Politics & Government
Filing Period Opens for November Election
No contenders challenge mayor, council members, school board trustees.
The filing period opens today for candidates who plan to run in November for office, which in San Bruno includes the top spot in city government, two council seats and two school board trustees.
Mayor Jim Ruane is expected to declare his candidacy by day’s end. Councilwoman Irene O’Connell filed papers this morning. Michael Salazar, the other council member whose seat will become available, has neither filed papers nor made public his intentions.
Ruane's term is two years; council members serve for four.
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In the San Bruno Park School District, board president Kevin Martinez and trustee Jennifer Blanco are up for re-election. Martinez has said he plans to run again, but neither has filed the required papers to make their candidacy official.
The filing period concludes Aug. 12.
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Ruane has been on the council since 1995. He was elected mayor in 2009. A U.S. Navy veteran, Ruane owns a family-run plastering and drywall company in South San Francisco.
The mayor will oversee city government in a time of unprecedented budget cuts and the possible loss of redevelopment funds. S/he will also deal with the continued fallout from the 2010 PG&E gas pipeline explosion against a backdrop of multiple lawsuits against the utility.
The newest council member, Michael Salazar was appointed to the governing body in 2009 to fill the vacancy created when Ruane was elected mayor. Salazar was appointed vice mayor in December 2010.
He is the council’s liaison to appointed citizen advisory committees and regional/county agencies.
Former librarian Irene O'Connell has served on the council since 1995. Voters re-elected her in 2007 to serve a four-year term. She has a particular interest in water conservation and beautification. She sits on the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, the City/County Association of Governments, the League of California Cities and the San Mateo County Council of Cities.
No candidates have emerged to challenge the mayor, the council members or the school board trustees.