"An immigrant becoming a mayor—it can only happen here in America," said Miller, who is now a naturalized citizen.

Although she left when she was a teenager, she speaks fondly of the small island and reminisces about the good times she had with her school friends. Miller says she has maintained contact with her classmates and has gone back to visit with them. She said she had a wonderful time hosting her close school friend Janet Raynor and her husband when they flew over to spend their 25th anniversary with her.

Miller laughed when Raynor called to congratulate her and addressed her as "Your worship," like the mayor is addressed on the Isle of Wight.

Miller has lived in Sunnyvale since 1958, when her family left Georgia. She says the city has changed since she bought her town home in 1974, when the area was filled with apricot orchards.

Mementos and souvenirs from the past fill her home. She points proudly to a portrait of her son, her "pride and joy," Jason, taken when he was 7 years old. In addition to her son's cat, Cruiser, she takes care of her own cat, Juno. She picked up the limping Cruiser gently and placed him on the couch as she talked about her busy daily schedule.

On a wall at the entrance hang framed pictures of Julia with famous politicians: Bill and Hillary Clinton, Norman Mineta, whom she worked for in Washington, D.C., California Gov. Gray Davis and Rudy Guliani, former mayor of New York.

Julia says she has witnessed all the changes that have transformed Sunnyvale from an agricultural town into an important city in the heart of Silicon Valley.

"I'm honored to be mayor of this fine city," Miller says. "I'm looking forward to the challenges."

Jason Miller, 23, says he has seen his mother work very hard, both at home and for the city, and is proud of her accomplishments. Although it's hard to imagine, the phone bill is going to be higher than it already is, he says.

"I'm pretty excited about her becoming mayor," Jason says. "She really deserves it."

After working at Lockheed Martin for 34 years, Julia took early retirement to pursue her other interests. Although politics was not on her agenda at that time, she has always been passionate about neighborhoods and people, she says.

Julia says she ran for the Sunnyvale City Council in 1997 at a good friend and neighbor's insistence and won.

"No one expected me to win," Miller adds.

However, it has not been all smooth sailing for Miller as a council member. Friction among council members and between the council and city staff has been obvious at meetings when issues are discussed and voted on.

On Nov. 19, when the council changed leadership and seats, Julia Miller was elected mayor of Sunnyvale with the expected four-vote majority. Council members Fred Fowler, Tim Risch and John Howe, in addition to Miller, voted for her, while three council members—Pat Vorreiter, Jack Walker and Manny Valerio—abstained.

"It's been a challenge to get my ideas and issues through," Miller says. "If I could wave my magic wand, I'd like to be mayor of a different council."

Vorreiter says she has had differences with Miller in the past about the relationship between council members and Sunnyvale city staff. There are two important issues that council members have to keep in mind, Vorreiter says.

"Our relationship with our city staff and the role of council members as policy makers are very important to me," she says.

Her differences with Miller aside, Vorreiter says she wishes the new mayor a successful year and hopes that the council can maintain a good working relationship.

Miller says she's ready for the challenge of dealing with several important issues in the upcoming year.

The most enjoyable aspect of her stint as vice mayor was being able to make a difference in people's lives and remove the irritants, she says. During her first term as council member, Miller worked on the "monster home" issue on Wright Avenue and led the effort to reduce noise reduction from leaf blowers. In addition, Miller says she was instrumental in establishing an air-monitoring station in Sunnyvale, as well as changing the start time for city council meetings, from 8 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings.

"I'm very proud of the Bay Trail project," Miller says. "That was my first campaign commitment, and I saw it through."

The Sunnyvale portion of the 400-mile trail has been completed and is in use.

In addition, Miller says she is proud to represent Sunnyvale in the Bay Area Air Quality District, the San Francisco Bay Trail Board, the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Bay Area Economic Forum.

"I'd like to get people more involved with local government and find a way to keep them connected," she says.

However, the downtown situation is a major concern right now and the city should soon settle on a plan, she says. Miller does not approve of the current downtown design plan and was the only council member that voted against it in April.

Julia's parents, John and Ivy Fox, her son, Jason, and her sister Angela and her family were all present when California State Sen. Liz Figueroa swore Julia in as mayor of Sunnyvale on
Nov. 19.

Her election speech detailed her personal vision for Sunnyvale. She referred to her agenda as "the five Cs": Citizenship, Caring, Commerce, Collaboration and Community.

"I want to see Sunnyvale thrive," Julia says. "I want to showcase and celebrate our wonderful city."