Morning News Round-Up -- 12.03.08: Let the post-Hill fun begin...

Democratic and Republican leaders in the County are calling for a special election to fill Jerry Hill's Board of Supervisors seat. The decision to appoint or to have a special election will be made by the end of the month.

The repercussions of that decision are making their way down the electoral chain -- especially in San Mateo. Carol Groom is a strong candidate to be appointed to replace Hill on the Board of Supervisors, meaning her San Mateo City Council seat will open up. Add to that the fact that San Mateo will have a City Council election in November 2009 and you have a free-for-all. If Groom is appointed, will the San Mateo City Council appoint an interim Councilmember until November? Watch Dog will keep an eye on this...

The County's Chief Probatation Officer announced his retirement earlier this week. The Daily Journal delicately calls the past year of the Probation Department "tumultuous"...that is an understatement...a teenage murder suspect escaped from juvie and another walked away from detention camp.

Usually school districts sue contractors for not doing the work. This is like that, but in reverse. Skanska Building, Inc. is suing the San Mateo Union High School District for being fired as project manager for nearly $300 million in projects. Don't lawyers make this so much more fun?

And a whole bunch of new Mayors are taking seats this week in their respective cities -- mostly by rotating mayor-ships:

• A new Mayor rotates into office in South San Francisco...Senator Leland Yee did the swearing...
• Ruben Abrica was elected Mayor of East Palo Alto by his colleagues yesterday.
• Heyward Robinson is the new Mayor of Menlo Park -- rotated in yesterday.
• And...the Coolest Mayor in San Mateo County Award goes to...drum roll...Farmer John Muller of Half Moon Bay, who was sworn in this week.

Carlyle Jewelers is closing business after 62 years of being a fixture in downtown San Mateo. It isn't the economy though, it is..."just a different chapter in o ur lives"...according to Leslie Rosenberg who co-owns the store.

Remember Bill Clinton -- he ran against an unpopular Bush who was overseeing a recession in 1992. That was the last time the County voter turn-out was as high as it was on November 4, 2008, when Obama ran against a Republican (but really ran against a unpopular Bush) overseeing a recession (and two wars)...

For your viewing pleasure, the Chronicle has great photos of Maverick's from this past weekend...