Burlingame moves forward with election for District 1

The city could have saved around $10,000 to $15,000 if it chose to move forward with an appointment of Pappajohn, rather than holding an election. That’s due to the cost of ballot designs and translation and printing costs, among other expenditures, City Clerk Meagan Hassel-Shearer said.

The process of appointing an unchallenged candidate, rather than holding an election, is often employed by school boards and special districts to save money. It has also been used by neighboring cities like Woodside, Atherton, Hillsborough and Menlo Park, Hassel-Shearer said.

Councilmembers decided to spend the money and move forward with an election for several reasons, including resident disenfranchisement and confusion around the district elections system and maximum voter education.

Burlingame’s 2022 switch to district elections as well as a switch from odd- to even-year elections has left residents more uncertain around the city’s elections processes and frustrated they cannot vote for all five councilmembers, Mayor Donna Colson said.

Putting the District 1 race on the ballot, which will also allow for certified write-in candidates, will allow voters the chance to participate in their choice of representation, Colson said.

“I feel that it is important to give voters the opportunity to cast a vote or not cast a vote, even if it is just one candidate, and for them to see on a written ballot who is representing them as an elected official,” she said.

As an official candidate for the seat, Pappajohn will also be more visible to voters and participate in campaign activity even though the race isn’t competitive, Vice Mayor Peter Stevenson said.

“I think it’s a benefit to the voters to hear from their candidate, particularly someone who has been appointed by the council, because at best we’re a proxy,” he said. “I think because they are on the ballot, they are also going to do the activity of running a candidacy, campaigning.”

Since 2003, there have been three write-in candidates who won election for the House of Representatives and Senate and three write-in mayoral candidates that won elections, newly-appointed interim Councilmember Stephanie Lee said.

Councilmember Michael Brownrigg originally voiced support for appointing Pappajohn, citing a low probability of a write-in candidate winning an election and fiscal benefits, although he changed his position after hearing from his colleagues.

Colson emphasized the importance of having competitive and interesting races for elected positions, a challenge magnified by district elections, she said.

“While it is a very difficult thing to run an election — you have to raise money, you have to talk to people, it takes hours and hours and hours and hours or extra time when we’re already busy working — any good elected official worth their salt is, I think, up for the challenge of having a competitive race,” she said.

Pappajohn recused herself from discussion on the topic and said after a decision was made that she would continue to get to know people in the Burlingame community.

“I chose to recuse myself from the discussion and I welcome the result,” she said. “I’ll continue to introduce myself to my neighbors in District 1 and represent them as long as they elect me to do so.”