Read the latest headlines about Heather

"Amongst the abundance of plastic signs outside many homes in towns surrounding Redwood sits the easily identifiable green and orange Heather McPhail Sridharan sign. McPhail Sridharan is running for the board of Marin County Supervisors in the upcoming 2024 election, having over 35 years of experience in public service. . .

Eileen Burke, the mayor of San Anselmo, is one of over 50 people endorsing McPhail Sridharan. She has served on the council for eight years, which is essential to the county supervisor’s role of appealing to the community’s needs.

“She recognizes that the job is to be a partner with the cities and towns in the district,” Burke said. “She’s a really good communicator and a good listener. It’s not about what’s best for her; it’s what’s best for the community she serves. That’s rare among politicians, but it’s a super important quality.'”

By Hilah Brekhus-Lavinsky, Reporter, Redwood Bark

"I support Heather McPhail Sridharan for the District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors in Tuesday’s election because she has shown that she is willing to listen to the people who will be affected by decisions she will be charged to make.

She has hundreds of individual endorsements, and a recent example shows why so many community members support her. At a gathering in Gerstle Park, McPhail Sridharan took notes on the attendees’ concerns, provided information that she learned in her research about funds spent to address homelessness and solicited feedback on ideas and actions taken in San Rafael and elsewhere.

I trust that she will put in the work to study relevant data and information and that she will consider the long-term fiscal and other impacts of her decisions on this and other issues. As a Greenbrae resident, I must look to the District 2 supervisor for local concerns, and she has shown that she will work hard to achieve results at this local level as well.

A simple but impactful example is the robust Kentfield-Greenbrae “Safe Routes to School” program that McPhail Sridharan spearheaded for over a decade. It engages a network of neighborhood captains that advocate for safety measures, such as crossing guards and encourage students and families to walk and ride to school.

As a Latina in Marin, I was particularly impressed that she sought and received the endorsement of Omar Carrera, the CEO of Canal Alliance nonprofit organization in San Rafael. These endorsements show that community leaders trust her experience and decision-making to address the challenges that our Marin communities face in the years ahead."

By Patricia Medina, Vice President, Latino Marin Lawyers & Former President, Kentfield Schools PTA

"A good politician is curious and polite. A confident politician will welcome different points of views, which can only bolster their own educated opinion. A well-learned individual realizes that the best opinion is not theirs nor the speaker’s, but somewhere in between. A good opinion is always up for debate and open to evolve with new input. McPhail Sridharan exemplifies this thinking.

She is curious and interested in your opinion. She is also a very good listener. I appreciate an honest politician who speaks to representing the majority of local constituents while protecting the voice of the minority. I think the very decision that led to the council members pulling their support is the reason why she is the right choice and the best choice. Please join me in voting for someone who will listen and not harden her opinion until she hears your voice too.

Please join me and vote for Heather McPhail Sridharan."

By Michael Mackintosh, Fairfax

"Anyone who has been to one of her many “meet and greets” has seen how accessible she is. McPhail Sridharan listens thoughtfully and respectively. She is well informed and genuinely interested in the views and concerns of everyone.

She has a long record of actively serving many different groups and institutions in Marin County. We know that as a supervisor, McPhail Sridharan would be accessible to the community and will be focused on our district. It is important to have a supervisor who will maintain communication with constituents. We know she will do that. She likes people and works well with them.”

By Tina Kroot and Jeff Kroot, San Anselmo

"As a longtime Marin County resident and nonprofit executive leader, I believe Heather McPhail Sridharan is the ideal candidate on the November ballot for the District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

Her deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Latino community is rooted in years of advocating for equitable access to education, housing and resources. She recognizes that complex issues like housing require comprehensive solutions, not narrow ones.

I am confident that she will thoughtfully collaborate with all communities in Marin, especially historically underserved ones, to ensure that every voice is heard and at the table when important decisions are made.”

By Omar Carrera, Community Leader

"Heather McPhail Sridharan, a candidate for a seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors in the Nov. 5 election, is a dedicated advocate for the District 2 community. She is committed to listening to constituents, building consensus and delivering tangible results. Her top priorities include addressing housing needs, promoting fiscal transparency, enhancing community engagement and tackling climate change.

McPhail Sridharan understands that a thriving community is built on a foundation of both environmental health and the well-being of its residents. She is passionate about creating a sustainable future, focusing on policies that ensure clean air, clean water and safe, green spaces for families and children. As an advocate for healthy students, she supports initiatives that promote safe, toxin-free environments in schools, ensuring both physical and mental well-being.”

By Jinesse Reynolds, Co-chair, Plastic Free Marin & Former Chair, Sierra Club Marin Group, San Anselmo

"As a former Mayor of San Anselmo, I stand with four other well-respected San Anselmo mayors — Jeff Kroot, Matt Brown, Ford Greene and current Mayor Eileen Burke — in supporting Heather McPhail Sridharan for the District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

San Anselmo’s current leadership — which includes McPhail Sridharan’s opponent — has been ineffective at listening to residents. It enabled $53 million to be spent on flood control without any meaningful solutions. Additionally, there has been a lack of engagement on important issues, such as preserving a popular bridge and our redwood trees downtown.

McPhail Sridharan is well-informed, smart and thoughtful on how best to allocate our financial resources. She deeply understands the issues we face in San Anselmo. She will actively listen to all parties and build consensus on real solutions that benefit our community.

In my 20 years on the San Anselmo council, I worked with many county officials to achieve success. I am confident that McPhail Sridharan will exemplify the best in our communities.”

By Paul Chignell, Former Mayor, San Anselmo Town Council

"I had the pleasure of working with Heather McPhail Sridharan for over five years while on the Kentfield School Board of Trustees. I know her to be a woman of principle with a strong set of values and the confidence to stick to those values.

She never shied away from making tough decisions. McPhail Sridharan was president of the board when we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic response and Kentfield became the first K-8 public school district in Marin to come back full-time to in-person instruction.

McPhail Sridharan is committed to the success of every citizen in Marin County and in District 2. She will be a principled and effective representative on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. I will proudly vote for Heather McPhail Sridharan for Marin in November.”

By David Riedel, President, Kentfield School District Board of Trustees

"I am a native of the Ross Valley, a small business owner, a board member of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, a former Marin County Library commissioner, a founding member of the Marin Museum of Bicycling, the president of the Stafford Lake Bike Park and a former member of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit citizen’s oversight committee. So I have done my due diligence on the right candidate.

I know that ensuring we invest in increased bicycle and pedestrian funding; safety education through the Safe Routes to School Program; and finding more interconnected routes are all important to McPhail Sridharan. . .

I know she will be a thoughtful leader, questioning the status quo to make things happen in our county and in the Ross Valley. I ask that you join me in supporting Heather McPhail Sridharan for Marin County supervisor on Nov. 5."

By Julia Violich, Board Member, Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC)

"Alongside the Marin County Young Democrats and many of my peers at the College of Marin, I believe she is the best choice. . .

Her rigorous connection with the community has inspired and impressed me. I have volunteered to knock on hundreds of doors in support. After interacting with countless voters, I have been amazed by the impact of her relentless outreach and engagement with people across all walks of life.

McPhail Sridharan has made so many of our community members feel heard and represented in a way that shatters the status quo. She secures the votes of almost everyone who interacts with her. If you haven’t spoken with her yet, I highly encourage you to do so at one of her many events before casting your vote, as you will surely be impressed."

By Donovan Bourke, Larkspur

"I am voting to end what I consider to be 40-year dynasty in the District 2 seat for the Marin County Board of Supervisors. Hal Brown led from 1982-2011. Brown’s replacement, Katie Rice, was appointed by the governor in 2011 before winning reelection multiple times. Rice, who leaves the office at the end of this year, has endorsed Brian Colbert in the November election.

I want change. I hope we can elect a candidate who is able to listen with grace, open-minded interest and self-discipline to all points of view. I want a candidate who can focus on the realities of being supervisor for one district in one small county, not someone who may be shopping for future political opportunities.

I seek a representative who can modestly, responsively and effectively collaborate — embracing bottom-up administration and actively seeking public participation in resolving Marin’s challenges. I seek a representative who puts aside ambition and bias in order to find balance when competing views clash. I want a supervisor who eschews meddlesome overreach, who responds to tough problems by working with both staff and constituents to accomplish goals.

I invite you to join me in voting for Heather McPhail Sridharan."

By Garril Page, San Anselmo

"McPhail Sridharan has championed students within our community by serving as a trustee on the Kentfield School District board as well as serving as chair of the Safe Routes to School program. Most recently, I had the privilege of working with her on the community advisory group for the Project Homekey site at 1251 S. Eliseo Drive, where we both also served on the public safety committee.

McPhail Sridharan understands the role of government, how it operates and the needs of our county. Not only is she an advocate for our community, but she is someone who is not afraid to speak her mind and does so collaboratively, empathetically and intellectually."

By Alicia Esterkamp Allbin, Kentfield

"The Ross Valley flood-fee process lacks effective leadership and transparency. . .

As a former member of the Marin County Flood Control District Zone 9 advisory board, I watched local control of recent flood protection projects being abdicated to the Marin County Board of Supervisors for projects in Fairfax and San Anselmo. Doing so created distrust and opposition to consultant-conceived projects, including plans to dig out some popular parks and playfields.

Millions were spent on projects upstream from Kentfield, Greenbrae and Larkspur, leaving us “holding the bag” after the dredging of lower Corte Madera Creek was defunded. . .

It begs for an audit and a financial reset. It should fund projects in lower Corte Madera Creek. . .

Heather McPhail Sridharan, a candidate for the District 2 supervisor seat on the Nov. 5 ballot, will demand this review and reset. She will demand that the county record audio flood control advisory board meetings to ensure transparency, which current Supervisor Katie Rice never agreed to do (despite my requests).

The public deserves better."

By Dan Hillmer, Larkspur

"I feel like I’m part of the pink wave sweeping our country right now. With the announcement of Kamala Harris on the presidential ticket, women are very motivated to turn out and vote for women up and down the ballot. When I go door knocking, I feel this new energy and momentum among women that wasn’t in play before Harris entered the race.  

I feel proud to have the endorsement from the Marin Women’s Political Action Committee, Planned Parenthood, and am a Mom’s Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate.  I am predicting that women will turn out in record numbers to vote in November, not just nationally, but in Marin as well. So much is at stake right now. Not just fundamental reproductive rights, but also our democracy."

By Heather McPhail Sridharan

"I support and will vote for Heather McPhail Sridharan in the race for the Marin County Board of Supervisors District 2 seat because she will always make informed decisions.

She wants to always listen to and learn all opinions about issues. She will consider the benefits, costs, desired consequences and unintended consequences. As community members, we need informed, rational decision-making by our supervisors, and Heather McPhail Sridharan will fulfill this requirement."

By Bill Nelson, Ross

"At the county level, we need someone new to take a hard look at how the $800 million annual budget is spent. McPhail Sridharan is a lifelong Marin resident, family person and business owner with a fresh perspective. She is responsive and dedicated to transparency and accountability. She is on the record in favor of a fiscal audit of the millions spent by the Ross Valley Flood Control District.”

By Bob Mittelstaedt, San Rafael

"As former mayor of Larkspur, I strongly support Heather McPhail Sridharan for the Marin County Board of Supervisors District 2 seat representing the Ross Valley from Fairfax to Larkspur/Greenbrae.

People who really follow the issues endorse her, including the current mayors of San Anselmo, Fairfax and Larkspur. She is also endorsed by organizations ranging from the Marin Association of Realtors, the Building Trades Council, Planned Parenthood and the Marin Women’s Political Action Committee.

She will provide a much-needed fresh look at flood control issues that have become so bogged down under current leadership, which includes her opponent."

By Joan Lubamersky, Larkspur

"I first met Heather McPhail Sridharan when we were undergraduates at the University of California, Berkeley. At Cal, she was an effective advocate for the Associated Students of the University of California.

Since then, in my time as a general surgeon in Marin County, I have been most impressed by her dedication and accomplishments on the Kentfield School Board. I appreciate her support of greater regulation of electric-assist bikes to protect Marin kids.

Her experience and skills are reflected in endorsements from both California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and by the Moms Demand Action group. I urge District 2 voters to choose McPhail Sridharan for the open seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors this November.”

By Dr. John Maa, Chief Surgeon, Marin Health

"McPhail Sridharan is smart and independent. She listens. As supervisor, she says she will prioritize housing strategies that work for all of District 2. She will prioritize the fight against climate change and support fiscal transparency, as well as ongoing community engagement, outreach and communication. I believe it because I have seen it.

The November election will be the first time that District 2 voters will elect a new supervisor to an open seat since Barbara Boxer’s election in 1976. Among the candidates this time, Heather McPhail Sridharan is the clear best choice."

By Chuck Finnie, Greenbrae

"Heather McPhail Sridharan said, 'I support sensible renter protections as a critical tool in a toolbox for an overall housing strategy that includes short term rental subsidies and building affordable housing.'

'Overly aggressive rent control policies disincentivize landlords from maintaining property and discourage housing development,' she said."

By Richard Halstead

“I am proud to be the No. 1 most endorsed candidate and have earned 600 plus local endorsements,” McPhail Sridharan said. “My endorsements include the current Ross Valley mayors, San Anselmo Mayor Eileen Burke, Fairfax Mayor Barbara Coler and Larkspur Mayor Scot Candell.”

She said organizations endorsing her include Planned Parenthood, the Marin Women’s Political Action Committee, the North Bay Labor Council, the Marin Association of Public Employees, SEIU 2015, Nor Cal Carpenters Union, Local 1575, the North Bay Building Trades, the Skylark Tenants Association, the Bon Air Tenants Association and the Marin Association of Realtors."

By Richard Halstead

"I suggest voting for the Ross Valley candidate from Kentfield, Heather McPhail Sridharan. She has strong support from her local community, which includes Greenbrae and Larkspur. I think support like that is a powerful sign of a popular, effective and capable leader.

It appears the same is not true for Colbert. Some current and former members of the San Anselmo Town Council actually support McPhail Sridharan. From my perspective, it appears that Colbert’s community has not been energized to support needed infrastructure projects. Absent effective leadership, it has instead organized to oppose important projects."

By Dan Hillmer, Former Six-Term Mayor, Larkspur City Council

"Heather McPhail Sridharan, a former Kentfield school board member, has a slight fundraising edge over her rival Brian Colbert, a San Anselmo council member, in the District 2 race for supervisor. Over the last 18 months, McPhail Sridharan has reported more than $167,000 in campaign contributions. Colbert raised more than $147,000 during the same time span."

By Richard Halstead

"I do not see our aging population as a “problem” to be solved. Rather, I am excited and hopeful by the opportunity to create a comprehensive “Countywide Master Plan of Aging” to improve the healthspan and quality of life for our entire community through all of our stages and ages."

By Heather McPhail Sridharan

”The crossing-guard program is more than just about keeping students safe as they walk and bike to school; the program also plays a key role in reducing traffic throughout Marin and lowering our county’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Marin Congestion Management Agency, up to 27% of the morning commute consists of parents and caregivers driving children to school.”

By Heather McPhail Sridharan

"I support Heather McPhail Sridharan in next week’s primary election for a seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. She would be an outstanding supervisor representing District 2 because she’s a respectful listener, a long-term thinker and has experience on many issues that touch local government — including budgeting, finance, labor, transportation, public safety and land use.”

By Patricia Medina, Vice President, Latino Marin Lawyers and Former President, Kentfield Schools PTA

"McPhail Sridharan and I have been part of the same Spanish conversation group for more than five years. I know her to be well-informed, personable and with an impeccable command of the Spanish language. I consider that to be a strong asset as she represents Latino constituents."

By Potter Wickware, Member, Marin Flood Control Zone 3

"As a trustee, McPhail Sridharan immersed herself in countywide issues impacting schools, including in the areas of state and federal legislation, shared services, housing and Safe Routes to Schools. She focused on transportation through her service on the citizens oversight committee of the Transportation Authority of Marin. McPhail Sridharan will hit the ground running with established contacts among key Marin partners and every other level of government.”

By Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of School Emerita

"I support Heather McPhail Sridharan for the District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors for several reasons. She is an experienced leader. She is analytical, logical and researches issues thoroughly. She listens to her constituents, then reaches careful decisions. She is aware of environmental issues.”

By Sandra Guldman, President, Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed

"She is a doer who takes action and gets things done in a timely manner. She is a leader who looks ahead and has visions of ways to improve the community. Her priority of housing for those who make Marin special — teachers, public service employees and the service providers — is so important. As a retired teacher, I know that I would not be able to live in this community under today’s prices.”

By Marilee Rogers, Co-President, Kentfield-Greenbrae Historical Society; Co-President, Redwood Alumni Association; and Former Teacher, Redwood High

"If elected to the District 2 seat on the Marin Board of Supervisors, her legacy will be one of creating community understanding in how our government works, while ensuring it is efficient and effective for all. Please join me in supporting the only female candidate in the race.”

By Jill Sellers, Former President, Larkspur- Corte Madera School District Board

"As a resident with kids in the Kentfield School District, I have seen McPhail Sridharan steadfastly guide through adversity for nearly 10 years. We worked together on Larkspur’s community advisory group for the permanent supportive housing at 1251 South Eliseo Dr. She skillfully represented the diverse views of her constituents while keeping an eye on what is best for Marin. "

By Christy Chandler, Larkspur

"When reflecting on Heather McPhail Sridharan, candidate for the District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors, four concepts resonate profoundly with me: consensus-building, honesty, compassion and integrity."

By Annie Su, Trustee, Kentfield School District

"I had the pleasure of serving on the Kentfield School District Board of Trustees while she was board president. I met McPhail Sridharan before I decided to run for office and I was inspired by her dedication, energy and focus on educational equity. I was motivated and eager to join her and support the work she was spearheading."

By Davina Katz Goldwasser, Former Trustee, Kentfield School District

"The COVID-19 pandemic tested the ability of leaders at every level of government. As the president of the Kentfield School Board during the shutdown, Heather McPhail Sridharan passed the test with flying colors."

By Ken Lippi, Senior Deputy Superintendent, Marin County Office of Education & Former Mayor, Fairfax Town Council

"I am writing to support Heather McPhail Sridharan for District 2 supervisor in the upcoming election. Ross Valley needs a change from the current mindset held by retiring Supervisor Katie Rice."

By Dan Hillmer, Former Six-Term Mayor, Larkspur City Council

"McPhail Sridharan has an impressive background, having worked in executive positions in the private and public sector, including serving as president of the Kentfield School Board. She is fluent in Spanish and received a Master of Philosophy in Latin American political economy from Oxford University.

It’s important to me that she is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the Marin Women’s Political Action Committee and the union representing county employees."

By Joan Lubamersky, Former Four-Term Mayor, Larkspur City Council

“People want greater transparency, more engagement, more responsiveness and more communication,” McPhail Sridharan said.

She said that if more attention had been paid to these elements of governance, San Anselmo voters might not be considering a proposition on the March ballot to pull out of Flood Zone 9.

"Today, we are faced with a more complex, diverse community landscape. While challenges like housing affordability, climate change, homelessness and traffic weigh heavily on our minds, I see a vibrant future for Marin. That future can be achieved by creating solutions through the lens of the community we want to be. With the right leadership, our community can flourish beyond what I cherished in my childhood."

By Heather McPhail Sridharan

Only two of the announced candidates for Rice’s seat — Ryan O’Neil, a Ross Valley School District trustee, and Heather McPhail Sridharan, a former Kentfield School District trustee — have taken out papers so far.

“It’s been an exciting time, a lot of positive momentum over the last couple months,” Sridharan said. “A lot of door knocking.”

Already with impressive community support and momentum, Heather McPhail Sridharan is excited to officially announce her candidacy for Marin County Supervisor.

"Heather comes from a long history of Marinites who have contributed spades to the community...she was the Founder of the Laurel Grove Nextdoor website...one of the first Nextdoor sites in Marin."

"Sridharan is well-versed on issues facing the two-school district, from fulfilling the promises of the voter-approved capital bond measure to improve and modernize district campuses to a small, but growing number of English-learners in the district’s student body."

“According to Heather, “It’s been so gratifying to feel like our neighborhood is really connected,  particularly across multi-generational lines. It’s a completely different place and feeling than it was a year ago, and I’m happy that my kids will reap the benefits of having neighbors looking after them!”

"Tara Sridharan, 10, and Mira Sridharan, 9, of San Francisco, came with their mother, Heather McPhail Sridharan, because, she said, “I wanted them to understand the impact they could have. I didn’t want them to stand on the sidelines. Women on their flight from California gave them their pink hats."