David Burruto
Chief of Staff
David Burruto serves as Chief of Staff to San Mateo County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier, bringing nearly three decades of experience in local and state government on the Peninsula and across the Bay Area.
Before joining Supervisor Gauthier’s office in October 2026, David spent nearly four years as District Director for Assemblymember Diane Papan, where he led community and constituent relations, communications, and regional policy work. Prior to that, he served for more than 11 years as Chief of Staff to San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, helping guide the office’s priorities and its work with residents, cities, and county departments.
David’s public service career also includes seven years as District Director in the California State Senate and a role as Public Information Officer for the City of Berkeley. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Ithaca College and early in his career worked as a journalist in San Mateo County.
Contact David via email at dburruto@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.
Before joining Supervisor Gauthier’s office, Vanessa served 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.
She also gained experience with the Public Defender’s Offices in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties and as a Program Fellow with Stanford Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, where she worked on class action cases and supported advocacy for immigrant communities.
Vanessa holds a BA in Political Science and Spanish from San Diego State University and an MA in History from the University of Leeds.
Contact Vanessa via email at vsmith1@smcgov.org or by phone at 650-474-9480.
Connie Franco
Legislative Aide
With deep family roots in North Fair Oaks, Connie brings a strong sense of community, a resourceful approach, and unwavering dedication to public service in her work.
Before becoming a Legislative Aide for Supervisor Gauthier, Connie supported Supervisor Warren Slocum’s efforts to engage and uplift the community. Her professional background spans philanthropy, technology, and biotechnology, with roles at the Skoll Foundation and Guardant Health.
Connie holds an MBA from Sacramento State University and a BA in Sociology from San Francisco State University.
Contact Connie via email at cfperez@smcgov.org or by phone at 650-421-1144.
Travis Dunn
Legislative Aide
Originally from Texas, Travis began his career as an attorney before moving into public service.
Prior to joining District 4 as a Legislative Aide, he served in the San Mateo County Parks Department as well as in the Registration & Elections Division, where he gained experience in civic engagement and outreach. Across his career, Travis has worked closely with community members, local organizations, elected officials, and government agencies to help improve public services.
Contact Travis via email at tdunn1@smcgov.org or by phone at 650-542-1222.