San Mateo County assessor-county clerk-recorder and chief elections officer will not seek reelection

“When I was first elected to the Millbrae City Council in 1995, I had no idea of the remarkable journey I was about to begin,” Church said in a press release. “I can truthfully say that serving the people of San Mateo County has been the honor and privilege of my lifetime. After three decades, I believe this is the right time to turn the page with gratitude and deep appreciation for the community I have been so fortunate to serve.”

Church’s public service career began in his hometown of Millbrae, where he was elected to the City Council in 1995 and served as mayor from 1997 to 1998.

In 2000, voters elected him to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, where he was subsequently reelected in 2004 and 2008.

In 2010, Church was elected assessor-county clerk-recorder and chief elections officer, a role in which he has since been reelected in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Before entering public office, Church practiced law.

Church oversaw 42 elections and guided San Mateo County through several milestones that reshaped election administration statewide and nationally. After testifying before the California State Legislature in support of AB 2028, he led California’s first countywide all-mail ballot election in 2015. The pilot increased voter participation, particularly among young voters and language-minority communities, while generating significant cost savings.

That laid the groundwork for the landmark California Voter’s Choice Act. Church also launched California’s first remote accessible vote-by-mail system.

“Public service is about leaving institutions stronger than you found them,” Church said. “I’m proud that this department is well-positioned for the future with state-of-the-art technology and deeply committed to serving the public with excellence.”