San Mateo mayor announces retirement: David Lim will not seek third term after almost eight years on City Council

“I think I am a much better person for having been involved on the City Council. I’ve been blessed to work with some wonderful individuals, the community and city staff. And I’m definitely a wiser person for it,” Lim said.

His term is slated to expire at the end of the year and although he could have sought one more run in November, Lim said he’s spent more than a year discussing with his family whether it would be best for him to allow a new leader to come forward.

“There’s so many talented people in the community who are smart and earnest and dedicated. I’m looking forward, as a private citizen, to seeing what the next councilmember and council will do for our city,” Lim said.

A lawyer by trade, Lim prosecutes white-collar crimes with the Alameda County District Attorneys Office. He officially announced Monday he wouldn’t seek a third term, however, it wasn’t the first time he’s publicly considered stepping down. In the June 2016 election, he ran for judgeship in Alameda County, which would have necessitated him leaving the council.

With twin 11-year-old daughters, Lim said he plans to spend his additional free time focused on being an active father.

“Once they’re teenagers, they probably won’t want to have much to do with me,” Lim said with a chuckle. “I’m going to be selfish and enjoy every moment of being a dad.”

Even without a seat at City Hall’s dais, Lim will stay active in his community — whether it’s teaching youth sports, getting involved in the schools or volunteering for a nonprofit.

“I don’t think you’re going to get rid of me, it’s not in my blood,” Lim said.

It was a chance attendance at a Planning Commission meeting more than a decade ago when Lim first caught the political bug. After seeing the city at work, he volunteered to serve on the Community Relations Committee and in 2009 won a seat on the City Council.

Years later, he recalled some of his proudest accomplishments and most challenging battles. Joining the council during the height of the recession, Lim noted fiscal prudence and tough budgetary decisions were necessary. Then there was the controversial 7-Eleven debacle that led to an audit and revamping of the city’s Community Development Department; the ongoing contentious proposal by owners of the Bridgepointe Shopping Center to demolish the community’s beloved ice rink; and of course, the heated debate over rent control that ultimately landed on last year’s ballot.

A strong advocate for social justice issues, Lim said he’s worked to remain transparent about his views while on the council. Although he received grief from some for supporting the failed citizens’ initiative to enact tenant protections, he emphasized it had no bearing on his decision to step down.

“It was an emotional issue for a lot of people,” Lim said. “There was tension, but the thing I’m most proud of is I kept an open line of communication and I was always honest with people.”

Moving forward in his last year, Lim said he’s thrilled to again serve as mayor and this time he’s “really going to have some fun because I’m not worried about re-election.”

Translation: bring on the ribbon cuttings and speeches. But he also gave more solemn advice to future leaders.

What “I’ve learned in my last eight years is that you have to listen,” Lim said. “People always look to a councilmember for ideas, but I think the real strength is to listen quietly, respectfully and actively, even if you don’t like what they’re saying.”

Another key, albeit perhaps obvious tip, is to thoroughly read agenda packets, he said. It requires a lot of time but is vital as councilmembers have a lasting effect rule a variety of issues from the mundane to the controversial, he said.

His colleagues can sympathize with the commitment it takes. Councilwoman Maureen Freschet, who’s served the longest with the man she calls a friend, said there will be a void without Lim but she’s grateful for his years of leadership and devotion.

“Few people understand the time demands and personal sacrifice required of these positions, and I fully understand and respect his need to focus on his young family at this important time in their lives,” Freschet wrote in an email. “David has left an indelible mark on San Mateo and has set a high bar for his successor. We are fortunate to have emerging community leaders with the education, vision and business experience we will need to shape San Mateo’s future.”

Anna Khure, president emeritus of the San Mateo United Homeowners Association, said Lim’s youthfulness and responsiveness to the community made him an ideal leader. Even in his departure he was mindful of others, as giving ample notice allows the next leaders to ready themselves for a campaign, Khure said.

“We can only thank him for what must have been a very difficult decision and for his service,” Khure said. Moving forward “we want to attract as many young leaders as we can to our council because the future belongs to them and their children.”

Lim noted city leaders will undoubtedly be tasked with the difficult challenge of balancing the impacts of growth and traffic. On issues of great import, he urged the council to remember decisions must not be made solely by a body of five, but with the community as whole.

For him, it was addressing problems — even the “small” ones of a single homeowner or a blossoming business owner with language barriers — that made the job worthwhile.

“It’s the fact that you can do good work, you can make a difference. And to me, it’s not necessarily on just the larger issues. It’s the little things,” he said. “Every time you get a little tired or come home late, if you’re able to solve a problem that keeps them in business or makes their quality of life better, these are the things that keep you going.”

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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