Politics & Government
Margaret Smith Joins Los Gatos Planning Commission
Former owner of Domus garnered four out of five votes Monday night.
The Los Gatos Planning Commission now has a new member in Margaret Smith, who beat out eight other applicants before Monday night's Town Council meeting.
She received votes from four of the Town Council's five members, with Los Gatos Councilman Steve Leonardis supporting applicant Robert Rennie.
“She's a very well-rounded person who is extremely aware of the way the town should work, the way the town continues to evolve. I think she is a very balanced voice in there. I definitely think Margaret rose to the occasion,” said Los Gatos Mayor Joe Pirzynski.
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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.
She may be new to the Planning Commission, but she has had roots in Los Gatos for years. Pirzynski says she was instrumental in the establishment of Leadership Los Gatos, a program run by the town and the to keep members of the community involved by giving them opportunities to serve.
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In 1996, she was elected president of the National Association of Women Business Owners. During her tenure, she worked with Wells Fargo to secure $1 billion dollars in loans for female business owners.
Later that same year, she moved from lobbying for female entrepreneurs to becoming one herself. Smith purchased Domus, a kitchen and home appliance retailer, and has owned it since then. The store in Los Gatos was the flagship store before it was this past April by a rent increase. There are still Domus stores in Willow Glen and a newly-opened one in Pleasanton.
The other applicants considered for the commission vacancy were Jeffrey Dean, Judy Glickman, Matthew Hudes, Todd Jarvis, Peter Kleis and Paul Tersini.
