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New Game in Burlingame

Posted on: Thursday, 10 November 2005, 09:00 CST

By Christine Morente, STAFF WRITER

BURLINGAME -- Voters awarded new terms to two incumbents in the Burlingame City Council race Tuesday, but the top vote-getter was a current planning commissioner seeking elected public office for the first time.

Ann Keighran led all candidates with 3,692 votes, or 21 percent, in the race for three four-year seats. Incumbent Rosalie O'Mahony was a close second with 19 percent, or 3,369 votes. Incumbent Cathy Baylock rounded out at third with 17.3 percent, or 3,011 votes.

The two-year seat vacated when Mike Coffey resigned in July went to Burlingame Historical Society President Russ Cohen. It was the second attempt for Cohen, who lost the 2003 race by a handful of votes

Retired San Mateo County Expo Center Manager John Root narrowly losthis bid for a four-year seat based on preliminary election results. With some absentee ballots still left to be counted, Root had 16.9 percent, or 2,946 votes -- just 65 fewer than Baylock.

Gene Condon had 12 percent, or 2,076 votes; Dan Andersen had 10 percent, or 1,673 votes; and Paul Prendiville got 4 percent, or 632 votes.

Keighran's camp celebrated at Il Piccolo Cafe on Broadway Tuesday night.

"I'm ready to go start business and I really want to work on a vision for Burlingame and for our downtown," she said.

Baylock, if her lead holds, will start her second term as the city's mayor in two weeks.

"We're feeling pretty good," Baylock said. "There were a lot of good people running. Since there will be two new council members, what I would like to do is do what I can to mentor them and make it as easy as possible (for them). It's hard to be the new kid on the block."

Condon, a traffic safety and parking commissioner, ran a competitive race in an election that has revolved around the need for a new Safeway, the plan for the Bayfront, mixed-use development and retaining and attracting new businesses in the city's downtown areas.

"It's over, but a lot of good came out of this," he said from his home. "It brought up issues besides Safeway and school crossing guards. The (election campaign) brought up grade separation, Broadway and gangs. That's the best of this campaign."

Cohen, whose sole rival for the two-year seat was Don Lembi, was ready to learn the ropes.

"I don't want to change the world overnight," said Cohen, who had about 50 supporters in his home celebrating Tuesday. "I don't want to re-invent the wheel. "It's my responsibility to get acclimated to the position, understand how the system works and how best to guarantee a council that works collaboratively. I guess those are my highest priorities."

Lembi had wanted voters to look at his record as a former councilman and mayor from 1985 to 1994. He said he's thankful for the people who voted for him and appreciated their effort, but added that campaigning in Burlingame has turned ugly.

"It wasn't exactly done with a lot of class," Lembi said. "It's a new era where people don't really respect their opponents. They're not going to get good people running for city council. It's not spilled milk."

Doris Mortensen was re-elected as Burlingame's city clerk in an uncontested race.

Source: Oakland Tribune

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