Notes, quotes, dust motes and Horsley

From that first meeting, through all his elected offices, to the last time I talked with him, he was the same: Calm, good-humored, thoughtful, public-spirited. He had a self-confidence that, undoubtedly, came from his years in law enforcement. He liked people, as evidenced by the outpouring of grief at his passing last week.

He knew himself. This is a rare trait in public life. He knew what he wanted to do, and he knew why. He had no need to puff himself up or insist on being the most important person in the room. As a result, he got things done. People liked working with him and found it constructive and enjoyable.

He formed partnerships and friendships. These will endure.

NOT SO FAST: It is a welcome relief that some city councils are able to elect a mayor through a process of rotation and without overt animus. But James Coleman of South San Francisco may have let his enthusiasm carry him away. He issued an online invitation to next week’s council meeting announcing he will be sworn in as mayor. One small detail: No vote has been taken yet electing anyone mayor. At least, not publicly.

Either he already rounded up the three votes necessary — a clear violation of public meeting laws — or he is announcing the decision before any vote has been taken. Either way, it would be more fitting for him to act, at least, as though the vote matters. As for the rotation policies that councils and the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors are trying to adopt, these actions have no legal authority to dictate to future bodies what they must do. As we have seen — thank you, San Mateo — it takes three votes, no matter what some policy might say.

IRONY-FREE ZONE: As the county board debated its own rotation approach, Supervisor David Canepa, arguing for a policy that would make him board president in a year, actually said he hoped “that collegiality and sanity prevail, and not one’s ambitions.” This from the man who ushered in a new era of personal attacks at the board and whose own ambitions are on public display on a near-daily basis. You just cannot make this stuff up.

SIXTEENTH CD: Woodside tech exec Lexi Reese has dropped out of the race for California’s U.S. Senate seat. She raised $2 million for her campaign — a quarter of it from her and her husband. But, as she noted in news reports, that is not very much money for a statewide campaign. It is a lot of money for a congressional race, however, and expect renewed speculation she might jump into the race to succeed retiring Rep. Anna Eshoo in the 16th Congressional District.

Meanwhile, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has already begun raising money and seeking endorsements for a run for this seat, according to online news site San Jose Spotlight. Supporters are calling Liccardo a formidable candidate, but that may be an overestimation. San Jose is a smidgen of the district, which includes Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto. Those cities have long-standing resentment toward the way San Jose dominates Santa Clara County politics. And it would seem a former San Jose mayor would have little profile in Pacifica or Half Moon Bay.

IN THE MAIL: My eye tripped over a couple of recent comments in the Daily Journal. One of them objected to the Board of Supervisors’ decision not to form a commission with oversight of the Sheriff’s Office. “The Sheriff is accountable to no one,” the person wrote, overlooking the defeat of the incumbent just a year ago. Sometimes things happen slowly. Sometimes it is better if they do. But, in any case, all elected officials are accountable to, you know, the voters.

The other one decried the education system’s failure to “raise our kids to compete.” Not me. I raised my kids to be losers.

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.