By Eliza Ridgeway
 Vidovich |
John Vidovich is the only challenger to file for the Los Altos Hills City Council race this November. He will face incumbents Dean Warshawsky and Breene Kerr in competition for two seats on the five-member council.
Councilmen Craig Jones, Mike O’Malley and Jean Mordo are halfway through their four-year terms.
Vidovich, a prominent developer who has lived in town about five years since completing his home in the Quarry Hills subdivision, said that his top three town issues are improved sewer capacity, an assessment of the town’s longterm access to a water supply and refined building regulations.
“I want to look at (the regulations) in the context of: What really is the goal of the town - why is it so difficult to do things in the town?” he said. “That seems to be a continuous theme not just in this town but in every community that has building.”
Vidovich experienced first-hand the long, difficult process of building housing when his project at the former Neary Quarry took years to complete.
Warshawsky and Kerr campaigned in 2002 on a slate in favor of open space preservation and pathways. Kerr has stood out for his interest in environmental issues, particularly green energy, while Warshawsky has emphasized Los Altos Hills infrastructure, recently focusing on improving cell phone coverage and utilities undergrounding.
The school redistricting effort and renovations of Westwind Barn will be major issues facing the council in the upcoming year. Kerr and Warshawsky have both been leaders in the effort to bring
redistricting to a townwide vote. Vidovich spoke highly of Kerr’s negotiating work on the schools issue, but might bring a different perspective to the council, as he is supporting Los Altos School District’s upcoming parcel tax renewal - a bête noire of charter school and redistricting supporters.
“It’s good to have balance on the council. Everybody has different opinions about doing everything,” he said. “My style is to make friends with everybody and try to work with people.”
