Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Novato

Biography and Accomplishments

Pat Eklund grew up in Marin County and graduated from Terra Linda High School in 1969. The day after graduation, she began working for the US Army Corps of Engineers, spending five years at the Bay Model in Sausalito and three years in San Francisco. Pat worked full-time to earn her tuition for college, which she attended full-time. Despite carrying that heavy workload, she graduated from San Francisco State University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude). Pat went on to receive her Masters in Public Administration (cum laude) from Golden Gate University in 1979. And later, in 1987, she obtained a Masters of Science in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco.

In 1977, Pat began working for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where she is currently employed as an Environmental Manager. Pat has been at the EPA for over 24 years, during which, she managed several programs including the Underground Storage Tanks, Ground Water, Ocean Dumping, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Programs.

Continuing her desire to give back to the community, Pat served on the Novato Planning Commission for over two years. She also served on the Marin County Flood Control District Board, as President of the Hillside Park East Homeowner's Association, on the Novato Community Hospital Board and on the North Marin Federation of Homeowner's Board. Currently, Pat is on the Hamilton Restoration Advisory Board, the Steering Committee for the North Bay Wetlands Project, the Environmental Quality Public Safety Committees for the League of California Cities, the Board of Directors for the League of California Cities and serves as President of the Mayors and Councilmembers Department for the League of California Cities. Pat also is Vice-Chair of Action for Better Cities that is working to protect the fiscal stability of the cities throughout the State of California.

The practical knowledge that Pat has accumulated in her professional and civic life has been very helpful in her work on the City Council as well. Pat was first elected in June 1995 and won her re-election to the Council in November 1997 with approximately 65% of the vote. While serving on the Council, Pat has been a proven leader. Due to the illness of Mayor Ernie Gray, Pat led the Council in producing a new General Plan that is very balanced, allowing for economic growth and protecting our high quality of life. This is the most comprehensive and environmentally protective General Plan Novato has ever had.

Pat has worked to keep Novato the safe and family friendly city we want. She led the fight to keep Novato Police Dispatch and worked to add more youth and senior programs, acquire Scottsdale Marsh and Pond and improve our streets and roads to relieve traffic congestion and improve safety. Pat approved the building of our new hospital and worked with CalTrans to improve the Rowland Blvd. offramp.

Pat has helped institute a model-recycling program, is currently working to create a Green Business Program and is implementing the Urban Growth Boundary.

Currently, Pat is helping revitalize our downtown, creating a Novato Arts Center and implementing the award winning Hamilton Reuse Plan that will benefit all of Novato with senior housing, recreation facilities and work force housing for local police, fire personnel, schoolteachers and others. Because she listens to all voices, Pat Eklund is working to keep Novato a city in balance.

Though the Council and the EPA keep her busy, Pat still finds time to be a member of the Soroptomists of North Bay, American Association of University Women, Novato Chamber of Commerce, Novato Historical Guild, Marin Conservation League and the Sierra Club. She is also an honorary member of the Indian Valley Artists.

Pat Eklund knows how to get things done -- by bringing the people of Novato together to make our city a better place to live.