October 1, 2022

Labor Council Endorses Candidates for City Councils, School Boards

San Mateo County Central Labor Council delegates voted September 12 to endorse candidates for City Council in Belmont, Burlingame, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo and South San Francisco and for School Boards in the Jefferson Elementary School District, Ravenswood City School District, San Mateo-Foster City School District, and South San Francisco Unified School District.

Candidates were questioned in a series of interviews with representatives of public sector, private sector, education, and building trades unions about their positions on key labor issues. All endorsed candidates expressed support for union organizing, project labor agreements and prevailing wages, the Trades Introduction Program and apprenticeships in construction, hazard pay for grocery workers, and fair contracts for workers at SFO. Other labor issues supported by the endorsed candidates include consolidation of fire services, dealing with sea level rise, building more affordable housing, protecting public employees’ jobs and pensions. All the endorsed candidates pledged to be accessible to union members. Following are brief summaries of key points and issues in some of the local election contests.

CITY COUNCILS

Belmont
Mayor: Vote for Julia Mates
Council District 1: Vote for Gina Latimerlo

Julia Mates, Belmont’s current Mayor, has served on the City Council since 2018, and has overseen the development and groundbreaking of new housing, roadway improvements, and infrastructure repairs. Her priorities include increasing housing stock—including creating more affordable housing, public safety, maintaining and repairing infrastructure, addressing traffic congestion, and maintaining 911 emergency response times and fire safety.

She served as Chair of the Planning Commission, where she was instrumental in developing and approving several projects that are transforming Belmont’s downtown, as well as on the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and Peninsula Clean Energy Board of Directors.

Mayor Mates said she is in regular communication with employee groups and is usually aware of emerging issues or challenges from the perspective of those most directly impacted. “Understanding the context and hearing directly from stakeholders has served me well during my tenure and the city has been successful in working through issues historically,” she said. Mates opposes the privatization of public services and outsourcing of public sector jobs, noting that, “Privatizing services prevents local agencies from providing direct oversight and maintaining the quality of such services and how employees are treated. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, once a service is privatized, reconstructing a public service replacement is incredibly costly. Privatization could permanently prevent a local agency, particularly a small city like Belmont, from ever regaining the ability to provide a specific service in the future.”

Gina Latimerlo is a small business owner, neighborhood activist, and member of Belmont’s Planning Commission. Her priorities include guiding the development and revitalization of District 1, creating pipelines to leadership for leaders of diverse backgrounds, and making city government more accessible—including improving communication between residents and city government.

Latimerlo said she supports having union members represented on boards and commissions, supports labor peace agreements for planned hotel developments, and would like to see Belmont do more to promote the Trades Introduction Program.

Belmont City Council member Charles Stone said, “Gina Latimerlo has a proven track record of dedication to her community as a long-time neighborhood leader and now a Belmont Planning Commissioner. She is extraordinarily qualified to represent District 1 and the entire Belmont community.”

San Mateo
Council District 1: Vote for Lisa Diaz Nash
Council District 3: Vote for Sarah Fields
Council District 5: Vote for Adam Loraine

With the advent of district elections in San Mateo, voters will choose three new city council members this November. Incumbent Rick Bonilla is termed-out and councilmember Diane Papan is running for State Assembly and endorsed by the California Labor Federation. The San Mateo Labor Council endorsed Lisa Diaz Nash, Sarah Fields, and Adam Loraine.

The endorsed candidates each support the consolidation of fire services and integrating emergency medical services within a merged county fire department.

Lisa Diaz Nash said her priorities include affordable workforce housing, disaster preparedness and school safety, and maintaining streets and reducing traffic. She said she shares “Labor’s vision that we value and respect our workers; that we work together to create equity and opportunity for all; and that we take care of our world for future generations. More importantly, I would like to begin the community conversation with labor leaders on our joint community goals to ensure Labor’s ongoing seat at the table.”

Sarah Fields said public safety and meeting housing needs are her priorities. She said she would champion hazard pay for grocery workers, help promote TIP and bring more women into the building trades and would oppose outsourcing union-represented jobs.

Adam Loraine said he is running for city council to help deal with the housing crisis and climate crisis. He noted that San Mateo will have four new Council members and that as a member of San Mateo’s Sustainability & Infrastructure Commission and the 2040 General Plan Subcommittee, he has the necessary experience to lead. “Labor is a vital part of the process,” he said. “We need skilled and trained workers for developments, and to ensure sustainability.”

South San Francisco
Vote for Eddie Flores

The Labor Council endorsed appointed incumbent Eddie Flores for the South San Francisco City Council in District 5. Flores previously served on the Parks and Recreation Commission and South San Francisco School Board.

Public sector union members noted that Flores is accessible and supportive of union members, and has stayed true to commitments he has made. He has walked picket lines with Stationary Engineers at Kaiser, service workers at SFO, and health care workers at Sequoia and Seton Hospitals.

Flores supports project labor agreements for South San Francisco development projects because “they are designed to give maximum benefit to all parties involved. I firmly believe that the use of union labor for construction and operation is optimal and key to ensuring successful completion of any project.” Asked about stopping the expansion of Amazon in SSF, Flores said the anti-union, tax evading company has crushed competition and hurt small businesses. “I am committed to challenging their power,” he said.

“As a community, we are facing rising costs of living, skyrocketing rents, unjust evictions, displacement, drought and climate change, and more,” Flores said. “I will make it my mission to fight to ensure that the quality of life for all of our residents is top priority.” Flores said his goals include addressing housing and cultural displacement, working to make housing more affordable, expanding childcare and preschool access and services, and addressing climate change and sustainability.

San Bruno
Council District 4: Vote for Auros Harman

The Labor Council endorsed Planning Commissioner Auros Harman for City Council in San Bruno District 4. Harmon is challenging incumbent Marty Medina. In interviews August 30, the candidates were asked about their positions on outsourcing public sector jobs, hazard pay for essential workers, affordable housing development, and support for union apprenticeships.

Harman said, “Pushing back against the spiraling increase of housing cost, to keep our area accessible to workers, will be my number one priority, in contrast to the incumbent, who derailed the most important development in our city, despite dozens of union members residing in and near San Bruno appealing for approval.” He said he would “seek to streamline apartment and mixed-use construction in our transit corridor, especially where projects have good labor agreements.”

Harman said outsourcing public sector work is “a bad idea that hollows out capacity” and “won’t save money in the long run.” He said he supports hazard pay for grocery workers and that the City Council should push for it. He followed up on his pledge to support workers at SFO by walking the picket lines with SEIU-USWW members September 2.

Pacifica
District 2: Vote for Robby Bancroft
District 5: Vote for Paul Chervatin

Robby Bancroft is endorsed in District 2. “I believe in giving workers the power to negotiate for more favorable working conditions and other benefits through collective bargaining,” he said. “I have been a union member myself [UNITE HERE Local 2] and a lot of my family and friends are currently members.” Bancroft said he wants to “help solve our city’s impending $2.7 million deficit, tackle the high cost of living that is fueling the affordable housing crisis, bring more resources into our community to address mental health needs, work collaboratively to deal with the ongoing effects of climate change (i.e. wildfires, drought, flooding, landslides, coastal erosion and sea level rise) and continue the efforts to preserve our open spaces hillsides and ridges.” He said he supports including more housing in Pacifica’s Sharp Park Specific Plan.

Paul Chervatin said he is “a strong supporter of organized labor as a way to build the power needed for better lives for working people. Labor’s voice is powerful and should be respected.” His priorities include addressing Pacifica’s structural deficit and building affordable workforce housing. “I’m hoping to be elected as part of a new city council for Pacifica where planning saves the day. Climate change especially threatens us as we are a coastal city with sea level rise and the threat of wildfire.”

Daly City
Vote for Ray Buenaventura and Pamela DiGiovanni

Incumbents Ray Buenaventura and Pamela DiGiovanni are endorsed in Daly City. Both were endorsed by the Labor Council in previous elections and have been supportive of unions. Both oppose outsourcing public sector jobs and have been accessible to union members.

Pamela DiGiovanni said she “would like to implement Project Labor Agreements for city projects, ordinances to prevent wage theft in Daly City, and to have a policy in place for tenant protections.” She said she would look into enacting rent stabilization measures and support development of more housing for teachers in the Jefferson Elementary and Jefferson High School Districts. DiGiovanni has walked picket lines with striking hospital workers at Seton many times during her term on the city council.

Ray Buenaventura noted that he is the most senior member of the Daly City Council, having served for 11 years. His priorities include affordable housing, public safety, social justice reforms, and increasing revenue and balancing the city’s budget. He said outsourcing is bad for our city employees, doesn’t save money, and is not effective. He said he has promoted the TIP program, and as a Public Defender has referred clients to the pre-apprenticeship program. “It is an opportunity for people to change their lives,” he said.

Redwood City
District 2 - Vote for Chris Sturkin
District 6 - Vote for Diane Howard

Council member Diane Howard said her experience in office would be needed as the City Council will have new members, and that her priorities “will continue to be public safety, housing and homelessness, children’s issues, and transportation with equity being part of every decision I make.” She stated she’d led the effort to raise the minimum wage in Redwood City.

Howard said she “would be very supportive of apprenticeship programs and would encourage the high schools and community colleges to work with the Labor on career pathways.”

She said she does not support privatizing/outsourcing city jobs. “Redwood City has always prided itself on its excellent customer service and expertise,” Howard said. “One  potential consequence of outsourcing is that these contract employees may not have knowledge of the culture, demographics and/or history of our community. Not having this experience or information can sometimes be an obstacle in making tough decisions for our valued customers.”

Chris Sturken is a Planning Commissioner and Co-Chair of the County of San Mateo LGBTQ Commission. His priorities are “maintaining a vibrant downtown, ending homelessness, and creating more affordable housing.” He said he supports project labor agreements and promoting apprenticeship programs that provide a pipeline to a career for local workers.

Sturken opposes outsourcing and said a way to protect jobs and retain workers is to build more affordable housing. He said he would support a merged countywide fire department if it is in the best interest of firefighters and maintains union wages and benefits. To address staffing concerns, Sturken said he would, “confer with the Labor Council, SEIU Local 521, and any other labor groups representing city employees.”

East Palo Alto
Vote for Ruben Abrica

In East Palo Alto, incumbent Ruben Abrica, an instructor at DeAnza Community College and a member of the California Faculty Association, is endorsed for re-election. Abrica said he wants to continue the progress made on the Council to enhance public safety, develop affordable housing, and create jobs. Abrica is accessible to union members, and supports including unions in budget discussions.

Foster City
Vote for Evan Adams and Stacy Jimenez

Planning Commission Chair Evan Adams and Attorney Stacy Jimenez are endorsed for City Council.

Adams said his priorities are activating of Foster City’s waterfront along with encouraging mixed use in any redevelopment along the water, modernizing city codes, and focusing on economic and environmental sustainability. Adams works in commercial construction, and said he works with union shops regularly. “I’m a planning commissioner in Foster City and have a better contemporary understanding of what is happening in our city from a building, zoning, and planning perspective from focusing on this subject for the last three years.” He said, ”we have continually lost local stores and retail. I am on the record that I support the mixed use of a diverse business on the Orchard Supply site with housing on top for the people who work in our communities.”

Adams said he has and will continue, “to be an advocate for our city staff who have been consistently mistreated in Foster City. As retaining city staff has become harder, our city needs to move towards more flexible working conditions.”

To address concerns about appropriate staffing levels in Foster City, Jimenez said she would consult with the workers. “Ask anyone in Foster City right now and I can assure you the answer will be that they are feeling over-worked and stretched too thin. We are suffering from a lack of ability to hire, and many staff feel like they are simply ‘numbers on a spreadsheet.’ We can only attract quality staff if we have a reputation of taking care of our staff, of paying them appropriately, and ideally, having the ability to house them.”

Jimenez said, “Multi-tier pension structures can create inequities throughout the system. I believe in consulting with stakeholders if any decision were to affect them, and were I to be called upon to change pension benefits, I would absolutely want to consult employee groups.”

Jimenez said her priorities include building more housing in our city and engaging with non-profit developers to build housing for low- income residents, enacting a living wage and not just a minimum wage increases, and tackling environmental issues facing the region. “Enacting Reach Codes that would allow our city to be greener and lessen greenhouse gas emissions is one way to do something that would have a definitive affect on Climate Change,” she said.

San Carlos
Vote for Adam Rak and Sara McDowell

Adam Rak is endorsed for a second term on the City Council. A former School Board Trustee, Rak said, “Education and training is critical to workforce development. We are better as a community when we have a skilled workforce. I would work with the County to encourage more workforce training programs at our community colleges. Locally, we can work with developers to encourage investment in training and apprenticeship programs.” Rak noted that, “San Carlos is in the midst of a transformative period with significant commercial growth to our East side industrial area and downtown already happening. If I am re-elected, I intend to work on re-imagining our downtown” and “working to create more housing, including more affordable housing targeting areas close to transit.”

“Our public employees are critical to the successful running of our city,” Rak said. “We live in a high-cost area and that can make it challenging to attract and retain employees.” To deal with the increasing costs of health benefits, he said, “As part of the negotiation process we should work hard to hold the line on healthcare premiums and should not reduce benefit levels. I recently proposed the creation of a City Council subcommittee to look at the key issues facing our employees. My colleagues agreed to this proposal and I look forward to seeing the recommendations that come out of it.”

Mayor Sara McDowell said, “the City Council’s five strategic goals for 2022 are: climate change; childcare and youth programming; downtown; housing; northeast area specific plan; mobility, traffic and transportation infrastructure; and senior services and programming. On top of continuing to manage the City’s budget in a fiscally sustainable way, I expect to make significant progress on each of these strategic goals during a second term in office.”

“I welcome feedback from Labor in all circumstances and will reach out before taking any drastic actions regarding staffing,” McDowell said. “During the pandemic many cities faced significant losses in revenue and were forced to make painful budget cuts in order to balance budgets. Fortunately in San Carlos, we had a healthy rainy day fund to draw upon during the pandemic so that our budget cuts were minimal. Our reserves allowed us to avoid extensive layoffs as well as pay down unfunded pension liabilities, which helped us maintain our commitment to fully fund our pension obligations, while also ensuring savings in out years to help balance the budget.”

Half Moon Bay
Vote for Debbie Ruddock

City Councilmember/Mayor Debbie Ruddock shared that her goals include “implementation of the Workforce Development Center in our downtown. The County is providing $2.5 million to establish one. This is an important piece of the Coastside Recovery Initiative, which I also have supported. I am committed to housing and jobs for a local, diverse workforce. I also want to get at least two Below Market Rate housing developments built in the downtown area. The city is now in discussions with two non-profits and the school district to get something done.”

Ruddock said her priorities include, “encouraging training in the trades and other skills development” and “developing workplace skills needed to match the needs of local and county businesses.” She sees unions as a key partner in advancing regional economic development and workforce planning. “Labor can play an important role in supplying workforce data, as well as play a key role in development of policies and strategies and monitoring performance,” she said. “Our own city can work with labor to assure we are doing our part with the tools under our control, including ordinances, hiring and training practices, minimum wages, contracting rules, best management practices, taxes, infrastructure, etc.”