Candidate for
Council Member; City of Palo Alto

Occupation: Lawyer
Education and Qualifications:
     JD, Harvard Law School; BA, Cornell; City Council member 1981-89, 2005 to date; Mayor, 1984, 1989, 2008; Co-Founder, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

     I ran for City Council four years ago because of concern that our community was not maintaining its strengths nor laying the groundwork for a healthy future. I called for revitalizing the City's resources, refocusing our priorities, and rededicating ourselves to a grander vision of what Palo Alto can achieve.

     We have made substantial progress since then. Hiring a new City Manager was a priority. Jim Keene has brought a new level of enthusiasm and transparency to the position. Environmentally, our 2007 Green Building Ordinance is a national model. In land use matters, we significantly reduced the development potential of large sites in South Palo Alto such as Summerwinds Nursery and Palo Alto Bowl.

     Looking forward, we face difficult union negotiations so that we can have a sound, long-term city budget that provides for revitalizing our aging infrastructure. We must continue to be an environmental leader and make land use decisions that protect our quality of life. I believe my years of government experience will help us solve these challenging problems.