Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Marion Cosgrove is seeking a third term as town clerk.

Clerk, treasurer run for re-election

By Clarence Cromwell

The incumbent town treasurer and town clerk may coast into re-election unchallenged next November, but at least four Los Gatans--including one incumbent--have applied to duke it out for two vacant Town Council seats.

Any Los Gatos resident registered to vote can make a bid for the clerk, treasurer or council positions by filing papers before Aug. 9.

The clerk tends to town archives, records actions of the Town Council, acts as chief election officer, and hands over public documents to anyone requesting them, among other duties. The job pays $25,000 a year.

Town Clerk Marian Cosgrove said she will run for a third four-year term in November.

Cosgrove was a substitute teacher for Santa Clara County school districts when she first decided to run for town clerk 12 years ago. Before campaigning, she completed a master's degree in public administration at San Jose State University in 1985. Then she ran for the post and won in 1988.

Although the town treasurer doesn't handle budgetary decisions, Treasurer Geoffrey Lamb holds broad fiduciary responsibility for municipal funds.

The treasurer receives, deposits and invests money on behalf of the town of Los Gatos. The treasurer earns $10,000 a year.

Lamb, treasurer since 1992, is a five-year resident of Los Gatos. He's also a certified public accountant with offices in Campbell's Pruneyard Towers. He holds a bachelor of science and commerce degree in finance from San Jose State University; a master of business administration from Santa Clara University; and a master of science in taxation from Golden Gate University.

No matter how those races shape up, the four-person council race promises a more lively contest.

Incumbent Linda Lubeck, former mayor Egon Jensen, Jan Hutchins and Frank Jones will vie for only two seats up for grabs next fall. Councilmember and former mayor Patrick O'Laughlin said he will not run because of health problems.

If O'Laughlin does not file by Aug. 9, anyone interested in running for council will have until Aug. 14 to file papers to do so.