Supervisors face challenge

March 10, 2008
By Michelle Durand

In a rare opportunity for San Mateo County, voters are faced with contested races in June for two supervisorial districts and two attorneys squaring off over an open judge seat, according to election paperwork filed by yesterday’s deadline.

County supervisors Mark Church, Rose Jacobs Gibson and board president Adrienne Tissier are each running for re-election. While Tissier is unchallenged — as she was for her inaugural term — both Church and Jacobs Gibson are not as easily assured a final turn representing their respective districts.

Church, the current board vice president, is challenged by Demetrios Nikas of San Mateo for District 1. The district includes areas between west San Mateo and South San Francisco east of El Camino Real. The district also includes San Francisco International Airport.

Nikas did not return inquiries into his candidacy.

Jacobs Gibson will share a ballot with John B. Bostic, a Ravenswood City School District trustee and former member of the East Palo Alto City Council. The winner represents District 4, which includes East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City and the unincorporated areas of North Fair Oaks, Oak Knoll.

Bostic also was unreachable.

Menlo Park Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson mulled a run against Jacobs Gibson and formed an exploratory committee. In late February, however, she decided against pursuit candidacy.

“My heart remains in Menlo Park where there is more I would like to accomplish,” Fergusson said in written statement.

Tissier’s jurisdiction, District 5, includes Daly City, South San Francisco west of El Camino Real, Brisbane, Colma and the unincorporated areas of Broadmoor Country Club Park.

All supervisors are elected by countywide voters but represent their specific districts. A hotly contested race for the board is rare, particularly for District 4.

Even more unusual in San Mateo County is a judicial election. Voters last chose Judge Susan Etezadi over challenger Lisa Maguire in June 2006 but many vacancies are filled by the governor.  

Attorneys Don Franchi and Jerry Nastari, both county natives, are running for the seat vacated by the retirement of Superior Court Judge John Runde. Franchi, of San Mateo, also works as a family law facilitator and told the Daily Journal he hopes to focus on that area if elected. Nastari, of Millbrae, highlights 17 years of practicing law and time working as a court-appointed arbitrator and administrator on his campaign Web site.

Other judges running unopposed for re-election are Joseph Bergeron, Steven Dylina, Beth Labson Freeman, Jonathan Karesh, Craig Parsons and Rosemary Phipps Pfeiffer.

Democratic businessman Robert Barrows qualified for the primary to fill the 12th Congressional District seat formerly held by U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo. An open primary is scheduled for April to fill the remainder of Lantos’ term through the end of this year but a different election is necessary for the next two-year term. Barrows will face former state senator Jackie Speier for the Democratic nomination in the November general election. He opted not to run in the special election.

The June election is also the 19th District Assembly race primary for Democratic contenders Jerry Hill, Gina Papan and Rich Holober. Libertarian Brian Perry also qualified for the ballot but is running unopposed for his party.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.

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