The county civil grand jury has just issued a report chastising the Board of Supervisor for filling Jerry Hill’s old seat by appointing his replacement, rather than holding an election [pdf].
Democracy was suspended by the San Mateo Board of Supervisors in December 2008, due to an economic downturn. On November 4, 2008, a San Mateo County Supervisor for District 2 was elected to the California State Assembly. There were two years left on the Supervisor’s term. Three of the four supervisors decide that an estimated $1.6 million during the economically troubled time was too much to spend on an election and, therefore, made an appointment to fill the vacated seat.
Noting that “Since 1980, in San Mateo County, incumbents seeking reelection have been reelected 100% of the time”, the Grand jury recommends that open seats should be filled by election, or if the seat will be up for election in less than a year, appointment of a provisional member prohibited from running for that seat in the next election.


Photo: HMB HS students ask CUSD board to keep counselors, Mar 12 6:21am, Katharine Weber — The pleas were poignant, but a day too late. We all received our lay off notices the next day. The decision had been made during the four previous board meetings. By the time the Board met at Cunha, it was already decided…..but the support was ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 4:43pm, Carl May — People interested in the California state trail known as the California Coastal Trail, especially what kind of a trail (or trails) it might be, can get into it by Googling “California Coastal Trail SB 908 Chesbro.” Chesbro, out of Arcata, is an ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 4:06pm, Carl May — “Many of your neighbors don’t care. They want a bike and foot path, as it provides access to some coastal and community features in our area.” For those who don’t get out except to go from their car to their front door, and to those so ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 2:24pm, Kevin Barron — An overpass will NEVER happen here. It reeks of growth, development, and an iota of suburbanization. Many here want to hold tight to no-growth-weed-ridden-squalor. Allow no infrastructure improvements, so any attempts at “progress” is denied for ...
Photo: HMB HS students ask CUSD board to keep counselors, Mar 11 12:02pm, Kathryn Slater Carter — I heard the final student comments. The comments were excellent, the students were impressive. Alternate budget cuts were suggested. One student made a particularly critical point: Students must feel safe in school, from bullies and other ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 10 6:55pm, Barbara Kossy — I wonder how much of the traffic is due to parents taking kids to school, and picking them up from school. I notice when school is out, it’s a faster drive through Pacifica. Maybe it would be more effective to re-instate the use of school ...
CUSD to finalize cuts Weds, protests planned, Mar 10 4:50pm, Katharine Weber — Well, we all got notified that we are going to be officially laid off and the letter comes Friday. That’s all five Counselors in the district, including Ilene Bragman, who has served Cabrillo Unified since 1974. ...