San Mateo CountyCandidate for Supervisor, District 2

San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) Director, City Councilmember, and two-time Belmont Mayor Charles Stone is a proud native of San Mateo County and a graduate of Hillsdale High. As your County Supervisor, Charles offers experienced, results-oriented leadership to protect the quality of life for residents of Belmont, Foster City, and San Mateo during these dynamic times. Charles champions safe, vibrant, and transit-friendly communities for local families through his leadership on SamTrans, where he leads regional efforts to maintain clean air and reduce the impacts of climate change by promoting public transit and traffic management strategies. He is a passionate advocate for affordable workforce housing, public safety, and vibrant neighborhoods that are safe, equitable, and family friendly. Charles has a proven track record of stepping up to help those in need. 

Charles led Belmont as Mayor in 2017 when unprecedented progress was made and again as Mayor in 2021 when his steady leadership helped pull Belmont through the pandemic and ensure the continued operation of the Crystal Springs Cross-Country Course. Since his election in 2013, he has had a proven track record of working collaboratively with his colleages on the city council, the San Mateo County Transit District Board, the San Mateo County Library JPA Board, the Peninsula Clean Energy Board, and the Caltrain Board (where he has fought to recover sums owed San Mateo County) to improve affordability and equitable access for all.  As the result of his hard work, measurable results, and dedication to San Mateo County, Charles has been honored with the endorsements of Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo, State Sen. Josh Becker, former State Sen. Jerry Hill, Assemblymembers Kevin Mullin and Marc Berman, CA Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisors Dave Pine, Warren Slocum, and Don Horsley, former Supervisors Adrienne Tissier, Tom Huening, and John Ward, 13 of the 15 current councilmembers in San Mateo, Belmont, and Foster City, a majority of the school board trustees in District 2, and over 50 current and former San Mateo County mayors.

Charles grew up in San Mateo County with his mother, Mary (who taught children with learning challenges,) and father, Charles (a professional musician.)  Charles and his two daughters, Sophia and Sara, live in Belmont where the girls have attended public schools. Community engagement is important to Charles. He has been a school library volunteer, a classroom volunteer, a volunteer with School-Force (Belmont-Redwood Shores District Public School Foundation) --where he served as Endowment Chair -- and volunteered as a soccer, softball, and basketball coach and umpire/referee. A graduate of UC San Diego and Santa Clara University School of Law, Charles is a small business owner on the Peninsula who understands local small businesses who need support and help as we continue to recover from COVID. 

As the son of parents with modest means, Charles is acutely aware of the challenges facing working families in San Mateo County today. “Nothing is more important to me than ensuring my daughters, your family, and our future generations can afford to live in the safe, healthy communities we currently enjoy.” – Charles

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As a native of San Mateo County, I have seen our communities go through incredible changes -- some good, some challenging. While I am still convinced this is a phenomenal place to live, the challenges of wildfires, climate change, housing affordability, traffic, and creating a truly equitable community remain. In an era of increasing extremism at seemingly every level of government, I believe that our best path forward is one of inclusive outreach, collaboration, and consensus building. There are no shortage of candidates who recite the rhetoric and make big promises, but deliver little once elected. Over the past 9 years, I believe I have shown that I not only "talk the talk," but also "walk the walk."

As local leaders, we must work hard to be accessible and engage with our communities. As a two-time mayor and councilmember, I developed a program of monthly "Coffees with Charles" and quarterly Mayor's/Councilmember's Advisory Group meetings to ensure that I hear directly from our residents and business owners. I have had a 24 hour response policy to emails, text messages, and phone calls. If elected, I plan on pursuing a vigorous outreach strategy in District 2 with quarterly coffees in each city in the district. Like San Mateo County, District 2 has a diverse population and I plan to host my coffee meetings with both Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) translators on hand to assure that I can frequently hear the concerns of all our community members.

Being a local elected official, in my view, carries with it certain responsibilities -- including the responsibility to engage with colleagues in a civil and respectful manner. During my tenure on the city council, our council has been a model of respectful discourse. As the late Hon. John Lee, former Mayor of San Mateo was fond of saying, "We can disagree without being disagreeable." You can read more of my thoughts about responsible, respectful, and civil leadership here. 

After taking into account stakeholder perspectives, discussing issues with experts, and analyzing the data and information available, good leaders must also have the courage to follow their inner compass and do what they believe is right in a transparent fashion. In my role as a Caltrain board member, I have continued to fight hard for San Mateo County even in the face of powerful forces from other counties. If elected, I will continue to do what's best for San Mateo County at all times -- even when confronted with powerful opposition.

Max Weber said, "Politics is a strong and slow boring of hard boards. It takes both passion and perspective." I have the passion and perspective to help lead San Mateo County to a better future and the dedication and backbone to continue the hard work of making progress. I would be honored to have your support and your vote.

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