While no LGBT candidate ran to succeed him, Rich Gordon believes the power of the LGBT community on the Peninsula will continue to be strong. Both gay Mountain View City Councilman Chris Clark and lesbian San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan won re-election earlier this month, ensuring there is a farm team of LGBT elected leaders to run for higher office in future years.

Gordon noted, "There never were that many out electeds in San Mateo County; I was often the only one at the party." Yet in recent years he said there has been "a greater emergence of an LGBT community" in the area, pointing to the establishment of a countywide LGBT commission to ensure there is local funding for LGBT programs.

"I think the future is very bright in San Mateo County," he said.