Clockwise from top left: Linda Lubeck, Paul Dubois, Mike Abkin, Don Worn, Steve Glickman, Sandy Decker.
Council race features Abkin, Decker, Dubois and Glickman
Lubeck, Worn jump into treasurer race
By Nathan R. Huff
With the final bell sounding, the field for Los Gatos' 2000 council race is apparently set at four candidates vying for two seats.
Neither Councilman Jan Hutchins nor Councilwoman Linda Lubeck had a last minute change of heart to run, freeing two spots on the five-member council.
However, Lubeck is not fading from public view. She will be running against long-time Los Gatos residents Don Worn for the office of treasurer.
The council field remains unchanged from a month ago. Former Planning Commissioners Mike Abkin and Sandy Decker are both running, as are Community Foundation President Paul Dubois and Los Gatos Union School District Trustee Steve Glickman.
The deadline to file passed quietly on Aug 17, with no new candidates announcing their intentions to run. The 1998 council election featured four candidates competing for three spots. Mayor Steve Blanton and Councilman Randy Attaway were elected to their third terms, while Councilman Joe Pirzynski won his first-ever election.
Neither Lubeck nor Hutchins have thrown their weight behind any candidates as yet, but both promised they would have something to say on the issue eventually.
Both Abkin and Decker have served as planning commissioners, and Abkin has also been active on the General Plan task forces. He said that his experience, combined with being outside the town government for several years, gives him a unique perspective and understanding.
"I'm very much a sympathizer and consensus builder when it comes to problem solving in the public realm," Abkin said. He added that hillside preservation, preserving local business and protecting neighborhoods are all key issues in his campaign.
"Neighborhoods are a central element to what 'town character' is, and they have to be protected," Abkin said.
Decker also says her planning commission experience will give her an advantage as a town councilwoman. "My experience as a commissioner implementing policy gave me real-time involvement in the issues that are most critical," Decker said.
Decker's issues include more dialogue with the county to strengthen its hillside standards and accelerating the review of Los Gatos town standards. Having been active on the General Plan committee, Decker said the work done to create stronger language in the new plan allows for more stringent review of new projects, particularly those with high densities.
"We need to look at impact whenever new applications that involve density come forward," Decker said. "I would really want to make sure that the residential impact from an application is the first priority." Decker would also like to see the southbound entrance to Highway 17 from S. Santa Cruz Ave. closed to stop cut-through traffic.
Paul Dubois, who serves on the community services commission, said he wanted to reach out to include many Los Gatans who feel left out of local government. "There are fringes of this town that don't feel like they're represented," Dubois said.
Dubois, angered by the town's newly initiated practice of collecting business license fees from commercial and residential neighborhoods, said the town needs to improve providing affordable housing.
"To have someone in town create an additional tax that's going to be passed on to the renter really upsets me," Dubois said. "We've got to find ways to make housing affordable to our emergency personnel and teachers."
Glickman, who is the only candidate to have experience as an elected official, said his experience on the school board, on town committees and with young people has given him a unique perspective.
Currently active on the skate park task force, Glickman said his focus will be on the underserved younger populations. "Our demographics are changing," Glickman said. "We have a lot of young families moving in and the town should be giving more consideration to what makes living good for them."
Glickman said he would also like to see the town planning process made "more straight forward and user-friendly."
Eight-year incumbent Jeff Lamb will not be running for re-election as treasurer. Lubeck and Worn will be the first competitors for the $10,000 a year position since Lamb came in. The town treasurer, with guidance from the council, handles the investment of town money. The treasurer also acts as an internal control.
Lubeck, long known as the "bean counter" on the council, believes her accountancy background and previous work with the town makes her a natural for the position.
"The treasurer in my mind is a pretty important position. They've got to carry out the council's policy on investment," Lubeck said. "It's something I know I can do and it keeps me involved with the town."
Worn, a 72-year-old retired mechanical designer for Lockheed, sees the treasurer position as his next place of public service. A trustee of Los Gatos High School's governing board, an original member of the town's redevelopment advisory committee and a volunteer with the Second Harvest Food Bank and "brown bag" programs, Worn said he is well-versed in volunteerism.
"I have a general interest to serve the town," Worn said, "and when I was on the school board I had a strong interest in the utilization of funds." He added that he often helps friends and family with their financial planning.
The position of Town Clerk is uncontested--incumbent clerk Marian Cosgrove is the only registered candidate.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
