Photograph by Sebastian Widman

Les White is expected to take over interim town manager duties on July 31. His tenure will be three or four months while the council seeks a permanent manager.

Town taps White to serve as interim manager

By Nathan R. Huff

Los Gatos' interim town manager is no stranger to tackling town problems. The town council on July 10, was expected to appoint Les White, former San Jose city manager and current president of the Santa Clara County chapter of the United Way, as Los Gatos' interim town manager.

White will take over the position vacated by Dave Knapp, who recently accepted the city manager position in Cupertino after 10 years in Los Gatos. White's tenure, slated to begin July 31, will last an estimated three to four months while the council goes about selecting a permanent manager. Assistant town manager Jim Piper holds the reins as acting town manager until White begins.

Knapp said White's history in the area and past city government experience will make him a quick study for the position.

Aside from San Jose, White has served as city manager in Fullerton, assistant city manager in Fresno and in several other municipalities. More recently, White worked as the vice chancellor for administrative services for West Valley and Mission colleges. He helped lead the reuse authority on Fort Ord, the Monterey military base that was converted into California State University of Monterey.

White, who served as San Jose's city manager from 1989 to 1994, said his tenure at United Way is drawing to a close and he was looking for an entry back into city government when Knapp told him of Los Gatos' predicament.

"You have to say to yourself, 'what nicer way to get back in city government?' " White said. White has a number of Los Gatos connections as well; his daughter and several nieces have lived or do live in the town. He has lived in the Santa Clara Valley for the past 16 years.

As far as his on-the-job philosophy, White said he's not the type of person who likes to delegate authority and simply maintain the status quo. "I'm not good at just holding the reins," he said. "I'm expecting to do whatever the town needs." He added that he has already spoken with several council members and looks forward to working with what he perceives to be a stable town government.

Once the town's search for a permanent manager is complete, White plans to find another temporary city government position elsewhere. At age 60, he said he still has five to 10 years of work left in him.

Piper, a former city manager himself, will steer the ship until White's arrival. He said the town's upper management was already spread too thinly, and had too many new faces to shuffle things dramatically. Piper, a former manager in Arizona and Colorado, said he also doubted he would apply for the permanent position. "My expectation is no," Piper said. "I much prefer being the assistant; that's just my personality."

 

Police Report

DeCinzo: Les White

Craig Heimbichner leaves LGHS for principal's job at Placer High School

Photo: A Roseate Spoonbill takes flight

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos, Quito in key match-up