Buenaflor Nicolas
Buenaflor Nicolas was born in the Philippines, and became a South San Francisco resident in 1988 when she and her husband, with their two young children, immigrated to the United States. She is now a grandmother of three. Nicolas was first elected at-large to the City Council in November 2018 and as the District 3 representative in November 2022, becoming the third Asian-American woman elected to the City Council, and only the fourth woman to serve in that capacity. She was installed as Mayor in December 2022.
Nicolas received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila and a Master of Public Health from University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her professional career includes almost 25 years in leadership positions at various biotechnology companies – Gilead Sciences, InterMune, Kalobios Pharmaceuticals, Cytokinetics, Forty Seven (acquired by Gilead Sciences in 2020), and Rain Oncology. Currently, she is Vice-President and Head of Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance at Scorpion Therapeautics.
Her community and public service commitments span over 30 years and include:
All Souls Catholic Church Volunteer, 1988 – 2008 SSF Day in the Park Committee Member, 2006-2011 SSF Housing Authority Board Commissioner, 2006 Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church Volunteer, 2008 - present SSF PAL (Police Activities League) Boosters, Secretary, 2008 -2019 SSF Historic Preservation Commissioner, 2009 SSF Conference Center Authority Board Commissioner served as Chairperson 2014-15 and 2022 SSF Asian Alliance Founding Member, Treasurer, 2012 - 2019 Kawayan Folk Arts, Founding Board Member Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center Board Member SSF Friends of Parks and Recreation, Member SSF Historical Society, Member SSF Sister Cities Committee, Member SSF Chamber of Commerce, Member
2026 City Council Committee Assignments
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Subcommittee Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) SSF School District Liaison Subcommittee
2026 Regional Assignments
Airport Land Use Committee (ALUC) America Supporting Americans (ASA) C/CAG Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) City/County Association of Government (C/CAG) Board - Alternate Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) Board - Alternate San Mateo County Emergency Services Council - Alternate
2026 Ad Hoc Committees
Age Friendly Task Force Holiday Decorations Committee Joint Advisory Committee of the Child Care Master Plan (JACCCMP) Sister Cities Committee