Noelia Corzo, a former social worker, achieved a historic milestone as she became the first Indigenous person and Latina to be sworn in as president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Yesterday's ceremony marked the beginning of her term, during which she will set policy and manage a $5.5 billion annual budget that impacts residents across Daly City to East Palo Alto. As reported by the San Mateo County government's official news release, Corzo's dedication to public service has roots in her own experience with housing and safety net programs as a child and a single mother.
Corzo took her oath, flanked by her parents, Aura Solorzano and Hugo Corzo, and was sworn in by her 14-year-old son, Mikey Alvarado-Corzo, and her partner, Justin Terry, a Marine Corps veteran. The ceremony was broadcast via Zoom to a full audience. She made it clear that the struggles of working-class families would be a focal point during her presidency. "I personally refuse to accept that it is normal and OK for working-class families to pay more than 30 percent of their income just to have a roof over their heads," Corzo stated in an address that resonated with many, according to San Mateo County's news release.
The county, which oversees a diverse area, including Corzo's District 2, comprising San Mateo, Foster City, and parts of Belmont, is set to see a focused effort on shared prosperity under her leadership. Corzo's journey into politics, influenced by her firsthand experience with community challenges, had previously caught national attention when Time magazine featured her on its cover in 2018. She's looking to fortify the County's economic growth to tangibly benefit working families, renters, and local businesses. Additionally, she plans to establish a human rights commission and support the LGBTQIA+ community through targeted convenings.
The leadership change follows a policy overhaul that took effect in December 2023, adopted by the Board of Supervisors to ensure rotation and representation from each supervisorial district. This policy saw both Corzo and Vice President Ray Mueller, representing District 3, take office in early 2023. As detailed in a statement by Corzo, per the San Mateo County's news release, she is "deeply committed to serving every single one of our neighbors, whether you share in my beliefs or not, whether we look the same or not, whether we speak the same languages or not, we represent all of you," reinforcing her mission of inclusivity and representation.
