Hillsborough's town website says that at an Aug. 20 special meeting, the council adopted Resolution No. 26-72 appointing the only two candidates who filed for its two open seats: Jeff Baxter and Leslie Marden Ragsdale. That means no council election on Nov. 3.
Who was appointed
- Leslie Marden Ragsdale is vice mayor. She was first appointed to the council in December 2022, according to the Burlingame-Hillsborough Times.
- Jeff Baxter is new to the council. The Times noted the meeting agenda packet included no biographical information about him.
Both take office at the first regular council meeting in December 2026.
A Hillsborough tradition
The Times found that since 1992, Hillsborough has had exactly as many candidates as seats in 12 of 17 election years, and each time the council appointed them instead of holding an election. State Elections Code Section 10229 allows it. City Clerk Lisa Natusch wrote that canceling would save the town $43,000 to $51,000 in the 2026-27 budget. The extended filing period closed Aug. 12 with no other challengers.
You'll still get a ballot
Hillsborough voters still vote on Nov. 3 for state, county and district races and measures. San Mateo County's Elections Office lists vote centers and ballot tracking.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.