San Mateo City Council District 3 · Nov 3, 2026
Seema Patel
Candidate for City Council District 3
Seema Patel is running for San Mateo City Council District 3 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Robert G. Newsom Jr..
Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodaySan Mateo planning commissioner and founder of the street-safety group Safe Streets for Everyone. She also co-founded B Street Boosters to keep the downtown pedestrian mall open.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Planning Commissioner
- Endorsed by
- Mayor Adam Loraine, Board of Supervisors President Noelia Corzo and School Board President Maggie Trinh (as listed in her ballot statement). Seema Patel · Aug 1, 2026
- Campaign website
- www.seemaforsanmateo.com
Where Seema Patel stands: positions on the record
Housing approvals1 sourced position
Voted to recommend raising the limit for staff-level approval of housing projects that meet design standards from 25 to 150 units (passed 4-0, February 2025).
Commission voteSan Mateo Planning Commission minutes, February 11, 2025 (Regular Meeting), attachment to the May 13, 2025 agenda · Feb 11, 2025
Bike lanes1 sourced position
as summarized in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Was among speakers who asked the council to keep the North Central bike lanes (February 2025).
Own statementSan Mateo City Council minutes, February 3, 2025 (Regular Meeting) · Feb 3, 2025
Housing2 sourced positions
as reported by The Mercury News
Said she will push for housing policies for balanced growth, saying the city builds more office space than housing.
“we have this core problem where we’re building more office space than accompanying housing”
Own statementThe Mercury News · Sep 29, 2026
Lists expanding affordable housing among her priorities.
“expand affordable housing, make streets safer for children and seniors”
Own statementSeema Patel · Aug 1, 2026
Street safety1 sourced position
as reported by The Mercury News
Wants a dedicated city revenue source for quick-build street safety projects.
Own statementThe Mercury News · Sep 29, 2026
Leaf blowers1 sourced position
as summarized in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Supported a ban on gas leaf blowers but raised concerns about enforcement (October 2025).
Own statementSan Mateo City Council minutes, October 6, 2025 (Regular Meeting) · Oct 6, 2025
Climate1 sourced position
as summarized in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Spoke in support of the city's proposed building energy reach codes (March 2026).
Own statementSan Mateo City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Mar 2, 2026
Also running for City Council District 3
- Robert G. Newsom Jr. (incumbent)
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