Government
San Mateo was incorporated in 1894. The Police Chief since 2000 is Susan Manheimer, the Non Emergency Police Phone Number is (650) 522-7700. There are six fire stations in San Mateo, the Battalion Chief’s Office is at 31 West 27th Ave. The city council consists of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and a three council members.
City Council Meetings are open to the public
- Meetings are usually at 7:00PM on the 1st and 3rd Mondays
- Location: City Hall in the Council Chambers 330 West 20th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94403
In 2017 voters approved elections be held on even years. Council members serve four years with two seats up for election in 2020 and three up for election in 2022.
City Officials
Mayor Bonilla
Rick Bonilla was appointed to the City Council in January 2015, elected in November 2015 to a two-year term, and re-elected in 2017 to his first full term. He was born in San Francisco and grew up on the peninsula. He and his wife have resided in San Mateo since 1991. Rick served as the Chair of San Mateo’s Planning Commission, and also served six years on the Public Works Commission and several years on the Bay Meadows and Transportation Corridor Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
Deputy Mayor Papan
Diana Papan was elected to the City Council in November 2015 and is serving her first term. Papan grew up in San Mateo County and has lived in San Mateo for over ten years. She is an attorney specializing in commercial litigation. Diane is also the Director of John’s Closet, a non-profit benefitting school-aged children. She served as President of the Baywood Owners Improvement Association, Second-V.P. of San Mateo United Homeowners Association, and Chair of the Baywood School Site Council. She worked on the Downtown master plan and parking plan.
Council Member Freschet
Maureen Freschet was elected to the City Council in November 2011, re-elected in 2015 and is currently serving her second term. Freschet is a life-long San Matean who worked for Notre Dame de Namur for 22 years in the role of Executive Director for Constituent Relations and Conference Services. She served on the San Mateo Planning Commission from 2009 to 2011 (as its Chair in 2011) and on the San Mateo Civic Arts Committee from 2010-11.
Council Member Freschet
Joe Freschet was elected in November 2013, was re-elected in 2017 and is currently serving his second term. Goethals is a life-long resident of San Mateo. He works as a prosecutor in the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. Joe served on the Public Works Commission 2010-2013, and was serving as the Chair of the Public Works Commission when he was elected. Joe also has a Master’s degree in Public Health and he served on the Peninsula Health Care District Board prior to being elected to the City Council.
Council Member Rodriguez
Eric Rodriguez was elected to serve his first term on San Mateo’s City Council in November 2017. He previously served on San Mateo’s Planning Commission and as his neighborhood’s representative to the San Mateo United Homeowners Association (SMUHA). Professionally, Eric is the Co-Founder and CEO of an educational media company located in Downtown San Mateo. He received his M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and his B.S. from U.C. Berkeley. Eric resides in the Aragon neighborhood with his wife, Shirley, and his energetic 6-year-old son, Tyler.
US Senator Dianne Feinstein
Fresno, CA 93721 www.feinstein.senate.gov
US Senator Kamala Harris
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone (415) 355 – 9041 www.harris.senate.gov
US Congressional Representative 14th District Jackie Spear
Phone: (650) 342-0300 speier.house.gov
13th State Senate District – Senator Jerry Hill
1528 South El Camino Real, Suite 303San Mateo, CA 94402 sd13.senate.ca.gov
Phone: (650) 212-3313
22nd State Assembly District – Kevin Mullin
1528 South El Camino Real Suite 302San Mateo, CA 94402
Phone: (650) 349-2200 a22.asmdc.org