Mary Sackett: Working for Marin
When she's on the case, you know you’ll get answers. That’s Mary's reputation: listen to peoples’ concerns; identify the problem; break through the barriers; and get it done. There’s something about Mary that makes her the ideal candidate to serve as our next County Supervisor.
A Family History Rooted in Service
Public service is in Mary Sackett’s blood. Her father was a small town lawyer serving on many local and state boards and commissions and her mother, an early woman lawyer in Iowa, served as Chief Justice on the Iowa Court of Appeals. This devotion to service and justice guided Mary’s lifepath.
Mary’s mother, Rosemary Shaw Sackett, is an especially big influence in Mary’s life. She was a trailblazer who rose to the top in a male dominated profession and taught Mary the importance of a thick skin and a strong work ethic.
“She was well respected by her peers for her incredible memory, her willingness to find the best in people, and her mentorship of women,” Mary has said. “She pushed me, she supported me, and she instilled in me an incredibly strong sense of community, hard work, the greater good, and making systemic change.”
20 Years in Marin County
After graduating from law school, Mary moved to Marin County with her husband in 2002. They fell in love with the natural beauty and scenic wonder of Marin -- the ocean, the mountains, and the Bay -- and knew that this was where they wanted to raise their family.
Mary’s early career was focused on the intersection of law and health policy. She represented dentists, doctors, and other health professionals and saw firsthand how to assess risk and build trust.
Along the way, she became an active volunteer. Mary organized litter cleans ups and mentored a young San Rafael resident through elementary and middle school. She served on the Vallecito Elementary Site Council and as a Safe Routes to School volunteer. She is an active Member of the San Rafael Harbor Rotary Club, and currently serves on the Marin County Bar Association Board of Directors. This work has earned her numerous awards, including as Big Sister of the Year from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay.
Mary lives with her husband, a small business owner, and their two children in San Rafael. In her free time you will find Mary and her family biking the Ponti Ridge Trail, surfing in Bolinas, or hiking the Terra Linda-Sleepy Hollow Divide.
Public Service in the County
In June 2022, Mary was elected Supervisor representing District 1. She was sworn into office on December 6, 2022 and has been diligently serving residents. In 2017, Mary transitioned to a position as a top aide to former Supervisor Damon Connolly, representing San Rafael-centered District 1. In this role, she’s become a go-to expert on environmental protection policies, transportation agencies, housing laws, and open space and recreational amenities in the County. She is the Chair of the Drawdown: Marin Equity Task Force, focused on addressing and connecting climate change and equity.
Her work for the Board of Supervisors has been noticed by her peers. She earned a Marin School of Environmental Leadership “Vision Into Action” Award for mentoring students at a local public high school environmental program, and she received an award for excellence as a distinguished Public Information Officer during the COVID-19 pandemic from the County of Marin.
Almost no one knows District 1 better. Mary knows every neighborhood and virtually every concern that San Rafael neighbors have brought before the Board of Supervisors. From getting meals delivered to vulnerable residents during the pandemic to addressing neighbor concerns about street sweeping to conferring with neighborhoods on evacuation routes in case of an emergency, and every conceivable issue in between, Mary is working for Marin.
