The mayoral post rotates among the city's elected council members each year. Of the five members on the city council, Councilman Nick Streit has served as mayor for two years and Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith has served one year. Councilwoman Aileen Kao, the newest member of the council, has not served as mayor. Neither has Vice Mayor Norman Kline, who is widely expected to succeed King as mayor.

King said one of the highlights of her year as mayor was seeing positive changes in Saratoga's downtown Village. Efforts to improve the aesthetics of the Village and seeing more businesses moving in were notable improvements, she said.

"I think the council and the planning department have gotten along very well over the last year," King said. "The planning department is really starting to get organized under John Livingstone. I think it was a really good move to promote John to head the department."

King said the city worked its way through a lot of tough issues over the last year--issues that included preparing the North Campus for sale, construction of the De Anza Trail, and the development of Kevin Moran Park.

"There are neighborhood issues that sadden me--when neighbors don't get along with neighbors," she said. "I probably wouldn't have been aware of those issues if I hadn't been mayor."

She said she plans to continue to stay active in city affairs, particularly with Village revitalization and with the schools ad hoc committee.

For King, stepping down means she will now have more time with her five children--and her husband plans to cheer her up by taking her to Maui for five days the weekend after she relinquishes the mayor's seat.

"I think it's been a really exciting year," she said. "It's been a council of real respect for each other and for the community. One thing I've really pushed is having respect for each other and listening to each other. I think whoever is mayor will continue that tradition."

Kline said he expects 2006, the 50th anniversary of the city of Saratoga, to be a year of coming together, honoring the past and preparing for the future.

"This year we had a lot more conflict than we wanted, I believe," he said. "Next year, hopefully we can find common ground and come together.

"I expect us to come together for the city's anniversary as a community. I think there will be a lot more positive things to talk about."

Kline said juggling a career and volunteering on the city council is a lot of work, but that he enjoys making a difference in the community. "It's a great city," he said of Saratoga. "It really is a terrific town."