Marin County Races

Results are a combination of data provided by the Associated Press (AP) and county election offices. The AP calls winners by analyzing vote tallies and other election data. Check marks are used to denote a winner only when the AP calls a race.

Race to Watch

Board of Supervisors, District 2

Top candidate wins seat.

Brian Colbert51.1%
14,048 votes
Heather McPhail Sridharan48.8%
13,402 votes
Updated at 7:18 PM PT on Nov 20, 2024
Marin County

Why does this race matter?

After more than a decade in office, Supervisor Katie Rice is not seeking reelection. Both candidates running to replace her are local elected officials in Marin County. The board seat represents a district that includes Fairfax, Larkspur, Ross and San Anselmo.

What does a county supervisor do?

Supervisors govern county programs and departments and approve the county budget. Their largest area of spending is traditionally health care and human services. Supervisors are also responsible for local jails and elections, and they make decisions on law enforcement and housing in unincorporated areas of the county.

Candidates

Brian Colbert
Brian ColbertTown Council Member, San Anselmo
Heather McPhail Sridharan
Heather McPhail SridharanFormer Trustee, Kentfield School District

Key Supporters

This list represents notable organizations and individuals who have taken a position on the ballot measure or candidate, or who are funding campaigns in support or opposition. This list is not exhaustive, and may be updated.

For Colbert

  • Kate Colin, mayor, San Rafael
  • Damon Connolly, state Assembly member
  • Jared Huffman, U.S. representative
  • Stephanie Moulton-Peters, supervisor, Marin County
  • Katie Rice, supervisor, Marin County

For McPhail Sridharan

  • Eileen Burke, mayor, San Anselmo
  • Scot Candell, mayor, Larkspur
  • Barbara Coler, mayor, Fairfax Town Council
  • Jinesse Reynolds, co-chair, Plastic Free Marin
  • Julia Violich, board member, Marin County Bicycle Coalition
 

Positions on Key Issues
Candidate summaries are based on interviews with the candidates, questionnaires, statements made at debates and public events, and past news coverage.

How can Marin County improve its wildfire prevention efforts?

Colbert says wildfire prevention is his main priority, because it reflects the priorities of the community. He says the county, alongside local fire departments and the Transportation Authority of Marin (which can play an important role in evacuation routes) is best positioned to coordinate prevention efforts between Marin’s cities, towns, and unincorporated areas, “so that evacuation routes in San Anselmo work with evacuation routes in our neighboring communities, and communities beyond that.”
McPhail Sridharan says, “One of the biggest priorities at a county level is wildfire prevention and preparedness.” She believes the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority has been very effective and she would continue to support its wildfire prevention and preparedness projects. Advocating for continued access to home insurance is also a priority. McPhail Sridharan says her family, like many in Marin, was recently dropped by their insurance carrier due to increased wildfire risk.

What kind of housing does Marin County need most and where should it be built?

Colbert says, “My focus has been on increasing affordable housing because our teachers, firefighters, and first responders deserve to be able to live in the communities they serve.” As a member of the San Anselmo Town Council, he says he has prioritized creating a sense of community and economic vitality. He adds that he thinks multifamily-unit housing needs to be structured around transit hubs, in downtown areas, and where it is economically feasible.
McPhail Sridharan says that housing is her number one priority, and that workforce housing and housing for older adults is critical. “It has to be a spectrum of housing choices. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution,” she says. She is excited by projects like the Oak Hill Apartment Complex near San Quentin, which she says is a private-public partnership, building below-market-rate housing for educators and county employees near transit and shopping.

In the primary election, voters in San Anselmo approved a measure removing them from Flood Control Zone 9 (which oversees the Ross Valley Watershed). Many residents are frustrated at how money has been spent on flood control efforts in this zone. What would you do to regain public trust there?

Colbert says, “There is no community support, nor will I support the renewal of the existing flood fee. I think we have to go back at a grassroots level and ask the community what kind of flood mediation efforts they will support.” Colbert says while Flood Control Zone 9 works on a new framework, it needs to work on short tangible steps that can show people that their tax dollars are being put to good use.
McPhail Sridharan says that much work needs to be done to repair the loss of public trust throughout the Ross Valley. She says, “The first priority is to do a full financial, public audit of what has been spent and where the funds have gone. Then it’s about facilitating a collaborative, transparent process to gather input from local cities/towns and community members to forge a new path forward.”

The Board of Supervisors also serves as the governing board for several special districts, including the Open Space District, Flood Control District, Housing Authority, and Transit District. To you, in which of these districts can you make the most impact for everyday Marinites?

Colbert says they are all equally important. He says as the chair of the Transportation Authority of Marin, he has experience working with towns, cities and supervisors to represent all of Marin, not just a particular district. “I will focus on coordination and elimination of overlapping efforts, which will lead to more accountability and effective implementation of the mandate of the special districts,” says Colbert. He says he would also focus on the needs of unincorporated areas.
McPhail Sridharan thinks housing affordability is at the crux of what people care about right now, and believes all of these special districts are linked. “These issues can’t be thought of in silos anymore,” she says. As a county supervisor, she would “help reduce confusing redundancies in services across special districts; create more cost-effective, streamlined solutions; and most importantly, ensure we provide the best and most comprehensive programs and services for our residents.”

Last year, the county Board of Supervisors approved a budget of $815 million. How will you work to ensure fiscal transparency and equitable distribution of future budgets?

Colbert says, “​​Ultimately, it is our responsibility to meet our constituents and stakeholders where they are.” He says he would look for ways to get community members involved in the budgeting process, including making sure meetings are held at times that are conducive for working folks.
McPhail Sridharan says she would draw on her experience as president of the Kentfield School District Board to engage with community members. “If you want people to get involved, you go where they are. You can’t just post information on a website and depend on people to show up at public comment to get community feedback and buy-in,” she says. McPhail Sridharan says her top priorities include fiscal transparency and responsibility.

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