Antonio López, Vice Mayor of East Palo Alto, has declared his intention to run for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors District 4.
In an online video released on Monday, López touted his leadership skills in steering the city through recent crises and advocating for systemic improvements.
He said his campaign will focus on public safety, infrastructure development addressing climate change, economic opportunities, and housing affordability.
“I’m running to build a San Mateo County that works for everyone,” López said in a statement.
López is a first-generation American who grew up in East Palo Alto. He attended Duke University, becoming the first in his family to go to college. He later received an MFA in creative writing from Rutgers University and an MPhil from Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar. In 2020, López returned to East Palo Alto to continue his education with a Ph.D. program at Stanford University and to run for city council.
According to a press release, López's campaign has raised over $50,000 and reports over $45,000 cash on hand since filing for candidacy.
The vice mayor joins Lisa Gauthier, EPA Mayor, Paul Bocanegra, a victim, homeless and juvenile justice advocate, and Maggie Cornejo, a former county legislative aide, who are all vying for the soon-to-be-vacant District 4 seat currently occupied by Warren Slocum. Slocum is not running for reelection due to term limits.
District 4 encompasses Redwood City, East Palo Alto, unincorporated North Fair Oaks and a portion of Menlo Park east of El Camino Real.
