After cattle grazing was stopped to appease environmentalists, elk also disappeared. A band of ecologists, scientists and other experts found a fungus sealing the ground from rain and keeping the elk’s main food source — grass — from growing. When the cattle were brought back their grazing broke up the fungus, causing a chain reaction until the elk were given grass again.

“That’s what you call sustainability,” he said.

If that ecological circle represents one of San Mateo County’s problems, Rubin wants his new Peninsula Coalition to be the driving force bringing the problem solvers together. But don’t define Rubin as a mediator. Instead, he wants to use public policy to actually reach a conclusion even if that means endorsing that conclusion himself.

Rubin, 55, formally created the broad-based group of stakeholders less than a year ago but has been mulling the idea of a non-partisan group since he worked on Mayor George Moscone’s election campaign in San Francisco. Moving from a 20-something renter into married homeowner with children, Rubin realized that perspectives on issues usually depend on where you are figuratively sitting. Throughout a two-decade career peppered with politics and public relations, Rubin always wanted to find a way to marry the rhetoric of public policy with action.

Hence, the coalition — originally called the Peninsula Alliance until Rubin learned the name was already taken — was born. Rubin serves as president and CEO of the group currently housed in a South San Francisco warehouse with director of operations Annie Eagan and a clerk. The bare-bones operation is indicative of Rubin’s vision: no fuss, no flare, just a straight-forward approach to reaching solutions amenable to everyone involved even if they don’t agree on the means. Harkening back to the Montana ranch, environmentalists may not like grazing but they agreed so the elk would be restored.

The problem with many groups is they butt heads over politics or methods, losing sight of the end goal. Some also can only see short-term financial goals rather than a long view of sustainability. Working on ways to maintain San Mateo County as it continues developing into an economic hot spot is the coalition’s priority.

The coalition is actively recruiting business, political, education and labor leaders — pretty much anyone who can lay claim to the county’s future. While most issues reach beyond city and regional borders, Rubin said his group is focusing on San Mateo County. Assemblyman Gene Mullin, D-San Mateo, and Tom Mohr, former San Mateo Union High School superintendent are working on an educational summit. Rubin also wants large meetings on transportation and housing in the near future.

Rubin, a San Francisco resident who uses BART as often as possible, is first targeting the re-authorization of Measure A, the half-cent sales tax which pays for transportation projects and infrastructure maintenance. Commonly referred to as “pot hole” money, the tax sunsets in 2008 unless two-thirds of voters support a 20-year extension next Tuesday.

Although the group started with Measure A — it was on the table, after all — it really didn’t matter what issue was tackled first. Each leads into the other, Rubin said.

One primary issue underlying all is finding a tax base to sustain the county in all its needs. To create the base, the county must attract business. To attract business, educated workers and consumers are needed which in turn calls for affordable and workforce housing. In the end, everything must be addressed.

The biggest challenge is land use and regional planning, he said. Rubin, who calls transportation “arterial,” found a soft spot for the problem in 1988 while serving as chief of staff for former state Sen. Quentin Kopp. Kopp, now a San Mateo County judge, chaired the Senate Transportation Committee. The position gave Rubin a first-hand look at transit. It also offered a taste of what it was like to follow the political process to fruition beyond election night.

He never aspired, though, to be the actual candidate. A methodical speaker with a fondness for the word “lovely,” Rubin is not above sharpening his tone or slipping in an epithet to make a point. He understands politicians’ need for charisma and how they thrive off the public at large. Rubin prefers to place his energy elsewhere.

In high school, Rubin successfully ran his friend’s vice-presidential campaign. Another win followed in college before Rubin made it his career. Those behind-the-scenes efforts took Rubin through three presidential campaigns, service as political director of the California Democratic Party and seats on multiple task forces and boards.

As Rubin sees it, some people are the catcher and some are the pitcher.

“The catcher is a noble position,” he said.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.