Former Millbrae mayor says council blocked her ballot access, files writ

Former Millbrae mayor Anne Schneider told the City Council on July 14 that she was denied the ability to run for office after a council action she described as rushed and unfair. Schneider said a three‑member council majority approved a change to election procedures with "just 25 hours and 10 minutes of public notice," and she called the move "weaponizing a maneuver designed to eliminate competition."

"By formally denying my ability to run this week, the council majority has proven what we knew all along," Schneider said during the public‑comment period, adding that she had filed a writ of mandate in San Mateo County Superior Court to challenge the council’s decision.

Schneider framed the action as an attack on open elections and urged residents in Districts 2 and 4 to oppose the appointed incumbents she said benefited from the change. "You deserve a choice. You deserve transparency, and you deserve a government that respects the law," she said.

Mayor Rinaldi thanked Schneider for her remarks on behalf of the council. The council did not take any immediate action in response during the meeting; Schneider said she initiated legal proceedings that morning. The filing, described by Schneider as a writ of mandate, is intended to challenge the council action in the San Mateo County Superior Court.

Because Schneider’s statements were made in public comment, the council did not deliberate on the merits of the claim during the meeting. Any formal response or legal development would appear in future council records or court filings.