Politics & Government

San Anselmo Election: 5 Compete For 3 Seats On The Town Council

Five candidates are vying for three seats on the San Anselmo Town Council.

SAN ANSELMO, CA — Three incumbents will face off against two challengers in the race for San Anselmo Town Council. San Anselmo continues to wrestle with calls to rename Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, racial equity and climate change, which have become major talking points among candidates

The three incumbents are retired attorney John Wright, who is seeking a third term; Brian Colbert, an entrepreneur in health and technology who is seeking a second term; and Alexis Fineman, a teacher at GATE Academy who was appointed to the council last year.

Opponents include Ann Politzer, a writer and volunteer for San Anselmo and local schools, and Eileen Burke a San Anselmo native and a lawyer who has also spent

Find out what's happening in San Anselmo-Fairfaxfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Wright, 67, is a member of San Anselmo's FireWise Committee and aims to bolster public safety during wildfires, spurred by the state's worst ever fire season.

"I have 24 years of experience on public boards and a track record of results," Wright told Patch in early October. "Notably, I led the 15-year effort to build Red Hill Community Park, whose ballfield was named John Wright Field in recognition of my work."

Find out what's happening in San Anselmo-Fairfaxfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


READ MORE: Candidate Profile: John Wright For San Anselmo Town Council


The newest and youngest addition to Town Council is Fineman, 27. She identifies climate change as the single most pressing issue in this election.

"As a representative of younger generations, one of my primary motivations for serving on the council is to ensure that we don't address today's problems in ways that will ultimately exacerbate tomorrow's," Fineman told Patch.

She supports fully staffing fire stations and is endorsed by the Ross Valley Firefighters Association as well as the Marin Professional Firefighters.


READ MORE: Candidate Profile: Alexis Fineman for San Anselmo Town Council


Colbert, 53, would like to better address the short and long-term public health and economic effects of coronavirus.

"Since the advent of COVID-19, I have been part of the leadership of two county-wide committees, ensuring that San Anselmo has a strong voice during the pandemic," he told Patch in early October. "...I am also the only candidate responding to COVID19 on a with county-level committees for the Town of San Anselmo."


READ MORE: Candidate Profile: Brian Colbert For San Anselmo Town Council


Stay tuned to Patch on Election Day for results.

Still need to cast your vote? Find the closest absentee ballot drop box or polling place in Marin County.

Want to double-check that your absentee ballot has been received? Track it here.


Find more Patch coverage from California 2020 election here.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from San Anselmo-Fairfax