The economic downturn may have had its ways with the city’s coffers and the machinery of development seems to be at a standstill. But this will promise to be the quiet before the storm.

The city’s character was forever changed with the demolition of the Bay Meadows race track and new development along the transportation corridor is in the works. Even with the economic downturn, the city has created a development blueprint for the area along the Highway 101, State Route 92, El Camino Real and Caltrain line transportation corridor. The premise of the plan was to create new opportunities for residents to find affordable homes in the city and to locate it near public transit so people would not need to rely on their cars. In addition, it would help the city create new opportunities for the revenue that mixed-use development provides through offices and retail.

San Mateo is a complex city with rich, middle class, working class and transitional neighborhoods often right next to each other. It makes sense that its City Council should reflect that diversity.

With Jan Epstein termed out of office, there is one open seat on the council in addition to the ones currently held by Brandt Grotte and Fred Hansson. The latter was appointed to the position when Carole Groom was named to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Grotte has proven to be a thoughtful and active councilman with roots in the Shoreview neighborhood. He cut his political teeth in the United Homeowners Association and in his neighborhood’s battle with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s listing of the eastern side of the city on a flood map that forced costly and, some could argue, unnecessary insurance to protect their property from a 100-year flood. In his four years on the council, Grotte has kept his heart with the city’s people and tried to make the best decisions for them. His emphasis on environmental concerns has proven to be beneficial as he spreads the message that being green can have an economic benefit.

Bertha Sanchez, a former planning commissioner and longtime resident of North Central San Mateo, puts the active in activism. She has long been resolute in ensuring that low- or middle-income residents do not fall victim to the decisions made at the city level for reasons that do not necessarily benefit them. For too long, her neighborhood and its residents were severely affected by decisions made at City Hall and she has tirelessly fought for basic property rights. It was her work on the Winter Shelter Task Force that eventually led to the relocation of the National Guard Armory homeless shelter and she consistently argued that the quality of life of low- and middle-income residents should not come second. In her time on the Planning Commission, she asked tough questions and kept planners on their toes. She is running as the voice of the people, and that description could not be more apt. San Mateo has always had a challenge when it comes to balancing growth with the needs of current residents, and Sanchez has the will, determination and the smarts to meet that challenge. With a large amount of development on the horizon, she can be trusted to question city consultants and planners to make sure pie-in-the-sky ideas make sense as they become reality.

David Lim, a deputy district attorney for Alameda County, will bring a unique perspective to the council. With a background as a teacher, in politics working with the office of the late Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Matsui and time spent on the Community Relations Commission and local neighborhood watch, Lim has a solid foundation for work on the City Council. He has a young family and can bring a fresh perspective to a council with its recent share of the older demographic. He knows first-hand the challenges of raising a family and the impacts of certain decisions on working families.

Fred Hansson also has a rich background in San Mateo and has served the city well on the Planning and Public Works commissions. We encourage him to run again in the next election. But for now, the best choices to maintain a balance on the City Council with critical decisions on the imminent horizon are clear — Grotte, Lim and Sanchez.