New look for the South City council

With only a single percentage point of the electorate’s support differentiating second and fourth place in a race for three open seats, candidates reflected on the prolonged stretch after Election Day when their fates hung on a difference of about 500 votes.

“It was very nerve-racking,” said Nicolas, the political neophyte whose grassroots campaign collected 18.1 percent support, comprised of 8,043 votes — only 205 more than Gupta for third place.

“Gut-wrenching,” said Nagales, the former Planning Commission chair and South San Francisco native recalling the feeling of observing his thin lead ebb and flow over November. Ultimately, he gathered 18.8 percent of the electorate’s support, or 18,342 votes — good enough to finish in second.

“It was odd,” said Addiego, the tenured elected official who was firmly in first place with 21 percent of the vote, or 9,443 votes in support. After two decades of public service, and running multiple campaigns, Addiego said he’d never waited so long for an election to be called.

And for Gupta, the incumbent candidate who’d establish a reputation among regional elected circles for his steady hand and broad vision, he was blindsided by defeat.

“I was shocked. I was fully expecting to given another four years by the voters of South San Francisco to continue what we have done,” said Gupta, who gathered 17.6 percent of the vote, or 7,838 votes.

And why wasn’t he given that additional term? Gupta remains uncertain, even with weeks of hindsight spent reflecting.

“I wish I could go into the heads of voters and see what was happening,” he said.

Gupta recognized though a primary concern among residents and central issue in the race was continued growth in South San Francisco, which frustrated many with congested traffic, limited parking and a transformed community character. With a long voting record in favor of commercial and residential development, Gupta suggested his critics may have used his history against him.

“Someone might have crafted the image that I am pro-growth and some voters might have been encouraged by promises of no more construction,” he said.

But Gupta countered that perspective by noting that both Addiego and Nagales have been advocates for continued development, especially for residential growth in an effort to address the affordability crisis.

Ultimately, Gupta is left unfulfilled in his search for answers.

“I have no clue what happened,” he said.

Meanwhile, for Nagales, his own path to victory was much more clear.

“I think families wanted to see someone who has gone through the struggles they have gone through and are working on the issues they are working on,” said Nagales. “So they wanted a voice, and I am going to be that on the City Council.”

In attempting to advocate for young people and families, Nagales said he would continue to focus on affordable housing, as well as assuring adequate child care services and field space exist.

Such amenities help preserve the small town character appreciated by so many of the voters encountered on the campaign trail, said Nagales. But quality of life demands must be balanced against a need to generate revenue to finance those services, he noted.

“I want to make sure that if we are going to develop, that it is smart development,” said Nagales.

The understated Nicolas, who built her campaign on a foundation of volunteerism through the faith community, shared a similar perspective.

“There have to be common sense solutions to all the challenges we have,” said Nicolas, who has lived in South San Francisco for nearly 30 years.

And while she may not be as staunch an advocate for development as other top finishers in the race, Nicolas said the concerns around housing affordability hit close to her home as well.

With two adult children, Nicolas said her son was lucky to purchase a home while her daughter continues to seek an affordable place to live amidst the pricey housing market.

“We are a very close-knit family, so we would like to keep them very close to us if possible,” she said.

Recognizing a similar desire among other families while campaigning, Nicolas said she suspected voters instilled in her their faith that she could capably manage such an obligation.

While that fueled her rise to office, Nicolas said her commitment to serving the thriving Filipino community in South San Francisco through the Catholic church also contributed.

“Because a lot of Filipinos go to church, they would also come to me at mass … and say they are so exited by the prospect of having a Filipino on the City Council,” she said.

Perhaps to the delight of those voters, Nicolas noted they got their wish twice over — as Nagales is of Filipino heritage as well.

For Addiego, he was heartened to see the composition of the South San Francisco City Council shift to match the demographics of the community.

“It is such a large part of our community that has not be represented,” he said.

But if the elected body’s composition is transitioning with the community, how did Addiego survive? Experience, he said.

“I’ve been around for so very long, I think people ... they were willing to trust me,” said Addiego.

Yet even with an expansive resume, Addiego said he’d never witnessed such a strange election — not in terms of results, but the amount of time it took to reach a final count. But with another victory under his belt, Addiego capped one of the more unusual campaigns in which he has participated.

“It’s a fun time if you like the game,” he said. “All the rules have changed.”

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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