Supervisor Lisa Gauthier was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in November 2024. She represents District 4, which includes the cities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, the areas within Menlo Park east of El Camino Real and including the Belle Haven neighborhood, and the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks.
Inspired by her daughter, Supervisor Gauthier began her journey into public service in 2012 when she was elected to the East Palo Alto City Council. She has held the positions of Vice Mayor in 2014, 2018, and 2022, and Mayor in 2015, 2019, and 2023. During her tenure, she led the city through significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and major storms. Her leadership during these crises is among her proudest achievements.
In addition to her roles in city government, Supervisor Gauthier served as the Senior Vice President of Inclusion & Belonging at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. In this capacity, she leads policy areas including Workforce/Education, Racial Justice & Equity, and Healthcare.
Supervisor Gauthier's dedication extends to various boards and organizations. She is an active board member of the City/County Association of Governments (CCAG), San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services, San Mateo County's One Shoreline Agency and a regional area director for BWOPA (Black Women Organized for Political Action) to name a few.
Her contributions have been recognized through several awards including being named one of Silicon Valley's 100 Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2020, and receiving the Woman of the Year Award from Assemblymember Marc Berman in 2022.
Supervisor Gauthier is committed to addressing the key challenges facing San Mateo County through a focus on safety, equity, opportunity, and collaboration. She will prioritize public safety, affordable housing, and homelessness by supporting first responders, promoting smart housing development, and expanding shelter access with wrap-around services. Supervisor Gauthier will also champion equity, healthcare, and education, ensuring all communities have a voice, access to resources, and opportunities to thrive.