District 5 Candidates Address Housing and Budget as Canepa's Term Ends Juslyn Manalo and Mark Nagales are vying for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors seat vacated by David Canepa, focusing on affordable housing and recovering state funds to address a $226 million budget deficit. Improving affordable housing options in the region and addressing San Mateo County's multi-million dollar budget shortfall are top concerns for candidates running to represent District 5 on the county's Board of Supervisors. Supervisor David Canepa is resigning in January from his position to become San Mateo County's assessor-county-clerk-reporter, prompting Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo and South San Francisco Councilmember Mark Nagales to compete to fill his term. District 5 includes Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, parts of San Bruno and South San Francisco and unincorporated Broadmoor Village, San Bruno Mountain Park and Brisbane Quarry.Budget Shortfall Threatens Public SafetyThe next representative will work with San Mateo County officials to address a $226 million budget shortfall due to unpaid vehicle license fee funds from the state. The county is facing $134 million shortfall while the 20 cities and towns are facing a combined total deficit of $91.6 million. Officials warn cities will be forced to cut back on public safety and community services.State officials last month agreed to find a way to repay the funds, which are typically paid every year by the state under a 2004 agreement. If elected, Manalo, 46, said she will use on her connections with state assembly members and senators to help the county recover the money."I've been able to, through my experience and working relationships with assembly members across the state as well as others, make sure we get our funding and also find a permanent solution," Manalo said. As a former Daly City mayor, Manalo said she has experience asking the state to pay the city's vehicle license fees. Daly City is currently facing a $12.2 million shortfall from the unpaid fees.Nagales, 46, said he will also collaborate with county leaders to pressure the legislature into getting the money back. As a former nonprofit worker, Nagales said he knows first-hand how essential county dollars are to community services."We've talked about this as a county, and talked about this with our labor groups," he said. "We are all in agreement that we need our money to be whole. " Like many other counties in the Bay Area, San Mateo is closely monitoring its housing production. Cities, towns and the county must permit a combined total of approximately 47,000 new units of housing, with 40 percent of these units targeting low- and very-low-income households.Nagales Targets Article 34 Housing HurdleIf elected, Nagales said he will support a work around for Article 34, a state law that requires voter approval before cities can develop any publicly funded low-income housing projects. South San Francisco residents approved a measure in 2022 allowing the city to build a certain number of low-income projects, rather than requiring voter approval for each one. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors considered placing a similar measure in 2024, but decided not to move it forward.Nagales said he also wants to work with housing advocates and realtors to create stronger tenant protections."This is what working in collaboration looks like," he said. "This is what is protecting our neighbors from leaving our community. " Manalo said she will help the board of supervisors examine how county land and resources can be used "strategically," and pursue state, federal and regional funding for affordable housing.Manalo said she will draw on her experience championing for the creation of Midway Village, the largest affordable housing development in San Mateo County, and a housing program that helped Filipino American veterans secure permanent housing."(District 5 voters) want to stay in the community and they want to know the care will be there when they need it," she said. "My record speaks to both of that. " In 2016, Manalo made history as Daly City's first Filipina American elected to City Council. She served as mayor in 2018, 2021 and 2024.Manalo Leads in Campaign FundraisingSo far Manalo has raised $112,810 for her campaign, according to filing records. Her highest donors come from South San Francisco, Daly City and San Bruno. She is endorsed by Canepa, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Controller Malia Cohen and several mayors and city council members in District 5. She is also backed by the San Mateo County Firefighters Union and the Daly City Police Officers Association.Nagales also made history as one of the first Filipinos elected to public office in South San Francisco in 2018. In 2022, He served as the city's first Filipino Mayor in 2022. Nagales has raised $109,788 for his campaign. Some of his highest supporters hail from South San Francisco, Pacifica and Burlingame.He is endorsed by San Mateo County Supervisors Jackie Speier, Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller, as well as mayors and council members in several District 5 cities.