San Rafael Election 2020: Two Compete For Mayor

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Two candidates, Kate Colin and Mahmoud Shirazi, are competing for mayor of San Rafael, a seat being vacated by Gary Philips. The two candidates differ vastly in political experience but both aim to mitigate damage that COVID-19 has wrought upon the community's businesses.

Colin, 55, has lived in San Rafael for 24 years and has been a member of the city council since 2013. But she first joined a civic board in the city in 1999. If elected, she would be the city's first female mayor.

She aims to address the economic impact of COVID-19 by working with local businesses, which she says she's already been working on since April. If elected, she says she will oversee the creation of an economic strategic plan to help expand and attract more businesses to San Rafael.

She said she also intends to prioritize issues surrounding homelessness, climate change and racial justice.

"My campaign platform isn't something that I've created over the past few months to win the Mayor role; rather, it's reflective of the work I've done and the deep commitment I've demonstrated to San Rafael over the past 21 years," Colin told patch in early October.

READ MORE: Candidate Profile: Kate Colin For San Rafael Mayor

Colin worked on the Community Homeless Fund, which is funded by every city and town in Marin County, Colin said.

"It is currently funding the Mobile Showers which literally [drives] throughout Marin providing showers and a way for unhoused people to connect with our local system of care..." Colin told Patch.

Shirazi, a political newcomer and a San Rafael resident since 1978, owns Mini Market in downtown San Rafael.

According to his campaign website, he intends to focus on filling empty business fronts and restore downtown San Rafael's image.

"Business vacancy particularly in downtown area has created a bad image.," Shirazi wrote on his campaign website. "I want to bring people back to the street so every business [benefits] from shoppers, and the city of San Rafael gets its share of very needed sales tax and related business set up."

SEE ALSO: Marin County Voters Guide: General Election 2020

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.

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Find more Patch coverage from California 2020 election here.