FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2022
Contact: Laura@LauraforSupervisor.com
COUNTY SUPERVISOR CAROLE GROOM ENDORSES SAN CARLOS CITY COUNCILMEMBER
LAURA PARMER-LOHAN FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR
San Carlos, CA – Today, San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom announced her endorsement of San Carlos City Councilmember and former mayor Laura Parmer-Lohan for county supervisor. Parmer-Lohan is running to succeed retiring Supervisor Don Horsley who announced his endorsement of her candidacy earlier this week. Both Supervisors Groom and Horsley are terming out at the end of this year.
“As a mother, small business owner and transformative leader, Laura will bring a much-needed perspective to the Board,” said Supervisor Groom. “She understands the unique joys and challenges of working moms and family caregivers and the disproportionate toll that Covid 19 has taken on working moms and families.”
Said Groom, “Unique and diverse perspectives are essential for an inclusive vision that embraces every constituency, including women and the LGBTQ+ community.”
Said Councilmember Parmer-Lohan, “I’m running for County Supervisor to address priorities like enhanced disaster preparedness and the expansion of safety net essentials like accessible healthcare services for our seniors and working families.”
Supervisor Carol Groom
San Carlos City Councilmember Laura Parmer-Lohan is endorsed in the county supervisor’s race by prominent leaders in San Mateo County and across the region, including former Assemblymember and County Supervisor Rich Gordon, former Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, former US Civil Rights Commissioner Roberta Achtenberg*, LPAC, BAYMEC, Victory Fund, and Fund Her as well as local electeds, activists and neighbors spanning the Third District.
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ABOUT LAURA: In her roles as a Peninsula Clean Energy Board member, a San Mateo County Home for All Steering Committee member, and a San Mateo County Long Range Planning Economic Recovery Subcommittee member, Laura advocates for the needs of all District 3 residents. She, her wife Kathy and sons Bradley and Gregory are residents of San Carlos, where Kathy serves as Executive Director of the San Carlos Education Foundation.
*Titles for identification purposes only.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2022
Contact: Laura@LauraforSupervisor.com
Laura Parmer-Lohan
COUNTY SUPERVISOR DON HORSLEY ENDORSES SAN CARLOS CITY COUNCILMEMBER LAURA PARMER-LOHAN FOR HIS SEAT ON THE BOARD
San Carlos, CA – San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley, who terms out this year after a decades-long career in public service, has announced his endorsement of San Carlos City Councilmember and former mayor Laura Parmer-Lohan for his seat on the Board. A primary election will be conducted on June 7th.
“I cannot think of a more qualified leader and public servant to serve the diverse needs of District 3 than Laura Parmer-Lohan” said Supervisor Horsley. “Laura offers fresh ideas and a bold vision for addressing the challenges facing our county and district, including wildfire prevention, drought, and sea level rise.” District 3 includes Peninsula communities such as San Carlos and Menlo Park as well as many coastal communities including Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.
Parmer-Lohan has raised more than $180,000 in her race for the seat and has conducted a “Listen and Lead” tour over the past year to hear the unique concerns of residents across the sprawling district.
Said Parmer-Lohan, “There is much at stake for San Mateo County and our local communities in this election. Over the past year, I’ve engaged hundreds of residents to better understand their vision and priorities, which include protecting our clean air, water and open spaces and ensuring that we’re fully prepared to address any emergency.”
Supervisor Don Horsley
Laura continued, “I couldn’t be prouder or more honored to have earned the endorsement of Supervisor Horsley to continue his dedicated and impactful work on behalf of the people of District 3.”
San Carlos City Councilmember Parmer-Lohan is endorsed by a broad coalition of organizations including the Reach Coalition, Redwood City Firefighters Association, SEIU United Healthcare Workers, Former County Supervisor and Assembly member Rich Gordon, San Mateo County Board of Education President Hector Camacho as well as local electeds, activists and neighbors across District 3.
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ABOUT LAURA: In her roles as a Peninsula Clean Energy Board member, a San Mateo County Home for All Steering Committee member, and a San Mateo County Long Range Planning Economic Recovery Subcommittee member, Laura advocates for the needs of all District 3 residents. She, her wife Kathy and sons Bradley and Gregory are residents of San Carlos, where Kathy serves as Executive Director of the San Carlos Education Foundation.
Contact
Candidate for San Mateo County Board of Supervisors 2022
https://www.
650-743-0059
Who is District 3?
Board of Supervisors Approves “Communities Together” Map of New District Boundaries
Vote minimizes divisions, empowers communities of interest
Dec. 7, 2021
Redwood City – The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors today voted unanimously to adopt the “Communities Together” map that sets district lines for the next decade.
The 5-0 vote caps a months-long public outreach and engagement process. The Board, by state law, must adopt a new map that sets boundaries for each of the five supervisorial districts by Dec. 15, 2021, for use in the June 2022 primaries.
“This is truly a landmark occasion for everyone who cares about fair maps, who cares about ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table,” said David J. Canepa, president of the Board of Supervisors. “The Communities Together map establishes district boundaries that respect and empower our county’s diverse communities.”
San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley said, “Above all, I want to thank everyone who took the time and put in the effort to get involved and to give their input. Ensuring we have districts that minimize divisions and empower local communities is the very essence of representative democracy.”
The Board’s task was to create five districts that reflect changes in population based on the 2020 federal Census. This means each district must include roughly 153,083 residents, so that each person has equal representation. The location of district lines determines which voters can vote for which candidate.
The population target must be met while abiding by state and federal laws, including the Voting Rights Act, a landmark federal law that prohibits racial discrimination (gerrymandering, for instance) in voting.
The following shows the population in the approved map:
| COMMUNITIES TOGETHER: TOTAL POPULATION |
|---|
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Total |
| Total Pop. | 147,541 | 158,4809 | 153,827 | 153,790 | 151,779 | 765,417 |
| Deviation from ideal | -5,542 | 5,397 | 744 | 707 | -1,304 | 10,939 |
| Each of the five districts must contain abouot 153,083 people. |
Two of the five new districts, District 1 and District 5, have voting age populations that are majority-minority, meaning the majority of eligible voters are racial or ethnic minorities. Specifically, District 1 is 58 percent majority-minority and District 5 is 80 percent majority-minority. In addition, Districts 2 and 4 have roughly equal voting age populations of minority and non-Hispanic white residents.
“Four of the five districts provide significant opportunities for traditionally under-represented groups to elect candidates that reflect the values of their communities,” Canepa said. “This is a significant achievement in drawing lines that respect the makeup of our communities today.”
The following shows the citizen voting age population in the approved map:
| COMMUNITIES TOGETHER: CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATION |
|---|
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Total |
| Total | 99,909 | 96,306 | 111,071 | 87,214 | 106,347 | 500,848 |
| % Hispanic | 21% | 14% | 10% | 28% | 18% | 18% |
| % Non-Hispanic White | 42% | 52% | 72% | 50% | 20% | 47% |
| % Non-Hispanic Black | 2% | 3% | 2% | 6% | 4% | 3% |
| % Asian/Pacific Islander | 35% | 30% | 15% | 15% | 57% | 31% |
Horsley said the new districts also respect the geographical integrity of local communities and neighborhoods with shared interests, known as “communities of interest.” The new map, for instance, minimizes the division of coastal communities and those living in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City.
Background
While the five districts must be substantially balanced in population, requirements also include compliance with federal and state equal voting rights and the following rank-ordered state law criteria:
► Drawing districts that are, as much as possible, geographically contiguous
► Keeping communities of interest intact, as much as possible
► Keeping cities intact, as much as possible
► Having easily identifiable boundaries (major highways, railways, streets, rivers, mountains), as much as possible
► Drawing districts to encourage geographical compactness, as much as possible.
To assist in the redistricting process, the Board earlier this year appointed an advisory commission, called the 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission, whose 15 members were recommended by members from local chapters of the League of Women Voters.
Although federal Census data was delayed, the Commission launched into a series of 10 public meetings to receive public testimony, discuss communities of interest and review draft maps. The Commission ultimately voted on Oct. 28. 2021, to recommend two maps to the Board of Supervisors on a vote of 8-7.
The Board, at a public meeting on Nov. 16, 2021, directed staff to return on December 7, 2021 with an ordinance adopting the “Communities Together” map. This map “best meets federal and state law requirements, including, to the extent practicable, respecting the geographical integrity of any local neighborhood or local community of interest,” according to the accompanying staff report.
The Board today approved an ordinance adopting the map, a move that must come back before the Board for a second reading on Dec. 14, 2021.
While the new map will determine lines for the next decade, four of the five current members of the Board of Supervisors are prohibited from running for re-election due to term limits.
