The board of directors for the San Mateo County Transit District appointed Rose Castillo Guilbault and Zoe Kersteen-Tucker as public members to the board. They will fill the seats that were left vacant by the resignations of Mike Nevin and John Barbour.

Public members are appointed to represent the diverse residents and regions of the county. They may not be elected officials, or have served in an elected position during the previous 12 months.

Castillo Guilbault of Burlingame was appointed from a pool of 26 applicants, as public board member from the county’s central region. She is vice president for corporate affairs and publishing at the California State Automobile Association and currently serves as chair of the board of governors for the Commonwealth Club of California.

"A sound transportation system means better mobility, enhanced quality of life, and a cleaner environment,” said Castillo Guilbault. “I look forward to working with the board to address how we can bring high-quality transit options to San Mateo County.”

From among eight applicants for the public member for the coastside region, the board appointed Kersteen-Tucker, of Moss Beach. She is the executive director of the Green Foothills Foundation, and has worked on transit-related issues, including a term on the Devil’s Slide Tunnel Advisory Committee.

“I am committed to ensuring ongoing and innovative mobility alternatives on the coastside,” said Kersteen-Tucker, “both to preserve the fragile coastal environment and to serve the unique needs of the diverse coastside population.”

Each new member will serve out the remainder of the four-year term vacated by their predecessor. Kersteen-Tucker’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2006 and Castillo Guilbault’s term will expire Dec. 31, 2008.

02/23/06 - jbw