Inks Elected Mayor; Clark Now City's Youngest Vice Mayor

At a bittersweet session on Tuesday, the first significant changes to the membership of the City Council took place after several years.

First time councilmen John McAlister and Chris Clark, elected in November 2012, were sworn in. They replace two-term councilmembers Laura Macias and Tom Means.

And with unanimous support, re-elected councilman John Inks and Clark were elected mayor and vice mayor, respectively. Inks said he hoped to "continue the cordial dialogue and clear direction to staff and the community."

This makes the 29-year-old Clark the city's youngest vice mayor in history, according to outgoing Mayor Mike Kasperzak.

"Our city is the envy of many," Clark said after thanking the voters for their trust, and his family and the volunteers for their support. "I will do my best to leave Mountain View stronger for the next generation."

Long-time resident and small business owner John McAlister expressed humility at the task of continuing the work of those before him.

"It is a privilege and an honor to be here today. It's truly humbling to look at the faces of the people who proceeded me," he said about the past councilmembers and mayors in the audience.

McAlister made it clear his goal is to put the community first and give them a voice. "You have choices. We are here to serve you," he said. "I am here to listen and learn from what you have to give us."

For outgoing councilwoman and past mayor Laura Macias, her time on city commissions and on the council has been fulfilling.

"I don't know whether to either burst into tears or be terribly relieved," she said about her 16 years in the public service. She thanked the residents, the city staff and her colleagues on council for their collective achievements, in particular the preservation of wildlife and the protection of Mountain View's resources.

On her last day on council, Macias said she put on a green vest and joined the sewage guys out on Castro St. and was reminded that, "we have an exceptional city with employees who love what they do." She made no promises that she'll "never come back" or that "you'll never see" her again.

Tom Means didn't make promises either, but made it clear that he has plenty to do with his "free time" now that he's off council. He'll focus on his professorship in Economics at San Jose State University and on his first grandchild.

But he'll miss being in local politics, Means implied.

"Local politics is where it's at. I hang out at Le Boulanger, go to the Y ... People come up to me at the store ... that's what I like about politics," he said. "If there is a problem, I can look at it. I don't think I can go to any higher office because I couldn't stomach it."

And as Inks will soon find out being mayor is great, according to Kasperzak.

"It is true that not everyone gets to be a mayor of a town...and I am blessed to have served as mayor twice," he said. "It's one of the best jobs in government."

As part of his last duties as mayor, Kasperzak gave thanks to outgoing City Commissioners Heidi Chun, Bruce Coleman, Rob Luster and Diane Wang; he also welcomed aboard new city commissioners.

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