Gov. Brown Signs Consumer Protection Bills

On issues ranging from household toxics to food safety to elder abuse to personal privacy, Governor Jerry Brown has demonstrated much greater empathy with consumer protection than his predecessor. The 2011 end of session tally stands at 33 signatures and four vetoes on Consumer Federation of California supported bills that made it as far as the governor’s desk.

In his final year in office, former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger agreed with consumers on only ten of 27 bills that made it to his desk.

Ban the Sale of Expired Baby Food and Medicine

Update: Gov. Browns signs bill banning expired baby food, infant formula and medications. When Dale Proctor’s nine month old son Kai became violently ill this year after eating baby food purchased at a Raley’s Supermarket in Woodland, he and his wife Connie desperately searched for an explanation. “I went to the cupboard to check the baby food jars – to my surprise the jar of baby food was past the use by date – seven months past the date. I cannot explain how upset we were.”

AB 52 Regulates Health Insurance Price Hikes

A bill to regulate health insurance rate hikes faces fierce industry opposition as it moves through the legislature. AB 52 (Feuer) would rein in health and HMO premium increases that soared 131% from 1999 to 2009 - nearly five times the rate of inflation. August 31 Update Assemblyman Feuer is holding the bill for now. A final Senate Floor vote is expected in January 2012. Please tell your State Senator to support insurance rate regulation. TAKE ACTION HERE

Final Results

Final results for May 3, 2011 election for San Mateo County Supervisor, District 1:

Dave Pine 23,856
Richard Holober 22,299
Gina Papan 21,796
Terry Nagel 8,683
Michael Stogner 6,269
Demetrios Nikas 2,870

I am proud of the race we ran. With no backing from the County's political establishment, and outspent two to one, I finished 1.8% short of victory. I wish the winner of this hard-fought election my best in his new assignment.

Dave Pine Attacks Richard Holober

Dave Pine has poured $1,200,000 of his personal fortune into his political campaigns, according to campaign finance reports. Lately, Pine is spending money attacking Richard Holober over and over again. Click here to view Dave Pine's deceptive hit pieces.

We won a 2011 Sustainable San Mateo County Award

The College of San Mateo received a 2011 Sustainable San Mateo County Award for our new Health and Wellness Center. This is in recognition of the facility's "LEED Gold" certification. LEED is the national standard of excellence for green building.

My duties as President and elected Trustee of the San Mateo County Community College District begin with making sure that College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College rank among California's best in academics and career training - but they don't end there.

CA Federation of Teachers Endorses Holober for Supervisor

I am pleased to announce that the California Federation of Teachers has endorsed my candidacy for San Mateo County Supervisor. I am thrilled to have the support of classroom teachers and college faculty who work so hard to create a brighter future for our state.

CFT President Marty Hittelman stated:

"The California Federation of Teachers supports Richard Holober - the education candidate - for County Supervisor. Richard is a leader who provides outstanding education and job training programs at College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College to tens of thousands of Peninsula residents each year."