Tuesday, Jan 05, 2021
 by 
Michelle Durand
  • Redwood City — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors today unanimously selected Supervisor David Canepa, who represents District Five in the North County, as the 2021 president during its annual reorganization.

    David J. Canepa

    The Board also chose District Three Supervisor Don Horsley as 2021 vice president.

    Calling himself honored and humbled by the appointment, Canepa said “2020 was an opportunity to reflect and think about where we are and where we are headed.” With continued challenges ahead, Canepa said, “We must dream big.”

    Canepa noted that the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and community vaccinations remain the utmost priority in 2021. However, the global pandemic exposed disparities in San Mateo County that have existed for generations and must also be addressed through economic stimulus, free community college for all, support for working families and more inclusion in local government, he said.

    “I want our community to know that my singular mission is to ensure you are at the table,” Canepa said. “The outreach to our community is a priority, not simply a box to be checked.”

    This marks Canepa’s first turn as president since joining the Board in January 2017. He previously served on the Daly City Council from 2008 to 2016.

    Canepa succeeds District Four Supervisor Warren Slocum who served as president in 2020. Slocum finished his tenure as president by recognizing County employees for their tremendous work in an unexpected year made more difficult by the “ever-changing nature of the rules of the game.”

    “If you had told me in January we were going to be faced with a very significant global pandemic, faced with wildfires, faced with widespread economic devastation, I’d probably have said that’s just impossible,” Slocum said. “It’s been an amazing journey for us all, I know.”

    The Board of Supervisors oversees an annual budget of approximately $3.2 billion that provides an array of services for all 750,000 county residents, including public health protection, parks programs, social services, criminal justice services, elections and housing programs. The County also provides basic city-style services for the approximately 10 percent of residents who live in unincorporated areas.

    District Five, which Canepa represents, includes the communities of Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, San Bruno (north of Sneath Lane and west of Interstate 280), South San Francisco (west of Interstate 280 until Avalon Drive then west of Junipero Serra Boulevard, and north of Hickey, Hillside and Sister Cities Boulevard to Highway 101) with Unincorporated Broadmoor Village, San Bruno Mountain Park and Brisbane Quarry.