A Government of Three People, by Three People and for Special Interests

With the appoint of former San Mateo City Councilmember and now Supervisor Carole Groom to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, the voices of democracy – those calling for an election rather than a coronation – have been silenced.

The Supervisors crowned their new colleague on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2008 over the objections of numerous organizations, many local elected officials, most of the county’s political editors in the press and even the lone voice of democracy on the board, Supervisor Rich Gordon.

During the board meeting Gordon asked his colleagues to embrace a democratic process.

“I am absolutely convinced that now is the time to clearly engage the citizens of this county in a discussion of the important issues we face,” Gordon said.

Gordon then made a motion to call for an election but the crickets could be heard all the way to San Francisco.

Gordon’s colleagues then appointed Groom in a vote so expected that it was predicted on this very blog over a year ago.

Groom’s appointment is the most conclusive evidence as of late that San Mateo County is indeed a political country club where membership is limited to those invited by special interests. Daily Journal editor Jon Mays blasted the board for failing to see that the bigger picture, that of a democratic process and the vetting of candidates through the electorate is a far better process and worth the price. “Indeed, looking at that big picture and not being influenced by the business and labor community is their job,” said Mays.

The response from the local editorial corps was swift. The Watchdog blog said that the Supervisors were “Thumbing their noses at democracy, elections, and all things we value as Americans.”

Examiner Columnist Bruce Balshone stated that “Now that the Supervisors have abandoned a democratic process and continued its tradition of machine politics, each supervisor may each individually pay a political price should they wish to continue their careers.”

It remains to be seen if the broad coalition that opposed this appointment will coalesce into a longer term response. Daily Journal columnist and former San Mateo City Councilwoman Sue Lempert theorized that a radical shift may occur in the near future catalyzed in part by the undemocratic actions of the Supervisors.

“The present system as it has evolved discourages those [candidates] who may not yet enjoy the support of the local labor and business establishment. But change is in the air. More people are voting. More people are interested in running for office, especially at the local level. New constituencies feel they are not adequately represented in top county posts. By the time there is the next round of supervisor elections in 2012, I would not be surprised if we were voting by district rather than countywide,” said Lempert.

Whatever the future holds for San Mateo County, one thing is clear: the present political system is broken and the smoked filled backrooms must soon see the light of day or San Mateo County will forever suffer the rule of an established oligarchy.