Redwood City Mayor Giselle Hale will not seek re-election to the Redwood City Council, she announced on social media. While she said it has been an honor to serve residents, she hopes there will be more “mom nights” for her family.
"Dear Redwood City. It is with mixed feelings and after much deliberation that I am announcing that I will not be seeking re-election to the Redwood City Council," Hale said in a letter posted on social media.
She noted that her family chose Redwood City to put down roots because of its diversity, inclusion and multigenerational nature, and in that sense, she noted that her family is a priority.
“I took on this job wholeheartedly, throwing myself into the task with intense rigor. Of course, this has meant time away from my family. At a very young age, the girls were inclined to ask, “Is this mommy night or hangout night?” Over time, too many nights were “hangout nights.” I look forward to having more “mommy nights” with them and fixing that balance at this point in their lives.”
She said, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve our residents for the past 8.5 years, first as a Planning Commissioner, then as a Councilmember, and now as Mayor.”
He noted that during that time, Redwood City has become a regional leader in housing production and combating displacement.
“Where other cities have shied away from their housing obligations, Redwood City has embraced the idea of welcoming and keeping people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds here. We’ve created a vision for a transit district to ease traffic and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, just as we see the signs of climate change here at home. And we’ve led the way in creating child care with innovative new programs that will keep our children safe and our families working,” he said.
He added that in that time, mental health needs have also been addressed in a unique way. “I am immensely proud of our work together and am grateful to my current and former colleagues and staff.”
Hale said all of this has been achieved “because our Council has put aside our differing opinions to unite around the shared needs of the community.”
While she made it clear that she ran for office without a long track record in Redwood City, the community embraced her and her family “has grown along with our love for her.”
“I look forward to continuing to be involved in the many issues that challenge our community. We have much work to do to ensure that this incredible place we call home remains so for generations to come,” he stressed.
Finally, she thanked her two daughters and her husband, Brian, for supporting her desire to serve. “They have been more than a 50/50 partner in this adventure.”
“I hope my journey inspires others to come forward. Leadership is not meant to be held in place, it is meant to be flowing, shared and carried along by others. Leadership leaves empty seats at the table and invites others to take them,” she said.
Notably, Hale dropped out of her California Assembly campaign in late June due to political attacks against her, which she said had affected her family's mental health and happiness.
Through her Twitter account, the mayor detailed that the "difficult" decision was made during a "much-needed" vacation, and that during that time off, she saw how deeply said career impacted the mental health and happiness of her husband and two daughters.
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