Mike Wasserman identified himself as a "school coach/administrator," while Barry Bakken said he is a "businessman/foundation director." Wasserman runs a property management and financial asset management company. He also coaches the Fisher Middle School eighth-grade boys basketball team. Bakken is a salesman in the technology field. He was one of the founders and is still involved with Los Gatos High School's New Millennium Foundation.

Wasserman says the "slash" in between "coach" and "administrator" indicates that the two positions are unrelated to each other, and shows that he is not a school administrator.

"I had to choose my words very carefully to make sure they were accurate," Wasserman said. Wasserman says he chose to state the two activities that he spends the majority of his time on, and that is coaching basketball at Fisher and doing administration for his company.

"I'm the eighth-grade basketball coach at Fisher," Wasserman said. The coaching job is a paid position, but he donates his check back to the school.

The Los Gatos­Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation, however, says a paid coaching position does not constitute an occupation. The department is responsible for the after-school sports at Fisher. "Certainly, it's a seasonal, part-time position," said Harley Crock, recreation supervisor. "But it's a stretch, I would say, to say your occupation is a middle school coach."

The salary—ranging from $550 to $650 for a non-credentialed coach—and time commitment of a middle school coach is not comparable with that of a high school coach, Crock said. Each sport lasts just under nine weeks, for approximately two hours a day and four days a week. "They're certainly not making a living," Crock said.

Wasserman says he fits under the dictionary definition of administrator, which is "one appointed to administer an estate"—which is what he does as a financial asset manager.

Some locals, however, say that is misleading.

Dorothea Bamford, former Monte Sereno mayor, says administrator implies an affiliation with a school or an organization. Wasserman's role "is not being an administrator, I think. That's a manager," Bamford said.

"I have heard some people objecting to what was written down by the candidates," said former Los Gatos Mayor Egon Jensen. Since Wasserman is technically an administrator of property, "it is not 100 percent wrong," Jensen said.

Bakken says he wrote down "director," though he is more of a vice president or vice chairman for the New Millennium Foundation; he wanted to find a one-word title for his foundation work. Bakken says he spends about 20 hours each week on foundation activities.

Bamford also takes issue with the label. Bamford says "foundation director" should not fall under the category of "occupation," since it is an unpaid position.

According to the Secretary of State Ballot Designation Regulations, which all the candidates were given by the town clerk when they filed for candidacy, " 'occupation' means the employment in which one regularly engages or follows as the means of making a livelihood."

The regulations go on to say that an avocation—defined as "a casual or occasional activity, diversion or hobby pursued principally for enjoyment and in addition to the candidate's principal profession"—is unacceptable. "Avocations may include ... hobbies, social activities, volunteer work and matters pursued as an amateur," the regulations say.

"I think people ought to be honest, but they can decide to write something to get the voters' attention," Jensen said. "You've got to be honest with the voters—otherwise people won't have confidence in you."

Of the remaining three candidates, Paul Dubois, who has a security consulting/engineering firm, called himself a businessman; Diane McNutt, with a public relations company and teaching position at San José State University, listed herself as a business owner/educator; and incumbent Joe Pirzynski, a teacher and school counselor, identified himself as a town council member.

Pirzynski says he was given the choice to state his current elective title or his job, but not both. Pirzynski chose to go with "town council member."

The five candidates will make an appearance at an Oct. 24 Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting.