Polls Open to Decide Future of Coastside Fire Services

By Bay City News Service

The polls are open on the San Mateo County coast, where an election is under way that could result in the recall of three fire district board members.

Coastside Fire Protection District Board Members Michael Alifano,Gary Riddell  and Douglas Mackintosh voted last year to end the district's contract for fire services with Cal Fire, citing a failure by the state agency to live up to the terms of its agreement.

The three voted instead to re-establish a stand-alone Coastside fire department, one that would hire a local fire chief, local staff and train its firefighters to respond to the unique emergencies of the San Mateo County coast, such as water and cliff rescues.

Voters who support the recall are being asked to vote for the three board members' replacements. Four candidates -- Karen Anderson, J.B. Cockrell, Lee McKusick or Harvey Rarback -- are running for the three seats.

All four candidates have released statements in support of Cal Fire and pledged to reinstate its contract, which is set to expire on July 1.

Approximately 14,920 residents of Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Moss Beach, Montara, Princeton-by-the-Sea and El Granada are eligible to vote in today's election, county Elections Manager David Tom said.

Nearly 4,000 mail-in and early-voting ballots had been received as of this morning, Tom said.

The first election tallies of ballots received before today will be released at 8:05 p.m. tonight. Semi-final results will be posted at 10:30 p.m.

Cal Fire began providing Coastside fire services after the board voted in 2007 to contract with the state agency.

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