Speak Poetry in San Mateo County

San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum was elected to the Board in November 2012 and represents the Fourth District which includes East Palo Alto, a portion of Menlo Park including Belle Haven, Redwood City, and the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks. 

When he was elected by his peers as President of the Board in January 2020, Supervisor Slocum set as his top priority to honor the diversity of the county by making advances through the lenses of equity and social progress. This includes, working collaboratively building more affordable housing, moving the needle to resolve homelessness particularly for families and veterans, and reducing traffic congestion. In fact, since his election to the Board of Supervisors, Warren has been focused on improving the quality of life for all people on the Peninsula, and issues of transportation, housing, immigrants, veterans, and youth. He is a fierce advocate for social justice and has introduced and co-sponsored legislation to establish a Language Access Policy, Veterans Commission, Office of Community Affairs, and the Office of Immigrant Affairs. 

As a member of the Board, Warren serves the County on several Boards and Commissions including the Local Agency Formation Commission, Housing Endowment & Regional Trust, Peninsula Clean Energy and the Housing Our People Effectively Interagency Action Council. He was instrumental in the hiring of the County’s first Chief Equity Officer. 

Warren is a proud Vietnam veteran who earned his degree from San Diego State University. Previously, Warren served as the San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk Recorder & Chief Elections Officer. He and his wife, Maria Diaz-Slocum, a member of the Redwood City School Board, call Redwood City home. Warren is a technology enthusiast, an amateur photographer, a dog lover, and coffee aficionado who believes in the concept “#DreamBig.”

Along with Supervisor Carole Groom, Supervisor Slocum established the San Mateo County Poet Laureate program in 2013.

The Poet Laureate program was initially staffed by the San Mateo County Libraries. Members of the San Mateo County Poet Laureate Advisory Committee from 2014 to 2019 include Supervisor Warren Slocum; Supervisor Carole Groom; San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Caroline Goodwin; San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Lisa Rosenberg; Board Member of the San Mateo County Libraries JPA Governing Board and Council Member of Portola Valley Maryann Derwin; Office of Arts and Culture Executive Director Robin Rodricks; East Palo Alto Poet Laureate Kalamu Chaché; Editor and Publisher Christopher Wachlin; Visual Arts Columnist and Founding Board Member of City Arts Bonny Zanardi; Poet and retired educator Rosemary Ybarra-Garcia; Poet and Skyline College Professor Kathleen McClung, and Director of Library Services for San Mateo County Libraries Anne-Marie Despain. As of 2022, the San Mateo County Poet Laureate program is staffed by the newly formed Office of Arts and Culture under the leadership of Robin Rodricks.