City of San Carlos Mayor Omar Ahmad passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 46. This morning 911 received a call from Mayor Ahmad, paramedics responded to his home and transported him to Sequoia Hospital. Mayor Ahmad was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Omar was elected to the San Carlos City Council in November 2007. He had previously served as a member of the City’s Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC). While on the City Council, Omar was selected to serve as the Mayor of San Carlos in November by his fellow Council Members.




During his term on the City Council, Ahmad also served on several committees and boards including the Airport Roundtable, Belmont-San Carlos Fire Commission, C/CAG Airport Land Use Committee (ALUC), Caltrain Board of Directors, San Mateo County Council of Cities, Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC) (Council Liaison), Harbor Industrial Association (HIA Council Liaison), Peninsula Congestion Management Relief Alliance, San Carlos Green (Council Liaison) and SamTrans Board of Directors (Council of Cities Appointment).

In addition to his responsibilities at the city, he also served as a member of the San Mateo Transit District Board. In a statement, the Board expressed its sadness. “The San Mateo County Transit District has lowered the flags at all its facilities to half-staff in memory and honor of Omar Ahmad, the Mayor of San Carlos and a member of the transit district’s Board of Directors and the Vice Chair of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, who died Tuesday morning.”

He was a well known entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, having been involved in the start up of a number of companies over the years including the Discovery Channel, @Home, Trusted ID, Grand Central Communications, Napster, Netscape and most recently as the co-founder and CEO of SynCH Energy Corporation.

City Manager Jeff Maltbie said “Those of us at City Hall who had the opportunity to work with and get to know him are devastated by his loss. Omar’s dedication to the citizens of San Carlos and his passion for democracy will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

Omar is survived by Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad (father), Nadira Ahmad (mother) and his two sisters (Fataima Warner and Leah Berry). 

The City has lowered the flags in front of City buildings to half staff in honor of Omar Ahmad. The City has also been informed that the State Senate and State Assembly in Sacramento will adjourn in honor of Omar Ahmad this Thursday.