About Kate

Kate Colin PortraitKate loves San Rafael for its diversity of people, wonderful neighborhoods and beautiful open space.  As Mayor of San Rafael, she will continue to preserve and enhance the city where we live, work and play.

Kate joined the San Rafael City Council in January 2013 and one of the first initiatives she pursued was to improve engaging with residents and increasing government transparency.  In her previous seven years as a San Rafael Planning Commissioner she saw the importance of bringing in the community voice as early as possible and wanted to ensure our voice was heard in all aspects of local government.

Kate is recognized for her ability to listen and connect with the community; whether the conversation is with a few folks or an entire neighborhood association, she wants to be talking about the issues that are important to San Rafael.

She and her husband Jeff have lived in San Rafael since 1996 where they raised their two children.  Kate has a MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA from Dartmouth College. She is a life-long athlete who runs, bikes, swims and plays soccer.  She continues to delight in working in her vegetable garden when she has the time.

Kate Colin’s Engagement with Our Community

Experience (Elected)

  • Vice Mayor, City of San Rafael (Jan 2020-present, Jan 2016 – Jan 2017)
  • City Councilmember, City of San Rafael (Jan 2013 – present)

Experience (Boards and Commissions)

  • Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers, President (2017)
  • Marin Ready Together (Wildfire Prevention), San Rafael representative

Homeless/Housing

  • MCCMC Homeless Committee, Co-chair
  • Marin County Homeless Policy Steering Committee, Co-Chair (2016-2018)
  • Opening Doors Marin (Housing for Chronically Homeless), Member
  • Marin County Assessment of Fair Housing, Task Force, Member
  • City of San Rafael Homeless Subcommittee, Chair (2013-2018)
  • San Rafael’s Homeless Stakeholder Committee (2012)

Transit

  • Marin County Transit District, Member, Board of Directors
  • Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), Alternate
  • Safe Routes to School, San Rafael Task Force, Member

Sustainability

  • BayWAVE (Sea Level Rise Assessment) Steering Committee, Member
  • San Rafael Climate Change Action Plan, Council Liaison and Chair
  • San Rafael Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Council Liaison
  • MCCMC Sea Level Rise Committee, Member

Community Engagement

  • Not In Our Town San Rafael Steering Committee (Anti-Bullying), Member
  • Census 2020 Executive Committee, Member
  • Marin County Priority-Setting Committee, Alternate

San Rafael City Committees

  • Pickleweed Advisory Board, Council Liaison
  • Latino Civic Leadership Initiative (Council Adhoc Subcommittee), Chair
  • General Plan 2040 Steering Committee, Alternate
  • Economic Development Committee, Member
  • Neighborhoods (Joint Committee/City Council) Alternate
  • Planning Commissioner, Member (2005-2012)
  • Climate Change Action Plan, Co-Chair (2008-2009)
  • Critical Facilities Stakeholder Committee (2004-2005)
  • Citizen Advisory to Redevelopment (1999-2004)
  • General Plan 2020, Co-Chair (2002-2003)