By Scott Wong

Breene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky said they have a mandate from the citizens of Los Altos Hills — to change the tune of town politics.

The two techies-turned-politicians were sworn in as the newest members of the Los Altos Hills City Council Thursday and hope to carry the momentum from their overwhelming election victory last month to bring about change on council.

But that will first mean attempting to reconcile the two town factions that have fought a “petty” political war over the issues of property owners’ rights and land preservation.

“I want to move the petty squabbling aside and focus on immediate concerns,” Warshawsky said.

Occurrences of politically motivated crime, such as bomb threats, cat-nappings, and rocks thrown through town officials’ windows, have been few and far between, according to Warshawsky.

“We definitely have an enthusiastic group of residents in town, and sometimes we do things that aren’t the classiest,” he said. “Unfortunately, these extreme cases get a lot of press.”

With a balanced point of view, Kerr said he’ll bring more people into the political process who “represent neither extreme.”

As the two councilmen-elect attempt a balancing act on the political high wire, they face the challenge of lending listening ears to all parties while staying true to campaign promises and loyal supporters on the issues.

Open space initiative

Kerr and Warshawsky ran for council on the platform of open space preservation, pledging their vote for the adoption of the citizens’ ballot initiative. The initiative is sponsored by LAH Open Space, which submitted the requisite number of signatures to Town Hall last week.

“I am going to be part of trying to adopt the initiative without the need for a special election,” Warshawsky said.

Town hall

On Thursday, Kerr and Warshawsky proposed that a committee, consisting of three council members and seven residents, be created to explore design and cost options for the construction of a new town hall. Council passed the motion unanimously.

Both Warshawsky and Kerr, who will serve on the committee with Councilman Mike O’Malley, said that a design revamp is necessary.

“It’s a general consensus among citizens and among a majority of council members that the current town hall design will have to change in order to reflect the wishes of the town,” Kerr said.

Pathways plan repeal

Kerr called Citizens for the Preservation of Los Altos Hills’ referendum, which would repeal the Master Path Plan approved by the lame-duck council last month, an “interesting parliamentary technique” and said he would vote to adopt the repeal if and when it is certified by the county.

“It has been conceived by very devoted pathways advocates, and it does provide an opportunity to take a look at this issue without having to go back to square one,” he said.

Although he has not fully evaluated the referendum, Warshawsky said he’s always advocated that a “balance” be reached between the pathways system and private property rights.

“I believe that is my compass for making decisions regarding the pathways,” he said. “I believe it makes sense to make this map as accurate as possible.”