Los Gatos Weekly-Times Editorials Monte Sereno council should bury hatchet It's a bit early for New Year's resolutions, but we can't help hoping the members of the Monte Sereno City Council are resolving to bury the hatchet and begin treating each other with respect. By actively campaigning against incumbents Suzanne Jackson and Jack Lucas, Joel Gambord and Gordon Knight were clearly hoping to change the complexion of the council--to put their team on the winning side. And they were pretty heavy-handed. To top it off, they endorsed three candidates who did not win. It was a calculated risk. And they lost. Now--as for the past two years--there are two camps. Gambord and Knight are clearly in one; Lucas and Jackson are in the other. It seems likely, the way the cards are stacked, that neither Gambord or Knight will be given an opportunity to serve as mayor during the remainder of their current terms. We think that's unfortunate, especially for a position that traditionally has been filled by the simple act of rotation. It's also understandable, given the history they shared during the past two years, that Lucas and Jackson would not endorse Gambord or Knight for mayor. The newest member of the council, Barbara Nesbet, seems to be trying to stay above the fray, although when it came time to vote for the new mayor and vice-mayor, she cast her lot with the Lucas-Jackson camp. Her reluctance to discuss her vote with the Los Gatos Weekly-Times may simply reflect her effort not to get dragged into the battle. And we certainly understand. On the other hand, we find it disturbing when elected officials won't discuss why they vote the way they do. They ought to be willing to stand behind their decisions. If the atmosphere is such that an elected official feels uncomfortable explaining a decision, that's a problem. Monte Sereno does not need two more years of bickering, back-stabbing and character assassination. For the good of the community, the five councilmembers in Monte Sereno need to find a way to bury the hatchet. It is possible to disagree and still remain civil. A Julia Morgan? The Los Gatos Museum Association's effort to save an old house that may or may not have been designed by Julia Morgan, is certainly a noble effort. And we wouldn't discourage anyone with such lofty goals. On the other hand, the best way to rally some enthusiasm is to determine if, in fact, the building is actually the handiwork of the popular architect. The task won't be easy, especially since Morgan destroyed so many records of her work. Before the LGMA can expect support, the organization needs to make a strong case for the historic value of the house, regardless of who designed it. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, December 9, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.