Mayor won't seek re-election

Galligan, 50, said his decision was prompted by the time commitment the council requires and that he would like to spend more time with his daughter JoEllen, the youngest of his five children.

"It's time she had a dad," Galligan said Monday.

Galligan's decision breaks the race wide open and has the potential to dramatically change the current council's makeup. With two seats no longer attached to incumbents, there is a chance three members of the City Council will be relative newcomers come November since current Councilwoman Terry Nagel has less than two years experience.

Incumbents Rosalie O'Mahony and Cathy Baylock announced their intention to run for re-election and Councilman Mike Coffey resigned in July, leaving a two-year seat open. So far, former Councilman Don Lembi and former candidate Russ Cohen announced intentions of running for the two-year seat but only Lembi has filed papers. Former candidate Dan Andersen pulled papers for both the two-year and four-year seat but has yet to file. Both O'Mahony and former candidate Paul Prendiville filed for the four-year seat. Condon and Baylock pulled papers for a four-year seat but have yet to file. The filing deadline is Friday, Aug. 12.

Before the 2003 election, Galligan enjoyed the council majority with strong allies Mary Janney and Mike Coffey often voting with him.

Galligan called Janney's loss to Nagel his worst time on the council.

"I felt terrible," he said, adding that it was the most "hateful" election he had seen.

Galligan said his proudest moment was his battle to keep the city clerk an elected position despite having four council members initially against the idea. He did say the City Council's best decision was hiring Jim Nantell as city manager, since a strong manager should keep department heads happy and stable.

Galligan did express a tremendous amount of enmity toward the leadership of Citizens for a Better Burlingame, a group formed to oppose the proposed 66,900-square-foot Safeway redevelopment project. In recent months, some members of the group showed, he said, "time and time again their willingness to polarize, disrespect and divide our community in ways I never thought possible."

Galligan said he will give advice to city officials and the candidates he is supporting if asked, but will remove himself from the spotlight. He will likely renew his support of organizations such as Mission Hospice and the Special Olympics, he said.

Galligan did not rule out a return to politics in the future since his daughter will be going to college in four years.

Jon Mays can be reached by e-mail at jon@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 107. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.