Complex sentence: He served on the Redwood City Council from 1950 to 66 (as mayor from 1956-60) and was a San Mateo County supervisor in 1979 when he won a special election to succeed the late congressman Leo J. Ryan (D-San Mateo).
Split into simpler sentences: He served on the Redwood, California City Council from 1950 to 66 (including service as mayor from 1956-60) and later as a San Mateo County supervisor. In 1979, Royer won a special election to succeed the late congressman Leo J. Ryan (D-San Mateo).