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Steve Blanton, a member of the Los Gatos Town Council, is one of only 35 community leaders chosen to attend the three-week Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University. Blanton serves as the government affairs director for the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors.
Photograph courtesy of Jean Newton
Politico attends Harvard housing program
By Jean Newton
Los Gatos Town Council member and former Mayor Steve Blanton is off to Harvard University in June to attend the school's three-week Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government with a full scholarship for tuition from the Fannie Mae Foundation.
Selected as one of only 35 community leaders chosen this year from across the United States to attend the John F. Kennedy School of Government as a Fannie Mae Foundation Fellow, Blanton received an $8,900 fellowship for the prestigious program. The intensive course is designed to develop leadership skills, stimulate interest in new management ideas and techniques and develop relationships among public-sector colleagues.
"This is a tremendous honor for Steve and we are very proud of his selection for this very distinguished program," said Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Executive Vice President Penny Pompei.
Blanton, a former teacher who serves as government affairs director for Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, described the honor as a policy maker's dream. "This is an exceptional program," said Blanton. "I'll be able to examine the political process in depth and look at different ways of developing and implementing policy. I'm really excited about the opportunities it presents."
Since its inception in 1996, the Fannie Mae Foundation Fellowship Program--in partnership with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University--sponsors up to 35 fellowships annually for officials and managers for the special sessions, which are offered in February, June and July.
The program is intended to enhance the management and decision-making skills of senior public and nonprofit officials committed to improving affordable housing opportunities in the Unites States. The fellowship program also engages accomplished leaders experienced in managing housing and related community issues and programs with a mission to enable current and future public servants to develop the skills required to meet the real-world challenges of leadership, governance, policymaking, politics, and organizational effectiveness.
In addition, the program provides an opportunity to develop new conceptual frameworks for addressing policy issues; explores the interrelationship between citizens and government; examines the ethical and professional responsibilities of leadership; and fosters the exchange of ideas with experienced faculty and participants from diverse backgrounds. Harvard University selects participants representing all areas of public-sector management including public works, health, public safety, housing, budget and administration.
"The Fannie Mae Foundation Fellowship program is a natural extension of our work with those on the front line of housing and community development," said Stacey H. Davis, president and CEO of the Fannie Mae Foundation and member of the board of directors of the Policy Advisory Board of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. "Our aim is to give the Fannie Mae Foundation Fellows the opportunity to expand their knowledge and effectiveness so they can serve as resources to the next generation of leaders in the community development field."
With more than 10 years experience in policy making as a member of the Los Gatos Town Council, Blanton has been an advocate for affordable housing since the early 1990s. He said he has been supportive of these projects throughout the time he served on the council, including one of the town's first affordable housing projects on Pollard Road. As a member of the board of directors for the Housing Trust Fund, a public-private partnership that raises funds to promote affordable housing, Blanton helps develop and advocate for more affordable housing options.
In his job as Government Affairs Director for Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, Blanton monitors 15 different city governments in two counties as well as the state and federal government for legislation that impacts homeowners and Realtors. In his role as political watchdog, Blanton calls attention to regulations and legislation affecting homeowners, so Realtor members can be aware and inform their clients.
The Harvard program, taught by regular Kennedy School faculty, uses the case study method to help officials assess the tasks they face in managing today's results-driven government agencies and to challenge assumptions and broaden perspectives. Participants will be actively engaged in both the classroom and in small discussion groups. Blanton will also attend special sessions dealing with housing issues, trends, policies, and successful public/private partnership housing models.
According to the Fannie Mae Foundation, fellows at the Kennedy School will be uniquely positioned to establish relationships with similar individuals across the country and return to their organizations with a keener awareness of housing problems and policy options. The hope is that they will acquire a broader perspective on their roles and a renewed pride in the value of public service. The Fannie Mae Foundation creates affordable homeownership and housing opportunities through innovative partnerships and initiatives that build healthy vibrant communities across the United States.
Blanton said he hopes to bring back experiences from other community leaders that will be of benefit to the town of Los Gatos. "I expect I will be spending my days reviewing case studies from across the United States that focus on policy analysis, public management, and the art of leadership. I'm truly excited to be part of this process."
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