Then there is the downside, the potential for conflict of interest in work his firm does in the city and when he must recuse himself from voting. The recent 7-Eleven brouhaha is the first time the well respected Matthews has ever had his integrity questioned and it has been a painful experience. The Fair Employment Practices Commission regulations say that an architect can do business in the city in which he serves but he or she may not interact with staff on such business before the city. Matthews often checks with the city attorney on when he needs to recuse himself or the attorney's office will contact him. In the case of 7-Eleven, Matthews' firm was contacted by the developer to find out zoning regulations and to do some sketches. Another member of his firm called the city to check on the zoning for the site (this has been the source of controversy — whether a market was a legal or illegal use in the residential neighborhood). Matthews was accused by neighbors and even questioned by fellow Councilman David Lim over whether he had inappropriately used his influence on behalf of the firm's client. Matthews denied under oath before the Planning Commission that he had contacted city staff on the issue. Last Monday night, when the council declared the 7-Eleven use illegal, Matthews was at home watching the proceedings on television.

There have been instances when Matthews has had to choose between recusing himself or losing a client. Recently, he was asked by 10 downtown property owners to do a feasibility study for each of their properties. The city attorney advised that future zoning for downtown was under consideration and if Matthews took the job he could not participate in the discussion.

"People didn't elect me to recuse myself on something as important as downtown's future,” he said.

So Matthews turned down the job. He is not able to participate in discussions about the future of the former Kinko's site between Fourth and Fifth avenues east of the railroad tracks because it is too close to his downtown office.

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What was the most difficult land use decision Matthews ever made? While on the Planning Commission, he voted against the downtown movie theater because he thought it was too big for the space. It's a decision he said he regrets every day because the cinema has been a huge success and a big boost to downtown. He would like to see the plaza in front spruced up and be a better public space. He would like to see more public plazas downtown and an attractive connector from Fifth Avenue to Central Park. Matthews has left his architectural mark downtown in rehabilitating/designing buildings now used by Bay Watch, AcquaPazza and Vault. He built the modern SMART Center (San Mateo Adult Resources Technology Center) at San Mateo High School and transformed the former Skylonda resort into a retreat with forest tree houses.

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Matthews, a San Francisco native, moved to San Mateo in 1974. He and his wife Patricia and two children found their first home in Shoreview then, as their family expanded to four children, they moved to Parkside and in 1988 to their present house in the Hillsdale/Beresford neighborhood. Matthews received his architecture degree from Cal Poly. He is in his last term as a councilman. When he was first elected, he was the youngest. Now at 66, he is the oldest. He has much to be proud of in his service as a planning commissioner and councilmember. The 7- Eleven controversy has been an unfortunate downside, but it no way diminishes the many ways in which Matthews has shared his invaluable expertise to make San Mateo a better place in which to live and work.

Sue Lempert is the former mayor of San Mateo. Her column runs every Monday. She can be reached at sue@smdailyjournal.com.