David Pollack has spent much of his career negotiating complex critical infrastructure projects and working with global start-ups in establishing and growing their U.S. operations in wireless, VPN, and cybersecurity technologies. David is currently the founder and principal consultant at FirstAID Labs, where he and his team help area nonprofits forge relationships with the philanthropic world.

Born and raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, home to the best bagels in the world, David grew up with a passion for politics and civic engagement working on local and national elections and student council campaigns through high school. After graduating from The George Washington University with a B.A. in Economics and Japanese Studies, he landed his first job in Tokyo with a global trading conglomerate in project finance.

Heeding the call for help in the classroom, most days you’ll find him substitute teaching in area classrooms.

Funding our public schools, paying for vital community services, and investing in the infrastructure needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – all deserve a faithful steward overseeing the county’s multibillion-dollar property tax base. My professional experience and deep involvement in the community tell me we can do better here in San Mateo. I can make positive changes to the current status quo – from transparency in property valuations and their contribution to our tax base and accessibility to public records, to civic participation in voting and running for elected office. Everyone deserves the opportunity to fully participate in decision-making.

Mark Church was elected San Mateo County’s Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer in 2010 and assumed office on January 3, 2011.  His experience as a Mayor and County Supervisor combined with his legal background make him uniquely qualified to manage the diverse operations of the office.  He offers a legacy of leadership, professional experience and knowledge.  Mark Church is committed to ensuring that the office continue its tradition of excellence, efficiency and productivity.

Mark Church is a third-generation Californian, born and raised in San Mateo County. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Pacific, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and holds a Juris Doctor Degree from McGeorge School of Law.

Church was elected and served on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors from 2001 to 2011, representing District 1. Prior to that, he served as Mayor and Councilman of the City of Millbrae.

In his role as Chief Elections Officer, he has worked to make elections efficient, transparent, and accessible. Under his leadership, San Mateo County became recognized as a leader in the field of Elections throughout the State of California.

San Mateo County was the first county in the State to conduct a countywide, local consolidated All-Mailed Ballot Election under the authority of AB 2028. The November 3, 2015 All-Mailed Ballot Election was a complete success increasing voter turnout amongst all groups, particularly youth and language minority voters. The election also resulted in significant cost savings for cities, schools and special districts and led to the passage of California’s landmark legislation, the California Voter’s Choice Act (SB 450). The All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center Election model authorized by the Act will fundamentally change the manner in which elections will ultimately be conducted for all Californians.  

San Mateo County also became the first county in the State to develop an Accessible Vote by Mail System (AVBM) to ensure that visually impaired and disabled voters have equal access to the electoral process. 

As County Assessor, Church has been at the helm of one of the strongest and most diverse Assessment Rolls in the State of California. The County’s Assessment Roll is the eight largest in the state with an assessed value of over $266 billion. Over 60 million square feet of new, large scale commercial development in the County is projected over the next five years. In order to meet the increasing demands of this growth, Church has championed the implementation of new and innovative approaches to maximize efficiencies, productivity and customer service.

He led the effort to replace the department’s aging legacy systems and infrastructure with state-of-the-art technologies and tools. Those include the development of a modern Assessor Parcel Assessment System (APAS), an advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) and a powerful cutting edge responsive Website to serve customer needs 24/7. These technologies allow the public to use their PCs, tablets and mobile devices to access services at their convenience.

In his role as County Clerk-Recorder, he introduced major technology enhancements to improve operations and customer service. The electronic recording system was upgraded and a self-service portal was installed, reducing customer wait times and improving efficiency. These systems improve the ease of recording and retrieval of land and vital records by the public.

Church’s customer service philosophy can be summed up with the Department’s motto, “People First.” His fundamental belief is that the sole purpose of government is to serve the people.

The Department’s Strategic Plan 2020 is reflective of that belief and defines the mission, vision and values of the Department. The Plan is the Department’s roadmap for the future and serves as the foundation for all budget and operational decisions.

Mark Church resides with his wife and children in San Mateo County. He is the son of Marvin Church, a former Millbrae Mayor and City Councilman (1958-1966), who went on to serve as San Mateo County Clerk–Recorder and Chief Elections Officer for two decades (1967-1987).

The Office of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer is non-partisan. In keeping with the non-partisan nature of the office, Mark Church avoids taking positions on partisan or political matters.

His responsibilities as the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer include overseeing the fair and accurate valuation of all taxable property in the county; the conduct of all elections in a transparent, accessible, accurate and fair manner; and the creation of an accurate public record of all recorded transactions relating to people and property within the county. As such, his philosophy is strictly customer-focused, and he has utilized technology and innovation to make the public's experience with the office easy and convenient.