It’s been my privilege

For the last 12 months, I have been fortunate to serve the city of Los Altos as a member of the city council. Due to unexpected changes in my professional life, I had to cut short my service to the city, and with great disappointment. Although my service was brief, it has renewed my belief in the importance of being involved.

We all lead busy lives and often wonder how it all gets done in a day. The family, a career, your church, friends … and if there is time left, personal interests. I would like to add one more to this list of things that define our lives - community service.

Los Altos is special because our citizens are involved and take an active role in how the city is managed. Also, I am convinced that there is a lot of “horsepower sitting in the barn” - citizens looking for an opportunity to get involved and have an impact. We are a community made up of bright, energetic and generous people - a combination that every city longs to have. The difference in Los Altos is we get involved.

Thank you to councilmembers, city staff and those who supported my effort to serve the city. Most important, I want to thank the citizens of Los Altos who find a way to get involved and keep our city a great place to live. It is a real privilege to serve … it has been my privilege.

Kurt Colehower

Los Altos

Moving forward with appointment

We all regret the loss of the capable services of our prior City Councilmember Kurt Colehower, and wish him the best of success in his new professional responsibilities.

In the meantime, the remaining four members of the Los Altos City Council have unanimously decided that in light of the needs of the council to promptly regain a full contingent of five councilmembers and in the interests of cost savings to the city, the council will interview and appoint a replacement.

While we all regret that state law requires us to complete the process within 30 days of the resignation, it does mean we face tight time limitations. The deadline to apply is noon today.

In the interest of remaining unbiased, since our council meeting in which we decided to appoint, I have had no communications with any actual or potential applicants. Instead, may I encourage as many residents of Los Altos who are interested to please consider obtaining and completing an application from the city clerk (in person or downloaded from the city’s Web page), and returning it to her within the deadline.

Ron Packard

Los Altos mayor

Ad not placed by pro-Bullis supporters

I would like to correct an inaccuracy in the Nov. 8 Town Crier.

In a paid ad on Nov. 1, two co-signers and I drew the community’s attention to possible changes in elementary school catchment areas, depending on where Los Altos School District puts Bullis Charter School.

The map of changes originated with the LASD, but the Town Crier referred to my ad as “placed by a group of pro-Bullis Charter School parents.” That claim is false. The ad was placed by a group of neighbors of Egan school and their supporters. We have no connection whatever to Bullis Charter School.

Superintendent Tim Justus was wrong to dismiss us as “Bullis supporters” in an ill-judged e-mail to parents. Neither party checked with me or the other signers before making their untrue statements.

We neighbors simply want the school district to honor its commitment to restore the Egan playing field, now that school renovation has ended.

We therefore want Bullis Charter to move away from Egan to its obvious rightful home: the Bullis-Purissima campus.

Peter van der Linden

Los Altos