Los Gatos Weekly-Times Photograph by George Sakkestad Candidates Joe Pirzynski (left) and Steve Blanton (right) check Pirzynski's Web page via cellular modem for returns at an election night party at Pirzynski's house. Pirzynski's friend Mike Maiten (in vest) designed his Web page, which was linked to the county Registrar of Voters Web page. Attaway, Blanton and Pirzynski win handily in mellow LG race By Jeff Kearns Planning Commissioner Joe Pirzynski won his first election to public office in the Nov. 3 election. Incumbents Steve Blanton and Randy Attaway, each running for third terms, were also winners in one of the quietest elections in recent memory. The three finished neck and neck, with the fourth candidate trailing way behind. Attaway had the highest number of votes, with 5,875 or 29.4 percent. Blanton was just a few votes behind, at 5,752 votes, or 28.8 percent. Pirzynski garnered 5,422 votes, or 27.1 percent. Real estate consultant Paul Merchain won 2,923 votes, or 14.6 percent. "It was a real good campaign," said Pirzynski, who works as a counselor at Archbishop Mitty High School and has a private practice as a marriage counselor. "All the people regarded one another really highly." Even though Pirzynski was the favored heir-apparent to departing four-term councilmember Joanne Benjamin, he also ran the most energetic campaign. Campaigning door-to-door, Pirzynski said he learned that Los Gatans love to talk politics. "If you ask people in this community to sit down and talk politics, there's no end to the discussion," he said. "There's a great deal of concern out there, and people really just want an opportunity to sit down and talk about it. People really care about how the town is run and how we can maintain our own sense of identity." For Pirzynski, the victory comes with a down side: before he takes his seat Dec. 7, he'll have to give up his position on the Planning Commission and his role as commander of the town Disaster Aid Response Team, which he helped found in 1982. Serving in both roles would be a conflict of interest, he said. Attaway, 49, said he was thrilled to think that Los Gatans believe he's served the town well, and said he would continue on the same path he's been on for eight years. Attaway works as a project manager at Therma in San Jose. Asked what he wants to work on in his third term, Attaway said he wants to strengthen the partnership between the residential community and business community. "We should be working together," he said, "it should be a goal for both parties." Blanton, 38, attended the victory party at the Toll House Hotel for Republicans Tom Campbell and Jim Cunneen. "I've worked hard for the last eight years for the things I believe in, and it's nice to know there's someone listening," he said as the results started coming in on a computer in the back of the room. During the campaign, Blanton, public affairs director for the PenWest Association of Realtors, cast himself as a lone crusader for small government and fiscal responsibility on the council, emphasizing his single nay vote against the utility-users tax proposal in 1996. Blanton first came to office eight years ago on a campaign promise that he would limit himself to two terms in office. Merchain, 51, says he's not sure if he'll run again in 2000. He took a grass-roots approach to campaigning this year, by raising less than $1,000 and walking the neighborhoods to drum up support for his campaign. "I would like to thank my family, friends and neighbors for their support during the election," Merchain said. "Your time and efforts were very much appreciated, and I will be available in the future to help the town in any way I can." [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, November 4, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.