Kim Hanrahan was a new Monte Sereno resident when she decided that she wanted to be part of the city government.

Hanrahan was attending Monte Sereno City Council meetings to resolve some of her building issues and was frustrated by the bureaucratic process. "I couldn't help but think, 'Gosh, I wish there was something I could do to make this go by smoother,' " Hanrahan said.

Trained as a psychologist, Hanrahan says she can facilitate and mediate meetings with a balanced perspective. "I see both sides of it. I see the people who've lived here a long time. They don't want to see people build 50,000-square-foot homes," Hanrahan said. She also understands the viewpoint of new residents, like herself, some of whom want to build their dream homes.

As Hanrahan sees it, there are two "camps" in Monte Sereno: the preservationists, who have lived in the city for a long time, want smaller homes and lobby for wildlife conservation, and the newer residents.

Hanrahan says she is supportive of preserving trees and wildlife—an issue that is especially important in her neighborhood, south of Saratoga­Los Gatos Road. Hanrahan says she does not want the city to look like Los Altos Hills, with large, bright pink homes dotting the hillside.

Some of Monte Sereno's tree ordinances are good, Hanrahan says, but others need to be updated. Hanrahan thinks stiffer penalties are needed when a resident cuts down a tree unlawfully. Currently, city ordinances require some combination of replacement fees, along with infraction fines starting from $100. Hanrahan says the cost should be increased to $1,000 "so people will think twice before chopping down trees."

Trees are also related to fire safety, which is another issue that concerns Hanrahan. If elected to city council, Hanrahan hopes to investigate different ways to increase fire safety, especially in Monte Sereno's hillsides. One safety measure is to encourage people to keep their trees trimmed along the roadways.

Hanrahan is by no means a staunch preservationist, however. She supports building affordable housing in cities that have the land—but doesn't see how it's possible in Monte Sereno. There's a lack of land and lack of appropriate zoning for high-density housing developments. "It's not that I don't think it's right, but what are they going to do? Rent out guesthouses?" Hanrahan said.

As a council member, Hanrahan will delve deeper into affordable housing only if residents want the council to do so. But with current conditions, Hanrahan says, she has few comments about the issue.

Now that her 2¹/2-year-old daughter Isabelle is in preschool, Hanrahan says she has the time and the energy to join regional boards and committees, which is a requirement for all council members.

Hanrahan also wants to be available for the citizens of Monte Sereno. "I really want everyone in the city to perceive me as approachable," Hanrahan said. "My goal has always been to physically meet as many people in Monte Sereno as possible." She would welcome phone calls from residents who want to bring up and discuss important issues. "To me, that's what we're there for," Hanrahan said.

A Monte Sereno resident for 2¹/2 years, Hanrahan and her husband, Alain Defrenne, most recently lived in Saratoga. They decided to move to Monte Sereno because they "loved the area" and "wanted a really good school district." The couple would always drive through the city on their way to different local wine-tasting venues and say, "Oh, how beautiful."

Soon after Defrenne and Hanrahan moved into their new house, many of their neighbors stopped by to say hello and drop off neighborhood contact information. "The sense of community in our neighborhood—it's like something we've never had before," Hanrahan said. "Here, everyone says hi."

Hanrahan hopes to be the voice of the area south of Saratoga­Los Gatos Road, which is a region that has been underrepresented on the council and in Monte Sereno. Going from neighborhood to neighborhood, Hanrahan says she sees that the different pockets in the city have different issues.

Those concerns can be balanced by a good city council. "There doesn't have to be one right way, or one right answer," Hanrahan said.

Kim Hanrahan

Age: 43

Occupation: Stay-at-home mother

Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology from San Jose State University; master's degree in psychology from John F. Kennedy University in Campbell

Community Involvement: Helps out at Next Generation preschool in Saratoga

Family: Husband Alain Defrenne, young daughter