| DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES – 2026 | |||
| COASTSIDE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| HMB City Council – District 1 | Robert Brownstone | Questionnaire | |
| David Gorn | Questionnaire | ||
| HMB City Council – District 4 | Ron Kies | Questionnaire | |
| Debbie Ruddock | Questionnaire | ||
| HMB City Council – District 5 | Steven R. Booker | Questionnaire | |
| Cabrillo School District – District C | Peter Tokofsky | Questionnaire | |
| Lizet Cortes-Ronquillo | Questionnaire | ||
| Cabrillo School District – District E | Mary Beth Alexander | Questionnaire | |
| Andrea Rosenthal | Questionnaire | ||
| Coastside Water – District S | Nancy Poss | ||
| Coastside Fire Protection – District D | Cynthia Sherrill | Questionnaire | |
| Ryan McGraw | Questionnaire | ||
| Granada Community Services District | Barbara Dye | Questionnaire | |
| Granada Community Services District | Kevin Sniecinski | Questionnaire | |
| Granada Community Services District | Pat Tierney | Questionnaire | |
| SAN MATEO COUNTY | |||
| San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 3 | Ray Mueller | Questionaire | |
| San Mateo County, Assessor/ County Clerk/Recorder |
David Canepa | Questionaire | |
| Jim Irizarry | Questionaire | ||
| San Mateo County, Superintendent of Schools | Chelsea Bonini | Questionaire | |
| Hector Camacho | Questionaire | ||
Coastside Democratic Club Endorses Candidates – 9/20/26
On Sunday afternoon a crowd gathered at Ted Adcock Community Center to listen to local candidates and vote on endorsements. The first order of business was a vote to endorse a Resolution in favor of the 555 Kelly project. The event was moderated by Club member Kelly Rogers.
Rick Hernandez presented the opposing point of view, pointing out potential problems with the project including insufficient parking, excessive height, and possible costs to the City. Harvey Rarback presented the arguments for approving the project, including the need to house farmworkers humanely, the state requirements for the City to build house, and the outside financing of the project at no additional cost to the City. More than 60% of the Club members present voted to endorse the resolution.
The remainder of the program was speeches from the candidates, all Democrats, as to why they should be endorsed. They had each filled out a detailed questionnaire with specific questions related to the jurisdiction they wanted to serve. The surveys from all the candidates are available at
Local – County – COASTSIDE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
Two candidates each are running for School Board seats in areas C and E. All of the speeches were inspiring but none of the candidates received the 60% of the vote that is required for an endorsement.
The Club voted to endorse incumbent candidate Cynthia Sherrill , who has served on the Coastside Fire Protection Board since 2021. She also has served as the Coastside CERT Program Coordinator since 2019. She has “excellent working relationships with fellow board members, and advisory, administrative, and operations staff.” She is an advocate for a ‘commmon-sense approach to how to live successfully in our gorgeous but isolation-prone Coastal environment.
The Club voted to endorse candidates for three districts for the Half Moon Bay City Council. Robert Brownstone, endorsed for District 1, is running against David Gorn. Robert has served on the City Council for two terms and wants to “continue working on the priorities and initiatives that I and the City Council have identified as key to serving the health, safety, and welfare of our community” and to ensure that there is a consistent balance and representation of all voices in Half Moon Bay, including the voices of those who often have little or no agency.
Ron Kies, endorsed for District 4, is running for Half Moon Bay City Council against incumbent Debbie Ruddock because the city “deserves a local government that listens, leads with transparency, and delivers for all residents.” His priorities include “strengthening the City’s financial health,” addressing housing issues, andreducing traffic congestion problems and improving infrastructure.
Steven Booker was endorsed for District 5, an open seat. He is running because “a large segment of our community feels unrepresented and forgotten, especially in the underserved areas of the County. His priorities are for “housing at all affordability levels, including but not limited to veteran, senior, workforce, and essential worker housing, safe neighborhoods and improved police/community relations. He was not able to attend but his campaign manager, Aisha Baro, spoke his behalf.
The final endorsement for the event was for the three open seats on the Granada Community Services District. The Club voted to endorse Kevin Sniecinski, who is “running to continue my dedication to serving in leadership roles on the Coastside.” His top priorities “center on delivering fully on the GCSD mandate with clear-eyed leadership, financial accountability, and without bias.”
The Coastside Democratic Club has been bringing together local Democrats since 2005. Its 175 members are active a https://coastsidedemocrats.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Endorse-Kies-4-220×300.jpg nd engaged members of the community. The Club hosts regular meetings with elected officials, experts on policy issues that affect the Coastside, and candidates for office as well as organizing protests and volunteer activities. Those interested can visit coastsidedemocrats.com.