New board takes shape on Peninsula

San Mateo City Councilman John Lee, left, administered the oath of office to new Supervisor Carole Groom, ending her eight-year run on the San Mateo City Council. (Special to The Examiner)

SAN MATEO — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will be dominated by women for the first time, after District 2 Supervisor Carole Groom was sworn in Tuesday night at a special meeting.

San Mateo City Councilman John Lee administered Groom’s oath of office before she joined the board and ended her eight-year run on the City Council, said Bill Chiang, a legislative aide to Supervisor Adrienne Tissier.

Groom has lived in District 2 for more than 30 years and takes the place of Jerry Hill, who announced his resignation in November after being elected to the 19th Assembly District seat.

Also Tuesday, Supervisor Mark Church was selected as president of the board for 2009, and Supervisor Rich Gordon was chosen as vice president.

Church delivered a State of the County address to a crowd of more than 200 at the meeting.

He emphasized the challenges ahead with the economy, especially following the hit the county took with the collapse of Lehman Brothers Inc., in which the county had invested more than $150 million.

But he added that the county “has a much-deserved reputation throughout the state for being a well-run organization,” and said the county has already implemented a five-year plan to eliminate its structural deficit.

Church also highlighted several specific issues the county needs to address, including health care, jail overcrowding and residential toxic waste.