Marci Dragun, Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, Marci handles constituent issues, law enforcement, public safety and issues surrounding homelessness, the Veterans Commission, local and regional government, and scheduling. Prior to becoming Supervisor Gauthier’s Chief of Staff, she served as Legislative Aide, Senior Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff to former Supervisor Warren Slocum since 2012. Marci has served on numerous boards including as Chair and member of the UC Hastings College of the Law Board of Directors from 2006-2018 and as Chair and member of the Notre Dame High School Belmont’s Board of Directors. Marci earned her B.A. from Mills College and her J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law (now UC Law San Francisco).
Contact Marci via email at mdragun@smcgov.org or by phone at 650-599-1021.
Vanessa Smith, Legislative Aide
Vanessa was born and raised in District 4 to Central American immigrant parents and is a proud first-generation college graduate. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish from San Diego State University and went on to complete her master’s degree in History at the University of Leeds. Before joining Supervisor Gauthier’s office, Vanessa worked as a program manager at East Palo Alto Community Alliance Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO), where she led community land trust initiatives and housing preservation projects. Her passion for social justice began earlier, as she contributed to the Public Defender’s Office in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Additionally, Vanessa served as a Program Fellow at Stanford Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, where she visited detention centers to develop class action lawsuits, furthering her dedication to advocating for vulnerable communities.
Contact Vanessa via email at vsmith1@smcgov.org or by phone at 650-474-9480.
Connie Franco, Legislative Aide
As a Legislative Aide, Connie works on issues pertaining to youth, schools, education, and community outreach, particularly focusing on the unincorporated area of North Fair Oaks. As a native Spanish speaker, this valuable asset allows her to bridge communication gaps and foster connections within the community she serves. She assumes the role of the District's liaison to organizations including the North Fair Oaks Community Council and Redwood City Together.
Previously, Connie held the position of Human Resources Coordinator, accumulating valuable experience across multiple sectors including retail, technology, biotechnology, and a most recently philanthropy. She earned her MBA from Sacramento State and her BA in Sociology from San Francisco State.
Contact Connie via email at cfperez@smcgov.org or by phone at 650-421-1144.
Joshua Caspillan, Legislative Aide
Joshua is a dedicated public servant with extensive experience in the County of San Mateo. He has held key roles, including Legislative Aide to former District 4 Supervisor and Board President Warren Slocum, Business Analyst and Community Outreach Specialist in the Office of Community Affairs, and intern at the Children’s Fund.
Joshua earned a B.S. in Health Science (Public Health) from California State University, East Bay. Guided by public health principles, he focuses on analyzing and recommending policies that address social determinants of health and promote equity while amplifying marginalized voices and experiences.
Contact Joshua via email at jcaspillan@smcgov.org or by phone at 650-363-4570.