Democrats Call for Special Election for Vacant Supervisor Seat

The San Mateo County Democratic Party has issued a resolution supporting a special election to fill the Board of Supervisors vacancy left by Supervisor Jerry Hill who will be resigning at the end of the month to take a seat in the State Assembly, according to an article in the Daily Journal.

Hill’s colleagues on the board have pushed for an appointment process which, according to the Democratic Party statement, will virtually ensure that the appointee replacing Hill will get a free ride until 2022, or 14 years in office.

"Our county's at-large system for electing supervisors gives a strong advantage to incumbents. It has been nearly three decades since a supervisor running for re-election has been defeated,” said Nick Akers, the proponent of the Party’s official resolution. “The People of San Mateo County should be given the opportunity to fill this open seat."

According to an article in the San Mateo County Times, the San Mateo County Supervisors have complained that the cost of a special election would be approximately $1.6 million at a time when the county faces serious financial challenges. In response, the Democratic Party resolution highlighted the fact that the State will likely hold a special election on June 2, 2009 in order to place revenue measures on the state ballot as part of a budget balancing effort. With a special election already likely, the issue of cost is de minimis.

That sentiment was echoed by San Mateo Union High District Trustee Dave Pine, according to an article in the San Mateo County Times, when Pine testified in front of the board of Supervisors in protest of an appointment process on November 18.

Pine stated that sitting supervisors have been unchallenged because it is a daunting task to mount a countywide campaign, thereby protecting incumbents. As a result, said Pine, "We can never have a dialogue with the citizenry about the county government.”

The Daily Journal also issued an editorial critical of an appointment process on Nov. 19. In Today’s edition the Daily Journal Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan penned a letter also calling for a special election stating “Voters have not had a real opportunity to shape county policy for over a decade as there have been no seriously contested elections since 1997.”

Under the plan approved by the board Tuesday, these two candidates and any other hopeful must submit an application made available Dec. 1 when Hill’s vacancy becomes official. On Dec. 9, the board will hold a public hearing for input on possible appointment criteria. Candidates would offer a 15-minute public presentation Monday, Dec. 15 followed by 10 minutes of public testimony on each applicant’s behalf. The public hearings could be mediated by either the League of Women Voters or another third party. The following day, Dec. 16, the Board of Supervisors would either appoint one of the candidates or set a date for a special election.