On June 13, this editor presented Quintana with the award after selecting her for the honor in observance of Sunshine Week 2012 March 11-17.
"I was very touched by this award because the work of sunshine makers if often unrecognized. Transparency in government is crucial to a healthy democracy," Quintana said upon receiving her accolade during Los Gatos Patch's Coffee with the Editor session at last week.
Quintana is best known these days
Quintana worked her entire professional career as an urban planner for the City of San Jose. After retiring, she applied and served on the Los Gatos Redevelopment Advisory Committee, the General Plan Committee and was appointed in 1999 to the Planning Commission, where she labored for eight years.
During that time, she says, she was often known for, and "often not appreciated for," asking applicants and staff members hard questions to understand how projects fit into the General Plan and town policies.
