A stay-at-home dad

According to San Mateo Councilman Eric Rodriguez, “If you have ever worked with him, you have seen that he is extremely hard-working, purpose driven and whip smart. He is also now the district’s liaison to the city; and as we work closely together, I can already see the impact he is making. His intimate knowledge of how our city runs coupled with his tenacious, yet respectful, demeanor is an enormous asset to the district and our community as a whole. “

Chin applied for the position because he needed an extra challenge and some interaction with adults away from his day job. He was already a board member of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition; the San Mateo Parks and Recreation Foundation, the county’s Safe Routes to School and Baywood School’s Site Council. He graduated from the Leadership Program of the San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce. He worked on the county’s Measure K and was on the oversight committee for the school district’s successful parcel tax measure. He also serves on the San Mateo County Transportation Advisory Committee.

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But this was not what he expected to be doing as a 43-year-old. He was born in San Francisco, the family moved to Hillsborough where he attended South Hillsborough Elementary School and Crocker Middle School, and later Aragon High School and the University of California, San Diego. His father, a doctor, wanted him to follow in the same career. But Chin found after a few pre-med courses that it wasn’t for him. Instead, he decided to major in urban studies and planning.

In 1997, Chin returned home to help his dad who had become ill and found a job as a planner in San Francisco. His wife, whom he met in college, went to law school in San Francisco but then was offered a job in San Mateo. So the couple decided to move. Chin found a job in the San Mateo planning department in 2005. He worked on several important projects but then in 2010 just after his son was born life was thrown into disarray. The city was facing a severe economic downturn. Since he was the last hire he was the first to go. For two weeks, he and wife were going crazy trying to figure out what to do. One option was to move to another city where they could find cheaper housing and hopefully other jobs. They were actually looking at a house in Roseville when Chin attended a city employee’s retirement party. Larry Patterson, then head of Public Works, offered him a temporary job. That soon turned into a full-time position and the Chins stayed in town.

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In his new job, he worked on the bicycle master plan and became a successful grant writer. His daughter was born in 2012. Then three years later in 2015 when his son entered half-day kindergarten, the Chins had to make an important decision about child care. Up to then, the son had been in all day preschool. Now they needed help during the day and all choices were expensive. So Chin says he made a most difficult decision. His wife, who was now earning a good salary, joked, “you can be a stay-at-home dad.” Chin laughed too, but the more the couple discussed their options this seemed the best for their children. So Chin left his job at the city.

Now in 2019, his children are both in school and he is ready to go back to work. But his term on the school board is expiring. Running for office is not like being appointed. He is concerned about the time it would take. Also being on the board might limit some job opportunities. But his love of community service prevails. He will file for re-election and hopefully find a job which is as rewarding as being a stay-at-home dad.

Sue Lempert is the former mayor of San Mateo. Her column runs every Monday. She can be reached at sue@smdailyjournal.com.