Too many candidates for national offices

I never thought about the downside of too many candidates for one office until I listened to the League of Women Voters candidates forum for Eshoo’s seat. Some of the 13 candidates were articulate and have a chance of winning. Most did not. And it was tedious listening to too many inarticulate and uninformed contestants. If this was a turn off for a political columnist, what about for the voter? 

I am not in Eshoo’s district, but if I were I would give serious consideration to former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo; Assemblymember Evan Low, D-Cupertino; Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, former state senator and assemblymember, endorsed by the Daily Journal; and Peter Dixon, former Marine and young father.

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Afraid to say what you really think if you are an elected official or candidate? Or if you are a columnist? Or newspaper editor? No such inhibition on social media where anyone can say what they think. But that’s not a reliable source. 

So it’s up to the dedicated voter to do the research and make up his or her own mind. Too many don’t have the time or interest so they will rely on ads, slate mailers and newspaper editorial endorsements. In the current battle over who will serve on the Democratic Central Committee the question has been raised about whether Jerry Hill and Maureen Freschet are really Democrats.  Both are former Republicans. They are in this race to stop more progressive candidates.

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Are Republicans making a mistake using Biden’s age and memory an election issue? Trump is also an older American and has trouble with facts and memory.

Don’t we all? According to neuroscientists who study memory, there are two kinds of forgetting.  Forgetting with a big F when  thoughts or facts are irretrievable; and forgetting with a small f when the memory is there but you can’t recall it immediately.

As for the age issue, many seniors in their 80s and 90s are offended when being old is considered a handicap.  Some democratic political consultants think Biden should embrace the age and experience issue as a positive. Remember the concern about candidate Barack Obama, his young age and inexperience. That’s why he chose an experienced Biden as his running mate.

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Nicole Fernandez, who lives in the North Central neighborhood, has launched her campaign for San Mateo City Council. She will be running against the incumbent, Amourence Lee, but a majority of councilmembers are supporting Fernandez. She also has the support of the heavy political players in San Mateo County, including previous mayors.

And most important is the endorsement of former Mayor Joe Goethals, who was once an enthusiastic supporter of Lee. Lee is still the darling of many young progressives and is popular in her own North Central neighborhood. If this were a citywide election there is no doubt  Fernandez would win. But it is not. The district includes North Central and North Shoreview.  Still, my money is on Fernandez. She is supported by San Mateo Councilmember Rich Hedges, who is a long time labor leader. And Hedges usually picks the winner.

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The Rotary Club of San Mateo will be holding its centennial celebration May 23.  It was to be held at the now deceased Marriott Hotel which closes May 1. Instead, it will be held at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club.

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Here’s some history from Mitch Postel, head of the county’s history museum. At its first meeting on Jan. 25, 1924, the San Mateo club received its charter from Rotary International. San Francisco Rotarian and San Mateo Park resident, Oscar Boldemann, served as sponsor and presided over the first luncheon. Boldemann owned Boldemann Chocolate Company at 444 Townsend St. in San Francisco.

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