Steven Leonardis, Marcia Jensen Appointed Los Gatos Mayor, Vice Mayor

Steven Leonardis and Marcia Jensen became Los Gatos' mayor and vice mayor Monday evening after being nominated to the posts by their colleagues.

Outgoing Mayor Barbara Spector nominated Leonardis and then he nominated Jensen for the second-in-command job.

The nominations were unanimously supported by the five-member Council.

"Being a part of our Town Council, tasked with maintaining, preserving and enhancing this town is a great honor and an awesome responsibility," Leonardis said. "I look forward to serving with Council and staff this coming year."

Leonardis said he's often asked why he ran for office and became involved in politics, and his short answer, he explained is: "I love Los Gatos and I see myself not as a politician, but a volunteer who wants to help make Los Gatos a wonderful place to live."

Leonardis said his family moved to Los Gatos in the '80s when Joanne Benjamin served as mayor. His parents, he said, were after the great amenities the town is known for: natural beauty, rich history, ideal climate, Silicon Valley jobs, hillside setting, the architecture, parks, shopping, schools and the trails, just to name a few.

"[It's] a gem of a town we always look forward to coming home to after vacation," he said.

When he started raising his own family, Leonardis said he realized that what truly makes Los Gatos special is its strong sense of community, its businesses and owners, teachers, principals, service clubs, faith organizations, sports league, the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, CASA, KCAT, Teen Force, etc.

But he said he was inspired by volunteers who run the Los Gatos Children's Holiday Parade, the Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon, the summer concerts, the Fiesta de Artes, and other community events that distinguish the town from others in Silicon Valley.

Leonardis told the standing-room only crowd packed inside Council Chambers that he was humbled by their presence and their service to the community.

"You are the reason that I want to serve," he said. "I'm proud to have been chosen as your mayor for the coming year."

In his first official act as mayor, Leonardis then nominated Jensen to be vice mayor. Jensen has served Los Gatos for more than two decades, 16 years on the Los Gatos Planning Commission.

"We're fortunate to have her on the Council," he said.

Loud applause followed the appointments that will last for one calendar year.

Jensen thanked Leonardis for placing his confidence in her and said she looked forward to a productive year "playing second fiddle ... and short speeches."

The pair was then sworn into their positions by Los Gatos resident and current Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman.

Wasserman praised Leonardis for having energy and passion for the job and as a hard-working Kiwanian, businessman and youth sports coach.

Jensen, he said, was a "tremendous woman, intelligent, prepared, thoughtful."

"You have tremendous leadership here in Los Gatos," Wasserman noted. "Los Gatos truly is a gem. It's a blessing to live in this town."

Among those in the audience were longtime community advocates such as Larry Arzie and Diana Pleasant who taught at Los Gatos High School for 40 years.

"I'm thrilled at the competency and the leadership we have in this town," Pleasant said.

Arzie said he was "elated" with the selection of mayor and vice mayor.

Los Gatos Councilman Joe Pirzynski said he was pleased with the "moving of the torch" and that the community continues to thrive under the Council's leadership.

"It's not without controversy," he said, "But it's the dynamic of different thoughts that work together to make the best possible outcome."

Asked what difficult issues the Council would have to tackle in 2014, Pirzynski said the town's entertainment policy will have to be adopted and the body will have to look at the planned-development process.

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