San Mateo City Council Names New Member

By Bay City News Service:

The San Mateo City Council voted unanimously to appoint Planning Commission chairman Rick Bonilla as a new councilmember during a special meeting Monday, city officials said.

Bonilla’s appointment will run through the next election this November, at which time voters may select another candidate to finish out the two remaining years of outgoing Councilman Robert Ross’s term.

In Bonilla’s application to join the City Council, however, he indicated that he does intend to seek re-election at that time.

“I would like to address the major issues facing San Mateo today while positioning the city to be well prepared for the issues of tomorrow,” Bonilla wrote in his application.

Bonilla listed his top priorities on the City Council as public infrastructure, housing, climate change and improving the downtown area.

Bonilla is a 20-year resident of San Mateo, a graduate of the Leadership Program sponsored by the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce, and a retired union carpenter. He was appointed by the City Council to serve on the Public Works Commission between 2006-2012 and on the Planning Commission, where he served since 2012.

Bonilla’s predecessor Ross announced his resignation on Dec. 31 due to health problems. That left the city with 30 days to find his successor.

Ross first joined the Council in 2009 and was serving his second term of office.

Public documents from Monday’s meeting included 14 letters of support for Bonilla’s candidacy. Other candidates for the vacant seat included Anna Kuhre, Fred Nesbitt, Douglas Henton, Diane Papan and Donald Mattei.

(Image via Shutterstock)