A Rich History of Public Service...

By Andy M. Cohen

San Mateo County is at a crossroads. The elimination of our Redevelopment Agencies and California's fiscal crisis, create a situation ripe with strife and economic turmoil. San Mateo County must act swiftly to assist our cities to absorb some of the former responsibilities of the Redevelopment Agencies while ensuring fiscal conservatism. I have demonstrated a history of balanced budget decisions while retaining services.

I believe that we can work to retain key public safety services such as public safety (including police, fire response, and EMT), local incarceration and rehabilitation, and hospitals while reining in our pension obligations through a cooperative process with local unions. There must be a balance of fair pay and a viable retirement payout for our public safety officers while ensuring that the citizens' tax burden is not unbounded. Our welfare is at stake, so we must be strong and clear in declaring our needs and desires to Sacramento and Washington.

San Mateo County is diverse in industry, cultural richness, and physical beauty. During my tenure on the Menlo Park City Council, I have worked with neighboring cities and developers to increase the county's housing stock to meet the growing demands. I have experience in new and creative ideas to make this happen. However, it is important not only to increase the overall housing stock to meet the growing demands of our county, but also to provide affordable housing options. As I have done in Menlo Park, I will continue to work to support our county's residents to bring their non-conforming structures into conformance. I am determined to balance economic development with housing stock development in the best interests of the residents of San Mateo County.

With all the divergent plans for transportation throughout the peninsula, our county must seek transportation funding assistance to unify and consolidate underutilized transit systems to build a more sustainable transportation network. I am committed to working to ensure the viability of current transportation systems while minimizing our residents' tax burdens.

A unified voice must come from our Board of Supervisors. I plan to work tirelessly, collaboratively, and transparently to meet our residents' needs and to enhance your quality of life. I respectfully ask for your vote to be District 4 Supervisor.