Los Gatos Weekly-Times

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Photograph by George Sakkestad

Dennis Byron (left) listens to Mike Wasserman at the Los Gatos Town Council candidate forum. Newcomers Byron and Carlos Novillo are challenging incumbents Wasserman, Diane McNutt and Joe Pirzynski for three open seats on the town council.

Candidates square off in town council forum

By Jason Sweeney

Candidates answered questions from the public on issues ranging from what to do about the local business climate to what makes Los Gatos a special place to live at the Los Gatos Town Council Candidates' Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters Oct. 3 in council chambers.

Incumbents Diane McNutt, Joe Pirzynski and Mike Wasserman and newcomers Carlos Novillo and Dennis Byron make up the field; three seats on the council are open.

The candidates drew straws to determine the order of opening statements. Two minutes were given for introductions, one minute to answer each question, and one minute for a wrap-up. Attendees wrote their questions on index cards and moderator Margaret Bard then presented the questions to the candidates.

In opening statements, McNutt, Pirzynski and Wasserman listed their achievements as council members and their service to the community.

Byron, a Realtor, said he has done business in Los Gatos for more than 35 years and loves the town, but has concerns. He said working with the planning department is cumbersome, and the process needs to be streamlined. Byron said business permits were granted at random; there is no skateboard park in town and no soccer field.

Novillo, who as a resident has tangled with the town council and the town staff over a land use issue, displayed a sign on the dais that read, "I love my city. But I'm afraid of the city government." In his opening statement, he said, "I have concluded that fair treatment is given only to those with large wallets and chummy relationships with town officials." Novillo said citizens should not be persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of speech and should be treated with respect and civility.

Questioned on whether they support a new library in town, Novillo said he had been thrown out of the council chambers at a previous council meeting. "To tell you the truth, I don't know much about what's going on in town," he said.

McNutt, Pirzynski, Wasserman and Byron were all in favor of a new library. Wasserman said a new library is part of a master plan for the civic center. How the library is built and funded would be issues facing the community over the next term, he said.

The candidates were asked about their experience and how it had prepared them for the town council. Byron said his real estate his experience has given him "infinite knowledge" when it comes to development and land-use issues.

"I don't have any experience at all, but I have common sense," Novillo said.

Pirzynski, the longest-serving council member, said, "We have a wonderful community, but it doesn't happen accidentally.

"It is not an easy job, but experience is a key to making this job work," he added.

Wasserman said he has 5,000 hours of experience as mayor, vice mayor and as a councilman. He said his experience over the last four years has prepared him for the next four years.

McNutt said her familiarity with local government started before she was elected to the town council. She had covered local government as a young reporter and had worked closely with city governments as a volunteer. Experience is important, she said. "This is not something you should do as a lark, or something you should take lightly," she said.

Asked about empty storefronts in town, Byron said the town needed to make it easier for new businesses to come to town, not hinder them. Wasserman, McNutt and Pirzynski disagreed that the business climate in town was bad. The three incumbents called the business climate in Los Gatos vibrant and said business closures were isolated and not part of a trend.

The candidates all agreed that Los Gatos should retain its small town feel.

"My vision for this town is to keep it a town," Wasserman said. Novillo said he remembered when Los Gatos was a town with a lot of hippies and working class people, but that those people were being forced out. "As a rich town, we should do something for these people."

McNutt said when she talks to her counterparts in other towns, they tell her that Los Gatos is a place they admire.

"This is a magical place," Pirzynski said.

"This town should maintain its integrity," Byron said.

State assembly candidate Virginia Chang Kiraly watched the town council forum prior to her own debate with Assemblyman Ira Ruskin. "It was pretty cordial," Kiraly said of the town council forum. "If you've got cordiality, it makes it easier to work together to make Los Gatos great."

Hank Lawrence, from Menlo Park, who was in the council chambers to support Kiraly, watched the town council forum. He said the candidates had almost convinced him to move Los Gatos. "There is no question Los Gatos is easily the best place to live in Santa Clara County," he said.