New Mayor: Steve Blanton

Changing of the guard- Blanton becomes mayor

By Nathan R. Huff

There's been a changing of the guard in Los Gatos. Third-term Councilman Steve Blanton replaced Jan Hutchins as mayor and rookie Councilman Joe Pirzynski was elected vice-mayor at the Nov. 22 Town Council meeting.

Blanton took over the symbolic center seat, thanked former mayor Hutchins and gave a short speech, quoting from one of history's lesser-known U.S. presidents, Calvin Coolidge. He ended his short monologue with the Coolidge quote, "Be brief, above all things, be brief."

Elected in 1990, Blanton was scheduled to become mayor--the council follows an ordered rotation--in 1995. However, the council at that time was supporting a utility-users tax measure that Blanton alone opposed. Council members decided mayoral support of the tax was more important than the rotation, and Blanton was passed over. "Water under the bridge," Blanton says.

Blanton said in an interview that he looks forward to the challenges of the coming year. After almost a decade on the council, Blanton has been able to get a good idea about mayoral duties.

Although Blanton said he wanted to maintain the council's reputation as "good listeners," he also said he'd be an efficient meeting leader. In his first meeting as mayor, the council adjourned relatively early, at 9:30 p.m. "One thing past experience has taught me is efficient use of time," Blanton said.


Vice-mayor: Joe Pirzynski




Blanton will need to exercise time-management skills since he plans to continue his job with the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, maintain his family life and run for the state Assembly's 24th District seat while being mayor.

Blanton said his general goals as mayor include continuing infrastructure improvements and looking at the possibility of new services, like a library and senior center. He also mentioned continuing the fight to protect the small town character of Los Gatos in the General Plan revision process, while respecting individual property rights.

Newly elected vice-mayor Joe Pirzynski thanked the council and expressed his intention to "learn a lot" over the next year.

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