2016 SMC Democratic Central Committee Endorsements

Representatives

  • Liz Figueroa, State Senator (1998–2006), State Assembly (1994–1998)

    • Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

  • Sally Lieber, State Assembly (2002-2008), Mayor of Mountain View (ret)

  • Jane Kim, Supervisor, San Francisco, District 6

  • Gary A. Patton, Supervisor, Santa Cruz County (ret)

  • Richard Cline, Mayor, City of Menlo Park

  • Kirsten Keith, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Menlo Park

  • Rick DeGolia, Former Mayor, Town of Atherton

  • Sue Digre, Mayor, City of Pacifica

  • Deborah Ruddock, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Half Moon Bay

  • Deborah Penrose, Councilmember, City of Half Moon Bay

  • Mike Ferreira, Former Mayor, City of Half Moon Bay City

  • Cory Wolbach, Councilmember, City of Palo Alto

  • Katie Graves Ferrick, Chair, Planning Commissioner, City of Menlo Park

  • William Leo Leon, Chair, Former Planning Commissioner, City of Pacifica

  • Lee Ann Monfredini, Former President, SF Health Commission, 1.3 billion budget

  • Rob Silano, President, Menlo Park Fire Protection District

  • Nick Occhipinti, Vice President, Jefferson Union High School District

  • John C. Baker, Trustee, South San Francisco Unified School District

  • Ric Lohman, Director, Granada Community Services District

  • Ginny McShane, Secretary, Coastside Fire Protection District

  • Harvey Rarback, Director, Coastside Fire Protection District

  • Dr. Mary Larenas, Commissioner, San Mateo County Commission on Aging

DEMOCRATIC Clubs & LEADERS

  • Coastside Democrats Endorsement

  • Alexis Lewis, Elected Member, SMC Democratic Central Committee

  • Alyson L Abramowitz, Elected Member, Santa Clara Democratic Central Committee

  • Bill Kehoe, President, Coastside Democrats & Former Chair, Midcoast Community Council

  • Doreen Gerrity, Vice President, Coastside Democrats

  • Barbara Dye, Secretary, Coastside Democrats

ENVIRONMENTAL Leaders

  • Rob Caughlan, Six Term President, Surfrider Foundation

  • Stefanie Sekich-Quinn, Coastal Preservation Manager, Surfrider Foundation

  • Edmundo Larenas, Chair, Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County Chapter

  • Mike Ferreira, Chapter Chair, Executive Committee, Loma Prieta Sierra Club

  • Céline Maublanc Gerakin, Community Organizer, Pacifica Beach Coalition

  • Jahnava Duryea, Fisheries Biologist, NOAA Fisheries Service

  • Rob Cala, County Park Ranger, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

  • Kris Lannin Liang, Volunteer, Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

  • Meg Fried, Volunteer, Coastside Land Trust

  • Brian Gerrity, Student, Master's in Coastal & Marine Management

Media

  • Barry Parr, Director & Lead Analyst, Outsell

  • John Maybury, Editor & Publisher, Pacifica Riptide

  • Ian Butler, Television Host, Wavelength & Parade MC, Pacifica Fog Fest

  • Kamala Silva Wolfe, Editor, Everything South City

  • Mark Noack, Reporter, Mountin View Voice

  • Sachi Cunningham, Documentary Filmmaker, Multimedia Journalist & Professor, San Francisco State University

  • Dean Mermell, Owner/Director, Storyfarm Productions

  • Kouichi Shirayanagi, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Missouri School of Journalism

Advocates for Women ATHLETES

  • Bianca Valenti, Professional Big Wave Surfer

  • Paige Alms, Professional Big Wave Surfer

  • Dayla Soul, Documentary Filmmaker, It Aint Pretty: a film about women who surf Ocean Beach

  • Sachi Cunningham, Documentary Filmmaker, Multimedia Journalist & Professor, San Francisco State University

  • Beth O'Rourke, Founder, SeaLevelTV

  • Elizabeth Pepin Silva, Filmmaker, Photographer, Writer, On The Water Front Creative

  • Margaret Seelie, Founder, The Other Project

Individual

  • Michelle P. Kern, Professor, College of San Mateo

  • John J. Parman, Lead Editor, Gensler, Urban Design Laboratory

  • Kent Roberts, Exhibition Design Manager, SFMOMA

  • John Kevranian, President, Broadway Burlingame Business Improvement District

  • Carolena E Nericcio-Bohlman, Chief Executive Officer, Fat Chance Belly Dance, Inc.

  • Jack Sutton, Mechanical Engineer, FMC & Wildlife Photographer

  • Jon Curcio, Steward, IATSE Local 134, Levi's® Stadium

  • Peggy Ellis Bierdeman, Recruitment Manager, Robert Half Finance & Accounting

  • Kate Haley, Founder, Accurate Always and Photographer, Kate Haley Photography

  • Sarah Soul, Psychotherapist, Sarah Soul Therapy

  • Rob Grant, Manager, Hudson Auto Care, Menlo Park

  • Larry Baker, Computer Scientist, graduated from Stanford University

  • Kris Honkola, Engagement Manager, VMC & Recreational Fisherman

  • Lee Engdahl, Real Estate Broker, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

  • Nani Venegas, Certified Public Accountant & Ballet Dancer

  • Susan Pate, Principal, Pate International

  • Mauro Ffortissimo, Artist, Sunset Piano Project & Owner, Enso Yoga Studio HMB

  • Ron Kucera, Sailor & Real Estate Broker, Alain Pinel Realtors

  • Clifford Hunt, Poet & Writer, Half Moon Bay

  • Harpo Marx, Small Business Owner, Cafe Society, Half Moon Bay

  • Jack McCarthy, Director, Committee for Green Foothills (ret)

  • Kasondra Jansson

  • Laurie Bogert

  • Stephanie Sicore

  • Karen Schmidt

  • Rachel Louise Strom

  • Maria Forde

  • Lydia Puhak

  • Mike Wong

  • Sheri Callahan

  • Jeannine Hill

  • Doug Warringer

  • Michael Cabanas

  • Kimberly Kauer Postlewaite

  • Miguel Lanigan

  • Tema Pacheco

  • Kimberly McKeand

  • Stephen Jordan

  • Jackie Gaines

  • Will Voorhies

  • Cem Ünsal

  • Daimian Holiday Scott

  • Andre Marc Strumer

  • Micri Whitman

  • Doreen Gerrity

  • Bill Hunter

  • Dana Stevenson

  • Fred Rinne

  • Richard Graham Jr

  • Michelle Robins-Adams

  • Dotty LeMieux

  • Al Luthringer

  • Tom Brennan

 

2016 Quotes

 
Sabrina is an outstanding community leader with strong democratic values. Her advocacy for women athletes, support for commercial fishermen, and passion for environmental stewardship make her an excellent choice for the Central Committee.
— Jane Kim, Supervisor, San Francisco, District 6
As a fellow elected official on the San Mateo Coastside, I’ve been impressed time and again by Sabrina’s tireless, effective advocacy for those democratic values we hold most dear: transparent, inclusive, and accountable government, equal opportunity and due process before the law, and commitment to public service. Please join me in supporting Sabrina for a seat on the Central Committee.
— Debbie Ruddock, Vice-Mayor, City of Half Moon Bay
Sabrina is a dedicated and courageous public servant that has demonstrated true leadership. She is a tireless advocate for women athletes, and has a long-standing environmental record. I proudly endorse her for the Democratic Central Committee; she is the right person for the right time.
— Richard Cline, Mayor of Menlo Park
 
 
Brennan has single-handedly fought for fiscal responsibility. Before she came along it was a total runaway. Those of us in the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Association see her as our only ally.
— Mike McHenry, Oldest Fishermen at Pillar Point Harbor
 
 
I consider Sabrina a bright light at a time when leadership and vision are so very much needed.
Si Se Puede!
— William Leo Leon, Pacifica Planning Commissioner (ret.)
As a resident of Moss Beach, I’m grateful for Sabrina’s community advocacy on behalf of our Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. She’s been a tireless worker for all of the coast.
— Jack McCarthy, Director, Committee for Green Foothills (ret)
 

2015 QUOTES

 
Brennan has fought to bring greater transparency and efficiency to the Harbor District’s operations.
— San Francisco Examiner
 
 
The most important sports development on the coast in a long time may also involve pioneering women. By virtue of a motion made by California Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas, of Los Angeles, the Mavericks surf contest organizers are encouraged to allow women to compete at one of the world’s premier big waves, on a stage that has been hogged by men since it was discovered decades ago.

This is a good idea that came from San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan, who suggested it before Thursday’s Coastal Commission vote. The commission gave Mavericks organizers a coastal development permit, clearing the way for this season’s event, with the proviso that they include women going forward.
— Half Moon Bay Review
 
 
“There was an activist at the California Coastal Commission meeting that was our “secret angel”. She was the one that pushed the issue of allowing women to participate in the contest. This made sense, because The Coastal Commission strongly stands by access to the coastline for all, meaning women have to be allowed participation in the competition.
— Bianca Valenti, professional big wave surfer
 
 
Coastal Commissioner and county Supervisor Carole Groom said she was pleased to support the Titians of Mavericks surf contest. “It’s a world-class event.”

The Coastal Commission granted a one-year permit after a suggestion by Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan to included a condition that Cartel have a plan for incorporating women surfers into the event when it returns next season’s permit.
— San Mateo Daily Journal
 
 
Half Moon Bay resident Sabrina Brennan, who holds the elected position of San Mateo County Harbor District commissioner but appeared at the hearing as a member of the public, raised the issue during the public comment portion of the meeting. During her three minutes on the floor, Brennan requested the Coastal Commission require the contest include a women’s heat because, she said, it was unreasonable to expect women to compete directly against the men for one of the 24 slots that are chosen by a group of veteran Mavericks surfers dubbed “the Committee 5.” She also pointed out that the five-year permit recently issued by the Harbor Commission to Cartel (event management group) precludes any other big wave surf contests from being held during that span, meaning there could not be a separate women’s contest at Maverick’s.

Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas motioned to amend the Coastal Development Permit to ask the Cartel to provide a plan for encouraging equal opportunity for women surfers in future events. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Martha McClure and after some discussion the motion was narrowly passed by a 7-4 vote.
— Santa Cruz Sentinel