Politics & Government

Los Gatos Planner Resigns to Take State Post

Town looking for member to serve on the Los Gatos Planning Commission.

Jane Ogle, the newest member of the Los Gatos Planning Commission, has resigned effective the end of July due to her recent appointment by Gov. Jerry Brown as deputy director of Health Care Delivery Systems of the California Department of Health Care Services.

Ogle, 65, explained when she interviewed for the job on the seven-member commission last year and accepted in December of 2010, it was before she considered the prestigious appointment in mid April.

She officially began her duties May 9.

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The longtime health care executive said soon after she started the job in Sacramento she told Los Gatos Mayor Joe Pirzynski that she needed to resign.

"I never would have accepted [to serve on the commission] if I had known this was going to happen," Ogle said, who was previously employed as COO of the Santa Clara Family Health Plan, the Medi-Cal managed care system in Santa Clara County. "It all happened sort of quickly."

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In her current post, she oversees the state's Managed Medi-Cal system, she said. "It's an enormous job and that's why I will have to step down. I love it. It's absolutely fabulous, however, it became clear very quickly that I can't do this job and continue to serve on the Planning Commission."

Ogle will continue to serve on the commission until the end of July to give the Los Gatos Town Council time to find a replacement.

"It's an opportunity to do planning and policy on a state level," she said. "It's something that I've always wanted to do and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity."

Ogle announced her impending resignation at the June 8 Planning Commission meeting.

She's currently renting an apartment in Sacramento where she lives Monday through Friday and returns to Los Gatos on Friday evenings, driving to the State Capitol again Monday mornings, "Unless there's a Planning Commission meeting."

Asked if she's considering moving to Sacramento, Ogle quipped: "I'm going to stay rooted in Los Gatos. My husband still lives there and I like seeing him."

A health care executive for more than 30 years, Ogle replaced Philip Micciche on the commission. She's been serving on the body since Jan. 1.

Ogle has lived in Los Gatos since 1997, has served on the Los Gatos General Plan Commission and General Plan Advisory Committee for several years and was a member of the initial Leadership Los Gatos class.

The commission makes recommendations to the Town Council on land-use issues, zoning administration and other land regulatory controls.

Other members of the commission include chairwoman Marico Sayoc, vice chairwoman Marcia Jensen and commissioners Charles Erekson, Thomas O'Donnell and Joanne Talesfore.


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