A policy discussion regarding leadership rotation on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors grew contentious Tuesday as the board’s two newer members advocated for a process that would provide newly electeds leadership opportunities.
Board President Dave Pine and Vice President Warren Slocum, as members of a subcommittee tapped to develop a rotation process, proposed the board adopt a system largely based on seniority with the vice president becoming president and newly elected supervisors falling behind continued or reelected members in the line of succession but ahead of the former president who would fall to the end of the line.
As drafted, Slocum would become president in 2024 with Supervisor David Canepa as vice president. The following year, Canepa would become president with either supervisors Noelia Corzo or Ray Mueller acting as vice president depending on a straw pull by the county clerk. With Slocum and Pine both termed out by the end of 2024, those elected to replace them in District 4 and District 1 would fall at the end of the line.
“It’s good governance, it’s transparent, it’s open,” Canepa said, adding that the process would take personality and ambition out of the issue. “As leaders of this county, and we are leaders of this county, this process put forward today really ensures and instills that no matter who it is, no matter who it is moving forward, that there is a set rotation and it is codified.”
Corzo and Mueller both took issue with the proposed process, both arguing that newer voices should be given a chance to lead. Corzo also argued it would be inequitable for the only Latina elected to the board in the county’s history to not serve in a leadership position within her first term. Looking back over the past 10 years, Corzo noted a representative from District 5 has served as president once while the District 1 supervisor has been president three times in that same time frame.
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“A policy that will have impacts for new supervisors but this board never had to abide by, I think, is well intended but misguided a little bit,” Corzo said. “If it’s a good policy that’s truly equitable, I would support it. I don’t think that’s what’s in front of us.”
Mueller suggested the board could adopt a policy similar to one in Menlo Park where he served on the council for 10 years. Under that process, the city prioritizes placing newer members in the vice mayor position. That process would be more equitable than giving those who have served longer priority, Mueller said, arguing that going by seniority would be a rank and class system.
Slocum accused Mueller of politicizing the rotation process, an assertion Mueller disputed. The District 3 supervisor, who has been on the receiving end of strong criticism from his colleagues during his first year in office, said he would no longer accept “disparagement” from other members of the board.
“I’m not offering a political situation. I’m offering a policy that was in place in a prior city and saying for equity reasons that should be the policy we have in this county,” Mueller said. “I’m not going to take disparagement like that anymore. I’m not going to take side comments like that. I don’t do that to you, so please don’t do it to me.”
Canepa, appeared to agree with Slocum by commenting, “I think we know what’s happening up here,” and sharing hope that “collegiality and sanity will prevail and not one’s ambitions.” He attempted to pass the policy as initially drafted and was backed by Slocum. That motion failed after Corzo, Mueller and Pine voted in favor of a substitute motion to create a subcommittee of Pine and Mueller to continue studying the matter.
It is hard siding with Slocum on anything. His wife ran Redwood City School District for some 20 years.
She and RCSD have deliberately favored school segregation over integration. Palo Alto USD had two schools named after David Starr Jordan and Lewis Tenant. Because of their Eugenics history, PAUSD renamed those schools a few years ago. Apparently Stanford wasn't too happy. RCSD with the help of Stanford then took the Eugenics approach these two people favored and implemented them in Redwood City instead. They also have one school named after Henry Ford - America's biggest Antisemite and also a Eugenicists. I'm sorry, but none of that makes me think good-people-at-work-here.
I'm siding with Ray Mueller more often than not (... and until he starts letting us down).
I think these supervisors have too much time on their hands: "to continue studying the matter". What is there to study that would improve our quality of life? And we voted for these yokels?
Bingo. Not much they do improves our quality of life. I started watching BOS meetings on Zoom during the Covid lockdowns. I had a then 11 year old sitting at home on screens getting fat and miserable. I was desperate for someone, anyone in local politics to take a real stand and help get our kids back in school and sports. But no, I didn't see that from anyone in any level here. BOS members sat in their homes (Zooming into meetings for WAY too long), joking and patting each other on the back virtually and issuing useless proclimations.
That being said, Ray Mueller was not on the board at that time (Corzo was on SM school Board and adamantly opposed to school openings- later admitting she had "no idea" that schools in other states were open months before CA.)
Canepa trying to be the next Shakespeare albeit from Daly City.
“I think we know what’s happening up here,” and sharing hope that “collegiality and sanity will prevail and not one’s ambitions.”
He attempted to pass the policy as initially drafted and was backed by Slocum. That motion failed after Corzo, Mueller and Pine voted in favor of a substitute motion to create a subcommittee of Pine and Mueller to continue studying the matter.
Thank you, Sierra Lopez for informing us about our San Mateo County Board of Supervisors at work (or their definition of work). How much time and taxpayer money has gone into this power grab discussion? To save money, let’s do it the old fashioned way – flip a coin amongst all board members, over and over until there’s a winner. Or vote for a Board President. Or, anything other than this taxpayer-funded squabble. Folks, count on continued wasted taxpayer money on this issue… So don’t vote for any more taxes…
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(5) comments
It is hard siding with Slocum on anything. His wife ran Redwood City School District for some 20 years.
She and RCSD have deliberately favored school segregation over integration. Palo Alto USD had two schools named after David Starr Jordan and Lewis Tenant. Because of their Eugenics history, PAUSD renamed those schools a few years ago. Apparently Stanford wasn't too happy. RCSD with the help of Stanford then took the Eugenics approach these two people favored and implemented them in Redwood City instead. They also have one school named after Henry Ford - America's biggest Antisemite and also a Eugenicists. I'm sorry, but none of that makes me think good-people-at-work-here.
I'm siding with Ray Mueller more often than not (... and until he starts letting us down).
I think these supervisors have too much time on their hands: "to continue studying the matter". What is there to study that would improve our quality of life? And we voted for these yokels?
Bingo. Not much they do improves our quality of life. I started watching BOS meetings on Zoom during the Covid lockdowns. I had a then 11 year old sitting at home on screens getting fat and miserable. I was desperate for someone, anyone in local politics to take a real stand and help get our kids back in school and sports. But no, I didn't see that from anyone in any level here. BOS members sat in their homes (Zooming into meetings for WAY too long), joking and patting each other on the back virtually and issuing useless proclimations.
That being said, Ray Mueller was not on the board at that time (Corzo was on SM school Board and adamantly opposed to school openings- later admitting she had "no idea" that schools in other states were open months before CA.)
Canepa trying to be the next Shakespeare albeit from Daly City.
“I think we know what’s happening up here,” and sharing hope that “collegiality and sanity will prevail and not one’s ambitions.”
He attempted to pass the policy as initially drafted and was backed by Slocum. That motion failed after Corzo, Mueller and Pine voted in favor of a substitute motion to create a subcommittee of Pine and Mueller to continue studying the matter.
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/tensions-over-san-mateo-county-leadership-rotation/article_20f4c6c0-836d-11ee-b51e-a7e3dbbc6933.html[cool]
Thank you, Sierra Lopez for informing us about our San Mateo County Board of Supervisors at work (or their definition of work). How much time and taxpayer money has gone into this power grab discussion? To save money, let’s do it the old fashioned way – flip a coin amongst all board members, over and over until there’s a winner. Or vote for a Board President. Or, anything other than this taxpayer-funded squabble. Folks, count on continued wasted taxpayer money on this issue… So don’t vote for any more taxes…
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Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.