Slocum Looks Forward to Taking County Office

Nearly one week after winning a seat on San Mateo County's Board of Supervisors, Warren Slocum said he's relieved the campaign season is over, and he's looking forward to taking office at the beginning of next year.

"I'm very relieved," said Slocum, who won the District 4 seat with 55 percent of the countywide vote over Redwood City School District board member Shelly Masur.

"In athletics, when the game is over and all the adrenaline is gone, you realize how tired you are," he said. Slocum said he spent the days after the election returning calls and thanking people who lent him support, and now is planning for returning to work as an elected county official. The Board's supervisor-elect is no stranger to county politics, having led the County Clerk-Assessor-Recorder's Office for 24 years. He said that familiarity with department leaders, county staff and the four other supervisors will be a helpful advantage when taking office.

"I think I've had longer relationships with some of the folks, but as an elected official, I've worked with them all," he said. "I can hit the ground running." Slocum said he's excited to start tackling the biggest challenges facing San Mateo County -- economic development, health care, creating a sustainable budget -- in innovative ways. He said one of his goals is to solicit more input from the business community and the interested public by developing an easy-to-use website that puts the county's finances online, so "constituents can see where the money comes from and where it goes."

"I'd like us to be more open and more transparent, figuring out ways to engage more voices," he said. Another goal of Slocum's is to move forward with the North Fair Oaks Community Plan, a compilation of zoning changes, circulation upgrades and economic development ideas for the unincorporated North Fair Oaks neighborhood that lies in District 4 between Redwood City and Atherton. He said the challenges facing North Fair Oaks mirror many of those facing the county as a whole, and that getting the community plan "off the bookshelf" will benefit the entire county, not just the neighborhood's 15,000 residents.

In the coming weeks, Slocum said he will be reaching out to potential staff members and future colleagues to ensure a seamless transition from retired county executive to District 4 Supervisor. Slocum is slated to take his seat on the Board on Jan. 8, 2013.

District 4 encompasses Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, and unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. 

--Bay City News  

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