors. But that is a guess.
I don't actually know why, because I have never communicated with them.
Regardless, my campaign did not recieve this money and it was not under my control.
It's also important to note I have not had one single environmental or clean energy endorser drop their endorsement of me since it happened. I am still solely endorsed in this race by the Sierra Club, iconic environmentalist Lennie Roberts, Supervisor Dave Pine - who started Peninsula Clean Energy, former Pacifica Mayor John Keener, Senator Josh Becker, and many more.
If anyone has any further questions about this, please feel free to call me at (650) 776-8995.
I won't be checking this thread again, so best to call me.
Registered user
Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Oct 24, 2022 at 9:32 am
Registered user
on Oct 24, 2022 at 9:32 am
Thank you Ray. I was about to post a clarification this morning when I got back to my desk.
Correct: Your campaign did not receive a direct contribution from this Committee. The Committee (which is despite its misleading name, is funded by all oil companies, Martinez Refinery Company, Philips 66, Chevron Corporation, Marathon Petroleum ) chose to spend $95K worth of digital ads to support your campaign.
However, as to economy being in bad shape, according to the Governor this morning, California economy is now the 4th in the world surpassing Germany (although the average people in California are hurting bad so not sure who this economy is benefitting).
Further, my comment has nothing to do with any other candidates.
Best