Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Warren Slocum, District 4
Supervisor Don Horsley, District 3
Subject: Appointments to the San Mateo County Veterans Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for appointments to the San Mateo County Veterans Commission:
A) Leah Grant, San Mateo, as a regular member for an initial partial term ending June 30, 2023; and
B) Cody Stephenson, Pacifica, as a regular member for an initial partial term ending June 30, 2021; and
C) Michael Rau, Burlingame, as an Alternate for an initial partial term ending June 30, 2023.
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BACKGROUND:
On June 2, 2015, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 073812 establishing the San Mateo County Veterans Commission. The mandate of the Veterans Commission includes the promotion of programs and policies that address the unmet needs of veterans in San Mateo County, such as those identified in the 2014 San Mateo County Veterans Needs Assessment. In establishing the Veterans Commission, the Board specifically directed that efforts be undertaken to maximize the likelihood that the Commission's membership will reflect the diversity of veterans in San Mateo County, including with respect to race/ethnicity, gender, age and sexual orientation.
Subsequently, on November 3, 2015, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 074159, which increased the membership of the Veterans Commission from nine to eleven regular voting members. Thereafter, on November 17, 2015, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 074183 which expanded the membership of the Veterans Commission to include two alternate members.
DISCUSSION:
This recommendation is for the appointment of Leah Grant and Cody Stephenson as full voting members, and Michael Rau as an alternate member.
Leah Grant is being recommended to serve an initial partial term ending June 30, 2023 for a seat vacated by Francisco Oliva who has resigned.
Leah Grant is a U.S. Army veteran, who served honorably from 1991-1994. After her discharge, she earned both bachelors and master’s degrees in Anthropology and Applied Anthropology. Ms. Grant is an archeologist with the Veterans Curation Program that processes at-risk archeological collections belonging to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Cody Stephenson is being recommended to serve an initial partial term ending June 30, 2021 for a seat vacated by Mark Leach who resigned.
Cody Stephenson is a post 9/11 U.S. Navy veteran who served from 2012-2016 and was honorably discharged. He will be the first full-time student on the Veterans Commission if approved and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree. Mr. Stephenson has held several leadership positions at the Veterans Resource Center on the City College of San Francisco campus and in other student Veteran organizations.
Michael Rau is being recommended to serve on the commission as an Alternate for initial partial term ending June 30, 2023 for the seat vacated by Ben Renda who resigned from the Commission.
Michael Rau is a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served 4 years in active reserves from 2005 to 2009 and was honorably discharged. Prior to moving to San Mateo County, Mr. Rau worked for the Navy Mutual Aid Association and spent many years volunteering in veteran organizations in Arlington, Virginia, including serving as Vice-Chair of the Arlington County Veterans Affairs Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.