Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
Cover Story
Sunnyvale City Councilman Tim Risch and Yolanda Brown, chairwoman of the Sunnyvale Planning Commission, see eye to eye on a number of issues, including their future.
Official Romance Love blossomed against the backdrop of city hall By Jana Seshadri It's councilman and commissioner—a match made in heaven—or rather, in Sunnyvale City Hall. On June 29, Tim Risch, Sunnyvale City Council member, and Yolanda Brown, chairwoman of the Sunnyvale Planning Commission, will tie the knot in a grand, black-tie occasion to be witnessed by 250 invited guests in their Sunnyvale church. "We met at city hall on Sept. 15, 1998, before a city council meeting," Brown said. "Tim came and introduced himself to me—he was very shy." Not a very romantic setting for a first meeting, according to many of their friends, but Brown disagrees. "We think it's romantic," she said, laughing. Seven months later they went out on their first date, and in August 2000, Brown and Risch became engaged. Many would argue that it's the couple that promotes romance, not the place, and in this case they would be right. Rumor has it that Risch and Brown were eyeing each other from a distance long before their official meeting. Their common interests as Sunnyvale residents had Risch and Brown attending the same meetings, involved in the same causes and working on issues concerning the city even before they became councilman and commissioner. "We found that we had common interests," Brown said. "We both enjoy public service, and we're proud to be serving this city." Risch, besides serving as the first chairman of the Sunnyvale bicycle advisory committee in 1992, served on the Moffett Field citizens advisory committee and the land use and transportation sub-element committee before he was elected to the city council in 1999. Brown served on other commissions before joining the planning commission in June 1999 and now serves as chairwoman. Her term comes to an end on June 30. Brown—a familiar face at city hall—sits in on most city council meetings and study sessions, sometimes representing the planning commission and at other times, simply watching her fiance do his thingÑmake important decisions concerning the city. Born and raised in New York, Brown attended Ocean County College in New Jersey and worked in Manhattan for several years before moving to the Bay Area—first to Mountain View and then to Sunnyvale in 1998. Risch has lived in Sunnyvale since 1983, after completing his undergraduate degree at UCLA and his graduate degree at UC-Berkeley. "Sunnyvale is a great place to live," Risch said. "We plan to stay here for a while." Brown works for a law firm in Palo Alto, and Risch is a senior project manager for a company in Fremont. However, their busy careers have not kept Risch and Brown from spending time and effort on important city and neighborhood issues in Sunnyvale. Another very important event—probably the most important—that's been on their list for the past several months is their upcoming wedding. "I've known them for a fair number of years," said best man John Howe. "They make such a wonderful couple." Howe was a planning commissioner before he was elected to city council last November with Brown's help, he said. "Yolanda was in charge of my election campaign last year," Howe said. "And I helped Tim significantly with his campaign a few years ago." David Simons, planning commissioner, and John Thomas Mayer, a resident of Lakewood Village, will be two of Risch's groomsmen. Howe's wife, Jodi, who has known Brown for five years, will be one of her bridesmaids. Her brother, Dr. Steven de Stefano, a physician who lives in Southern California, will give the bride away. Brown's 21-year-old daughter, Jennifer, will be maid of honor, and council member Pat Vorreiter will be matron of honor. A member of the same church as Risch and Brown, Vorreiter said she has known them both for many, many years. "Tim and Yolanda are a nicely matched couple," Vorreiter said. "I share in their joy and hope they have a lifetime of happiness together." Most of the Sunnyvale City Council members, some city staff members and elected officials from across Santa Clara County are expected to attend the wedding. Although a wedding coordinator is helping the couple with arrangements, Brown said she has her friends helping her with personal touches that will make the occasion a special one. But guests will just have to wait patiently until June 29 to find out what they are. Several things have been planned for the wedding day that have not been revealed to anyone, Brown said. Guests will be entertained with different kinds of music all the day long. Brown's term as planning commissioner is coming to an end, and she plans to devote some of her energy to just "having a great time" with her new husband. "Right now I'm elected to serve the citizens of Sunnyvale, and that's what I want to do—concentrate on my job," Risch said. Both Risch and Brown plan to get back to their jobs and volunteer activities—as soon as they return from their honeymoon. "We're going away for two weeks—to Europe and the Canary Islands," Risch said. |
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