Assemblymember Paul Fong has selected Los Gatos Councilwoman Diane McNutt as “Woman of the Year” for California Assembly District 28.
McNutt has been serving on the Los Gatos Town Council since 2002.
On Friday morning, Fong made a surprise visit to Los Gatos Town Hall to notify her that she has been selected for the recognition in honor of Women’s History Month.
“Dianne is a role model of civic engagement. I celebrate her tireless work on behalf of the Town of Los Gatos and nonprofits, and her accomplishments in business,” said Fong.
McNutt was elected to the Council in 2002, re-elected in 2006 and 2010, and served as mayor in 2006 and 2010.
She is on the Santa Clara County Emergency Preparedness Council, the Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission, the Board of Directors of The Housing Trust of Silicon Valley, and the Board of Directors of Good Karma Bikes.
She also serves on the Small Cities Council of the National League of Cities.
For 10 years she served as a director for the West Valley Sanitation District.
She was founder and chair of the July 4th Celebration Committee for the Town of Los Gatos, the Los Gatos Film Festival, and Leadership Los Gatos.
Past activities have included the board of directors of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Guadalupe River Park, the Nonprofit Development Center (now Compasspoint), the San Jose Children's Health Council, and Museum Commissioner in the Town of Los Gatos.
She is a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose.
Originally trained as a journalist and writer, McNutt entered the public relations field after working as a daily newspaper reporter and associate editor of a national music magazine.
She has created regional and national public relations campaigns for a wide variety of manufacturing and service businesses, public sector agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
She launched her own firm in 1982. For the past several years, she has focused her attention on helping nonprofit organizations and government agencies with strategic communications, and leading community relations and outreach programs for a variety of businesses and developers.
McNutt will received a certificate of recognition from the Legislature and will attend a recognition luncheon at noon Friday, March 15 at Pacific Catch restaurant in Campbell.
