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Photograph by George Sakkestad

Saratoga resident Yan Zhao took her place on the Saratoga Planning Commission in April, along with Joyce Hlava. Zhao is new to politics in the city, but Hlava is a veteran, having served on the city council and as mayor.

Zhao a newcomer on the local political scene

She joins Hlava as new planning commissioner

By Jason Sweeney

Yan Zhao is a new face on the Saratoga Planning Commission. A rookie to Saratoga politics, Zhao has years of experience working for high-tech firms in Silicon Valley.

"I'm pretty analytical," she said. In fact, to better serve as a planning commissioner, she took an online real estate course and passed the California Real Estate Exam.

Zhao and Joyce Hlava took over for ex-commissioners Mike Uhl and Michael Schallop at the commission's April 26 meeting. Schallop and Uhl had come to the end of their terms. Hlava, a veteran of city politics, served on the city council in the 1980s and as mayor from 1986 to 1987.

The Saratoga City Council appointed both Zhao and Hlava to the planning commission after they applied and were interviewed. Planning commissioners are unpaid volunteers who advise the council on land-use matters. The seven planning commissioners meet twice a month in public meetings to vote on issues concerning the city's General Plan, specific plans, zoning and subdivisions. They also conduct site visits and spend a lot of time doing homework on issues that affect the city.

"I've always been fascinated by different types of designs and houses," Zhao said. She said her interest in architecture and her desire to see Saratoga retain its rural feel were two reasons behind her desire to be a planning commissioner.

Zhao was born in Xian, the capital city of Shaanxi province in central China, famous for the thousands of terracotta warriors and horses that were buried there circa 200 B.C. by China's first emperor. Zhao moved from China to Santa Monica with her family in 1985. She received her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and computer science from UC-Berkeley. She earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from Santa Clara University and then started her career as a design engineer at National Semiconductor. She worked as an engineer at other Silicon Valley companies before landing her current job with Linear Technology. She has lived in Saratoga for the last eight years with her husband and three children.

She said she has always been active in the community, helping out at Saratoga Elementary School where two of her children are students. She is also a board member for the Silicon Valley Science and Technology Association. "When I learned there was an opportunity to serve on the planning commission, I applied," she said.

While on the commission, she hopes to see economic revitalization in the Village and see the Village capitalize on its unique heritage.

Zhao and Hlava have joined Manny Cappello, Jill Hunter, Robert Kundtz, Linda Rodgers and Susie Nagpal on the commission.

With two commission meetings now under her belt, how does Zhao like deciding on issues that affect her neighbors? "I'm learning my way," she said.