In what could be the most interesting Peninsula city council race in the coming election year, longtime legislative aide and political activist Nicole Fernandez has announced she is running for the San Mateo City Council North Central seat in what is expected to be a dramatic face-off against Councilmember Amourence Lee.
Fernandez immediately announced endorsements by three high-profile former San Mateo councilmembers: Assemblymember Diane Papan, former state Sen. Jerry Hill and former Mayor Joe Goethals.
“This race is about me and what I have to offer,” Fernandez said in an interview. “This is about the fact that I am a consensus-builder, that I have a lot of support across San Mateo, that I have a lot of built-in knowledge about different levels of community. I have been a public servant all my life, I understand how a budget works, and how to have constructive conversations and arrive at an end that is good for our community without making it about me.”
The cross-currents in this potential race are many and bracing.
In the midst of a dispute over who would be the city’s mayor, Lee announced she had been improperly and illegally lobbied on the issue. She told the District Attorney’s Office Fernandez was one of the individuals who engaged in illegal conduct. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe concluded that no illegal behavior had occurred.
Ultimately, Lee became mayor, but she repeatedly refused to consider that her accusations were unwarranted or that she wronged Fernandez and the others she had named.
The City Council approved a formal letter of apology to Fernandez and the others by a 4-0 vote. Lee was absent from the meeting. But Lee continued to insist that she was deserving of an apology for the personal and political attacks she endured, adding that the city also was harmed because there was no mayor for two weeks.
Lee has a core group of loyal supporters, but her conduct before, during and even after the mayor hoo-ha has generated significant and critical opposition from the city’s political establishment. This would have been more than enough to encourage Fernandez to launch a challenge.
Fernandez declined to comment on the episode or on Lee directly, although much can be inferred from this comment: “A lot of friends and colleagues have encouraged me. (Such support) demonstrated that people are looking for a change in leadership that is about consensus-building and putting the community first.”
The differences in their respective backgrounds also provide a striking contrast.
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Lee had served on the Parks and Recreation Commission before being appointed to a vacant council seat in 2019. She was recognized for her ties to the North Central area, which long had been underrepresented on the council. She was elected citywide in 2020. She has worked as a campaign consultant on San Mateo issues and has an extensive career as a nonprofit executive director.
Fernandez has been a district aide to the late Assemblymember Ira Ruskin, to Hill and, now, to state Sen. Josh Becker, whom she serves as district director. She is past chair of the county Democratic Party.
Indeed, Fernandez may have opted to run even without being personally maligned by Lee.
“I started my public service career straight out of college and everything I have done in San Mateo has led me to this point. I have been talking about this for years, but there’s something about turning 40 and finding your confidence as a women of color leader that has made me realize this is the time to do it,” Fernandez said.
Lee will not able to run as an incumbent. Since her election citywide, the city moved to district elections and 2024 will be the first time the North Central district votes for its own councilmember.
STAND UP, GET UP, SHOW UP: I have ranted on the need for San Mateo County regional assertiveness to the point where even I get tired of reading it. But the universe continues to provide opportunities. And here comes another one that demands the leaders of this county speak up.
As ably reported by the Daily Journal’s Alyse DiNapoli, the board of directors of the moribund BART — $300 million in shortfall and falling — want to merge with Caltrain.
This is such a bad idea that it makes other bad ideas look better.
As this nonsense advances, I will avail myself of the opportunities to scold, censure and castigate the proposal.
But the larger point is that San Mateo County better gear up for this fight. The one thing you can count on — and this is based on direct experience working with BART — is that our interests are not on their agenda.
Mark Simon is a veteran journalist, whose career included 15 years as an executive at SamTrans and Caltrain. He can be reached at marksimon@smdailyjournal.com.
I recall that D.A. Wagstaffe's office concluded that they had insufficient evidence to draw a conclusion, which is very different from concluding that no illegal activity has occurred. Notably, Fernandez and others who were said to have been directly involved in the scheme refused to cooperate with the investigation. I wonder why? If Fernandez wishes to be a serious candidate, I suggest she be honest with voters about her role. As far as I'm concerned, this is about old political guard vs. newcomers, and I strongly suspect the old ways folks have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
Wagstaffe did not conclude no illegal conduct occurred, he said there was insufficient evidence. He didn't clear anyone, which is pretty damning considering he usually comes down squarely on the side of the moneyed peoples. Amo Lee conducted herself very well in the face of a torrent of riduculousness from Lisa Diaz Nash as she tried to manipulate her way into getting to pick the next council member. Go back and watch the videos of the meeting. I attended all of the meetings and was very impressed with Lee's poise and level of professionalism. This controversy is about the people who represent the moneyed interests in the county (such as Matt Simon) fearing they are losing power.
Will be such an interesting race! A continued embarrassment to San Mateo that Lisa Diaz Nash led the effort to block the mayoral rotation. Petty fights should not become the norm. We'll see if Mayor Lee will win in 2024, I'm not certain.
Mark Simon, Could you please elaborate on why you are saying that BART's interests are not San Mateo's? I'm asking in a very neutral way because I have no information one way or another to understand or agree/disagree with your assertion.
(A private message by email would suffice if you don't want to dedicate column space to it).
God, not another Leftist political activist endorsed by the usual suspects. San Mateo residents, there has to be someone not in a political clique ready to serve. Someone that would be proud to tell the establishment to pound sand.
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(8) comments
I recall that D.A. Wagstaffe's office concluded that they had insufficient evidence to draw a conclusion, which is very different from concluding that no illegal activity has occurred. Notably, Fernandez and others who were said to have been directly involved in the scheme refused to cooperate with the investigation. I wonder why? If Fernandez wishes to be a serious candidate, I suggest she be honest with voters about her role. As far as I'm concerned, this is about old political guard vs. newcomers, and I strongly suspect the old ways folks have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
Wagstaffe did not conclude no illegal conduct occurred, he said there was insufficient evidence. He didn't clear anyone, which is pretty damning considering he usually comes down squarely on the side of the moneyed peoples. Amo Lee conducted herself very well in the face of a torrent of riduculousness from Lisa Diaz Nash as she tried to manipulate her way into getting to pick the next council member. Go back and watch the videos of the meeting. I attended all of the meetings and was very impressed with Lee's poise and level of professionalism. This controversy is about the people who represent the moneyed interests in the county (such as Matt Simon) fearing they are losing power.
I don't know who Matt Simon is. I'd like to meet him.
That is deserving of the Popeye laugh to Olive Oil. :-)
Will be such an interesting race! A continued embarrassment to San Mateo that Lisa Diaz Nash led the effort to block the mayoral rotation. Petty fights should not become the norm. We'll see if Mayor Lee will win in 2024, I'm not certain.
Mark Simon, Could you please elaborate on why you are saying that BART's interests are not San Mateo's? I'm asking in a very neutral way because I have no information one way or another to understand or agree/disagree with your assertion.
(A private message by email would suffice if you don't want to dedicate column space to it).
Thanks
Hi. Thanks for your inquiry. I will be writing more about this in future columns.
God, not another Leftist political activist endorsed by the usual suspects. San Mateo residents, there has to be someone not in a political clique ready to serve. Someone that would be proud to tell the establishment to pound sand.
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