- smcacre.gov (opens in a new tab)San Mateo County ACRE (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections) -- Roster of Candidates, Qualified Candidates Only, November 3, 2026 General Election (CFMR009), dated 2026-08-25: the county's own certified candidate list, confirming both District 5 (Short Term) candidates and their ballot designations, and that Board of Education Trustee Area 2 is the only one of three expiring county trustee areas flagged 'On Ballot: Yes'
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- "2026 City Council Qualified Candidates" page: the city's own list of qualified candidates by district (1, 4, 5), matching the county's certified roster name-for-name and confirming ballot order per the Secretary of State's August 13, 2026 randomized alphabet drawing
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- "Half Moon Bay Election Districts" page: the city's 5-district by-district council election system, adopted 2018 with boundaries redrawn by a 2021 redistricting process; confirms Districts 1, 4, and 5 elect in November 2026 (Districts 2 and 3 next elect in 2028), 4-year council terms, and no term limits
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- official council biography for Robert Brownstone: elected to the council in November 2018 representing District 1, a career in tech-company HR/organizational-effectiveness roles (Cisco, eBay, Oracle) after earlier federal civil-rights and labor-compliance work (EPA Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Labor) and practicing employment discrimination law, and prior service as Vice Mayor (2019) and Mayor (2025)
- halfmoonbay.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Half Moon Bay -- "Planning Commission" page: lists David Gorn as Chair, corroborating his county-certified ballot designation ("Planning Commissioner Chair") for the District 1 council race
Last updated September 7, 2026.
City of Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay City Council, District 1
This person holds one of five district seats on Half Moon Bay's City Council. They vote on coastal land-use and development decisions, the city budget, and oversight of an appointed city manager. The council chooses its own Mayor and Vice Mayor each year rather than voters electing them directly. The term is four years; the city has no term limits.
Robert Brownstone and David Gorn are running for the District 1 council seat. Brownstone is the eight-year incumbent, a former tech company HR executive, and was 2025 Mayor. Gorn chairs the city's Planning Commission.
Whoever wins takes one of five seats on Half Moon Bay's City Council. They vote on coastal land-use and development decisions, the city budget, and oversight of an appointed city manager. The council chooses its own Mayor and Vice Mayor each year rather than voters electing them directly. The term is four years; the city has no term limits.
Brownstone is the only incumbent on the ballot in any of Half Moon Bay's three 2026 council races; the county's certified roster lists his ballot designation as "Incumbent." Gorn has never held elected office, but as Planning Commission chair he has already reviewed many of the coastal-development and housing applications a councilmember eventually votes on.
Robert Brownstone
Robert Brownstone has represented District 1 since November 2018. He served as Vice Mayor in 2019 and Mayor in 2025. He spent his career in technology company HR at Cisco, eBay, and Oracle.
David Gorn
David Gorn chairs Half Moon Bay's Planning Commission. That commission reviews coastal development and housing plans before the council votes. He is a first-time candidate for office, and no other biography was found.
Your pick
A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.