East Palo Alto Councilmember Lisa Gauthier led in the initial results for the District 4 seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday evening. As of 8:10 p.m., Gauthier had a 60% to 39% advantage over fellow East Palo Alto Councilmember Antonio Lopez.
This election is significant for East Palo Alto, which hasn’t had representation on the county board since Rose Jacobs Gibson, the first African-American supervisor in San Mateo County, served from 1999 to 2013. District 4 covers East Palo Alto, Redwood City, Menlo Park, and the unincorporated area of North Fair Oaks.
In an earlier interview, Gauthier emphasized affordable housing, reproductive rights, education, and social equity as her key priorities.
“Affordable housing is a priority,” she said. “We don’t have enough units, and those that exist are too expensive. Public safety will also be a focus, ensuring residents feel secure and have strong ties with safety officials.”
If she pulls off the win, Gauthier will join political veteran and former congresswoman Jackie Speier on the board. Speier won the District 1 seat decisively against Millbrae Councilmember Ann Schneider in the March primary.
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