Redwood City Councilman Jeff Gee announced on his campaign website Wednesday he is no longer seeking re-election in November.
As reported in Political Climate with Mark Simon in May, Gee had been seeking a third council term in what has become a crowded council race. Describing service on City Council as an enormous time commitment, Gee said he’s setting aside his reelection bid to focus on his family and on growing business at prominent engineering and construction firm Swinerton.
“I have not made this decision lightly, but as I continued to reflect upon my accomplishments, goals, and the continued sacrifices I would make at the expense of my family and my career to keep all the balls in the air – I concluded that it is time to allow the next generation of leaders to serve on the City Council and bring a younger perspective to our great City,” Gee said.
Gee has served in public service for two decades, beginning when he was appointed to the Architectural Review Committee in 1998. He later served four years on the Planning Commission, eight on City Council, with stints as mayor and vice mayor.
Serving on council “can easily be another 20 to– 40 hours a week in addition to a full-time job,” Gee said. “With interest in growing my business unit at work, including new initiatives and international expansion, a desire to spend more time with my family and for myself, and the many meetings, there is not enough time to do this all well. The time has come for me to trust the future of our great City with new leadership.”
Gee thanked council colleagues and expressed a desire for future councils to continue work on housing, infrastructure and regional transportation.
“Having worked on regional transportation issues for several years, one of the most painful lessons learned is to never stop planning,” Gee said.
“I will not be far away. I will still be advocating for construction of the improvements to the Bayfront Canal neighborhoods, lending my voice to find funding for 101/Woodside Road, and hopefully will be there with my father for the ribbon cutting of the electrification of Caltrain – nearly 50 years later after his service at Caltrain,” Gee wrote.
