City council races come into focus in San Mateo County

Jimenez believes Nagengast has “a lot of things to offer the city and the community” and isn’t negative about Nagengast’s leading position, he said. But Jimenez has been an advocate for farmworkers during his tenure on City Council, something he is concerned will be lacking should he officially lose the election. 

“I am concerned that one-third of the population of Half Moon Bay will not have the voice,” he said. “The farmworkers for sure will not have the recognition or the voice. There’s nobody else in the City Council, running for City Council, that knows about farmworkers more than I do.” 

He will remain committed to the community and advocating for Half Moon Bay’s farmworker population regardless, Jimenez said. 

Rarback is trailing businessman Patric Bo Jonsson in District 2 by 44.8% to 55.2%, according to San Mateo County Elections Office semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. Both Jonsson and Nagengast had been more wary of the affordable housing initiatives being brought forth as a priority for Half Moon Bay. 

“I’m not happy of course,” Rarback said of his lagging numbers. “I’m guessing it’s just this backlash, that people want change.” 

In Redwood City, two races are uncontested — in District 1, Mayor Jeff Gee and in District 4, Councilmember Elmer Martínez Saballos, will win their seats. 

But in District 2, public health professional Isabella Chu is currently holding a narrow lead of 52.5% over Redwood City Vice Mayor Lissette Espinoza Garnica, who has received 47.5% of the vote according to San Mateo County Elections Office semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The open District 7 seat is on even slimmer margins, with Parks Commissioner Marcella Padilla at 51.1% and community organizer and former councilmember Diana Reddy at 48.9%. 

A four-way race for Belmont District 4 seat is showing current councilmember Tom McCune in the lead with 53.9%, beating out another current councilmember, Davina Hurt, who currently holds 33.43% of the vote. Two other candidates, Arina Merkulova and Pat Cuviello, are trailing far behind, according to San Mateo County Elections Office semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

In Belmont’s District 2, Mid-Peninsula Water District Board Member Cathy Jordan is in the lead with 57.84% of the vote against firefighter Ken Loo. Belmont Mayor Julia Mates ran unopposed and will win back her seat. 

A crowded four-person race for the Burlingame City Council’s District 2 seat saw scientist and educator Desiree Thayer take a clear lead over her competitors — business owners Rachel Ni, Hadia Khoury and Nirmala Bandrapalli — with 54.3% of the vote. 

Current Burlingame Mayor Donna Colson easily held onto her District 4 seat with 79% of the vote against challenger and senior transportation engineer Tony Paul and Burlingame Councilmember Andrea Pappajohn — who was appointed earlier this year to replace Ricardo Ortiz in the District 1 seat — successfully ran unopposed to complete that term. 

San Bruno Mayor appears to have won back his seat with 54.16% against challenger Councilmember Marty Medina. Councilmember Tom Hamilton received 55.86% of the vote against challenger Stephan Marshall, according to San Mateo County Elections Office semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In Foster City’s open City Council positions, Suzy Niederhofer holds 25.7% of the vote and current Mayor Patrick Sullivan is nearly tied with her at 25.5%. Right behind and vying for the third open seat are Shankar Kenkre at 17.04% and Phoebe Venkat at 16.96%, with Richa Awasthi trailing at 14.76%, according to San Mateo County Elections Office semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In Millbrae’s District 1 race, Stephen Rainaldi has taken an aggressive lead over 

Ghassan Shamieh with 66.3% of the vote. In the District 3 race, Rueben Holober has also taken a decisive lead over You You Xue, with 70.6% of the vote. Mayor Anders Fung, who ran unopposed, will remain in the District 5 seat. 

In San Carlos, incumbent Councilmember John Dugan and school board trustee Neil Layton both won the two open seats, according to San Mateo County Elections Office semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

In South San Francisco City Council’s District 2 seat, councilmember Mark Nagales holds a 63.6% lead over Vivian Ramos, a business executive. In District 4, another City Council incumbent, Mayor James Coleman received 66.1% of the vote over Avin Sharma. 

Semiofficial election results will be updated as counting proceeds. All mail ballots postmarked from Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 12 will be accepted, and about 40% are received after Election Day, according to the Elections Office.

Further results will be posted 4:30 p.m. Nov. 7, Nov. 8, Nov. 11, Nov. 13, Nov. 15, Nov. 18, Nov. 20 and Nov. 22. The election is to be certified Dec. 5, according to the Elections Office.